At first glance, Windows 10 S makes perfect sense. It’s a lightweight,
stripped-down version of Microsoft’s operating system designed to avoid taxing
low-cost hardware. That makes it a good fit for schools, with laptops running
the software priced as low as $189. But the most remarkable thing about the
operating system in its current form may be its reliance on the Windows Store.
In Microsoft’s sales pitch, limiting the ways in which users
can download content is actually a net positive. The experience is simpler and
potentially safer, as limiting the system to approved apps lessens the
potential for malware on the system — always a big concern when purchasing a
Windows device. And it has echoes of Apple’s own default security settings on
MacOS.
But is it a net positive for users? Certainly it’s easy to
see how such a strict structure is beneficial in a classroom setting. Letting
students download things at will is most likely a recipe for chaos, malware
and, well, all sorts of things you’d rather not introduce into a classroom
setting. It’s part of what made the Chromebook’s closed-off browser-based
operating system a hit in the classroom, along with fast logins, which are a
key part of this new version.
But what of a wider audience? Everything announced today was
done so within the broader context of Microsoft’s education vision. But all of
those third-party hardware manufacturers are no doubt hoping the category finds
appeal outside of the classroom as the Chromebook has in its own tepid way.
And certainly there’s something to be said for systems
starting at $189. It’s a bit like the second coming of the netbook. Though this
time out, the systems feature full-sized keyboards and in some cases swiveling
touch displays and pens. Perhaps, like netbooks, they’ll find a second life and
secondary systems for frequent travelers.
Windows 10 S’s reliance on Microsoft’s app store certainly
feels like a hindrance outside of the classroom, with the possibility of a few
exceptions. For instance, an MS rep at today’s event suggested to me that he
might purchase one for an elderly parent with little in the way of tech
knowledge. Limiting access to approved Microsoft apps could lessen his need to
perform regular maintenance on the machine.
But like the Mac app store before it, it also means cutting
off access to some very mainstream applications. As has been pointed out, key players like iTunes and Chrome
aren’t available (while Spotify is apparently “coming soon”), and who knows if
they’ll ever be? Of course, if 10 S takes off in any sort of meaningful way,
there will be a lot more incentive for companies to develop for the platform —
an engagement that’s long been an issue for the company.
I understand why Windows 10 S is the default on these
low-end systems. They were built specifically with the lightweight, streamlined
version of the operating system in mind. Not exactly for the heavy multitasker,
but it will get simple jobs done. Why the Surface laptop is launching with the
operating system, on the other hand, is beyond me.
It’s clearly capable of running the full version of Windows,
and given its $999 base price point, it wasn’t designed with a one laptop per
child model in mind. If it truly is an educational play, it’s aimed at high
school — and even more likely college — students. And they likely won’t take as
well to a system that restricts that in that way.
Of course, Windows 10 S can be updated to Windows 10 Pro. If
you’re a school or you opt to upgrade before year’s end, you can do so for
free. After that, it’s a $49 fee, which is not insignificant if the low price
point is what drove you to one of these systems in the first place.
My guess is that Microsoft takes a wait and see approach. If
there’s demand for it, the company will probably offer a version of the Surface laptop running a full version of Windows by
default (which may or may not have that $49 fee baked into the price) and could
eventually loosen restrictions on the 10 S app ecosystem. Hey, Google
eventually bit the bullet and opened up Google Play access to its Chromebooks.
If Microsoft’s looking for true appeal outside the
classroom, it’s going to have to loosen up those restrictions.
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