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Windows 10 S

May 3, 2017.

Windows 10 S.

Windows 10 S. © Microsoft.

We had been anxiously awaiting the elusive Windows 10 Cloud; we ended up with a very mundane, very locked-down Windows 10 S, positioned somewhere between the Home and Pro versions. You’ll be restricted to Windows Store applications, Edge as a Web browser, and Bing as a search provider… just like that time Microsoft tried to force Internet Explorer on us. If you’re dead set on using Chrome or Firefox (not available in the Microsoft store), or Google Search by default, you’ll have to fork over US$49, i.e. the price of an upgrade to the Pro version. In light of the Windows RT fiasco, we’re scratching our heads; what was Redmond thinking with this beast nobody needs? And if you truly need to restrict applications for security reasons, for example in educational settings, you can already do so in all Windows versions since the Creator update. Analysts think that this release is nothing more than a marketer’s attempt to foil the rise of Chrome OS in some markets.

Ars Technica, “Microsoft takes on Chrome OS with new Windows 10 S.”

Ars Technica, “Windows 10 S forces you to use Edge and Bing.”