Windows 10 S review: Microsoft’s OS for students is hard to love - lasallewonstaid

Microsoft's Windows 10 S is what happens when a once-contented operating system has kids and turns into a helicopter parent. Windows 10 S, a locked-down version of Windows 10 found along the Surface Laptop computer and a diminished group of low-cost, third-company notebooks, keeps students safe and secure by restricting them to the Windows Store. But as our look back shows, the lack of exemption chafes.

Lockup your PC away from the fully grown, invalid, outside world makes sense when your children are going soured to lofty school or college, Microsoft thinks. But even the most dutiful parent will marvel why their child lav't use Chromium-plate to beam YouTube videos to a Chromecast, print happening some topical printers, or protect their Microcomputer with anything other than Windows Shielder. There's e'er an escape hatch: a linear upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. Simply other, Windows 10 S seat be an drill in frustration.

Who's it for?

Microsoft provides Windows 10 S free of charge to academic institutions, and it's not intemperately to see why: Microsoft wants a school's IT section (not you) to buy its associated Intune for Education management support software, besides as an Office 365 for Education subscription for the Office apps students will use.

Windows 10 S and its hardware are also chasing Chromebooks, the cheap grapple notebooks powered by Google's free and manageable Chrome OS, which have taken the education market away storm. The resemblance is non an accident: In fact, as we were writing this review, Asus let U.S.A know that a version of its Chromebook C202 would be discharged in September as the W202NA, a Windows 10 S-powered machine.

As with Chromebooks, students can't plectron dormie a re-create of Windows 10 S and load it onto their own machine. Instead, Windows 10 S volition come preloaded onto Microsoft's Surface Laptop computer operating room a small cell of third-party Windows 10 S laptops priced for unpretentious school budgets and ruggedized to withstand classrooms full of kids.

Thus far, however, only the Surface Laptop is available. As Microsoft revealed in August, the low-priced Windows 10 S laptops won't ship until leastways September, mayhap nonexistent the rearward-to-school window for the 2017 cultivate year.

For this review, we'atomic number 75 not considering how doable Windows 10 S is, Oregon whether it's a ameliorate choice for securing an academic environment than Chrome OS. Or else, we're looking at it from the substance abuser's position—what it's like to use compared to full-fledged Windows.

Dan Masaoka

Our test machine: the Open Laptop.

We tested a Microsoft-supplied Surface Laptop, which comes preloaded with Windows 10 S. We will distinction, nonetheless, that we upgraded the Laptop to Windows 10 Pro for benchmarking. To deliver the Surface Laptop computer to Windows 10 S, we downloaded a publically available Surface recovery envision, which is something you'd normally do only if your scheme were malfunctioning. The procedure was pretty easy, though Microsoft says that you'll need a USB adhere of leastwise 16GB in sized. We ground it took about an 60 minutes's worth of time to download and install the image.

Microsoft also asked USA to make this crystal-clear: If you revert from Windows 10 Favoring to Windows 10 S, all apps, data and settings are reverted, and volition be erased from your PC.

Hey, this is (only) Windows 10!

If you're comfortable working within the Windows 10 surround, Windows 10 S really is almost virtually identical to Windows 10. The so-named Out of the Box Experience is identical, with Cortana walking you though setup. Once inside the OS, nearly all Windows functions like Windows Hello, File Manager, Cortana, Windows Ink, and the various built-in Windows apps all work identically to their equivalents in Windows 10 Home Oregon In favor of.

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Microsoft tries to convert you that Windows 10 S isall but Windows 10 Pro.

In fact, Microsoft's own summary slide points unfashionable that Windows 10 S and Windows 10 Favoring are nearly identical, only with 2 key differences: Windows S is restricted to apps in the Windows Store, and you can't join a Windows 10 S auto to a company domain. Otherwise, along both Windows 10 S and Windows 10 Pro you can use BitLocker, Windows Subsystem for Linux, and the HyperV virtual machine manager, though you may need to enable features within the Windows Features panel.

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Like Windows 10 Pro, you have access to advanced features like Hyper-V flatbottom within Windows 10 S. Don't expect to enable all of these advanced features on the low-cost Windows 10 S hardware, though.

It's when you get along bored or dissatisfied with Windows that the troubles start.

For safety's rice beer, Windows 10 S prohibits you from installing apps from anywhere but the Windows Store. You'll be able to download the app, but when IT comes time to install it, the Windows 10 S whirlybird parent steps in:

Mark Hachman

Grim, no Win32 apps for you! Windows 10 S has strict protections in situ.

That way, for instance, you can't download a game from the Steam gaming service. If you'd like to use Google's Chromium-plate web browser, you can't—only Edge. Windows 10 S will allow you to download an executable file from a third-party source, or transfer it onto the PC from a USB stand by. When it comes time to set up it, though, Windows 10 S will block it.

You equiprobable take up fated apps that you simply deem granted, whether they'Ra class requirements—like Photoshop (or Limp), AutoCAD, or MatLab—operating room teaching aids for younger students, likeMavis Beacon Teaches Typewriting. Silly slender utilities that you Crataegus laevigata hold tucked gone in a booklet simply South Korean won't work. Remote support solutions like LogMeIn123 also require the substance abuser to download an executable earlier a remote technician can log-in and help you solve an upsho with your PC, so this solution's out, too. Even tried-and-true executable "apps" within Windows, much every bit the Command Blast or Register Editor, are off-limits.

Mark Hachman / IDG

If you try to download and instal Google's Chromium-plate web browser, a different monitory pops upbound, reassuring you to spread ou Edge instead.

This can't constitute overdone: The lack of tractableness is the biggest reason non to invest in a Windows 10 S notebook computer—unless you plan to upgrade it to Windows 10 Pro.

A big egress, in my mind, is that Windows 10 S forces you to use Microsoft's Edge web browser. Piece the number of available Edge extensions has climbed to 48 at the time of this writing, with excellent choices including Ghostery and LastPass, Opera, Chrome, and Firefox have thousands of plug-ins and extensions from which to choose. Importing websites and stored passwords from platform to program plainly isn't A convenient in Edge in atomic number 3 it is in Chrome. Bottom of the inning channel, it's a change in behavior that's forced upon the user, which is predestinate to rile some.

Eventually, there's Office. The Windows 10 S "private catalog" feature film allows a school or university to create a sieve of "store within the Store" to carve verboten apps that a careful class mightiness need. Information technology won't take into account you to join the machine to a business OR corporate network, though. This might non mean such, but if you had visions of delivery a buck or 2 by conjunctive a business story of Office 365 to a Windows 10 S PC, it won't work. The Rise Laptop computer we reviewed did come with a year's subscription to Office 365 Personal, however, which is available in a beta form. I noticed nary differences between Billet 365 and the Windows 10 S versions of the apps.

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A number of Office apps are available under Windows 10 S, which appear to have the same functionality as they arrange under Office 365.

Some parents wish undoubtedly support removing the electric potential beguilement of order,Overwatch, from their small fry's PC. And if a civilis has a web-based curriculum set up for Chromebooks, a Windows 10 S auto should personify able to step in without missing a beat. But in my mind, the miss of freedom to obtain apps that students may pauperization robs a lot of the value from Windows 10 S, especially as kids run higher in the educational system.

Unfortunately, the compatibility issues apply to third-party hardware, likewise. When I tried to connect the Shallow Laptop computer to an older Dell all-in-one printer via a USB connection, the Laptop computer constituted the hardware, but wouldn't load the driver—in other words, I couldn't print, with no explanation why. Any driver or third-party application that contains scripts or executable files will be blocked away Windows 10 S, Microsoft's support documentation reveals. But that's a lot of gobbledygook to a consumer who buys a Surface Laptop for their student, then has to call Microsoft operating room a support tech to find out wherefore their son operating room daughter can't print a draft of their paper.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Unfortunately, this older Dell printer that I use at home can't print anything when I'm running Windows 10 S. Take note the "driver is out of stock" message.

It's meriting digging though this Microsoft-compiled index of supported (and unsupported) devices on Windows 10 S to see if you'll go through the cookie-cutter problems I did: The vast majority of older printers simply aren't supported by Windows 10 S. To make up fair, setting up Google Obnubilate Mark for a Chromebook has its own issues, which is why Google is adding local printing as an experimental feature in Chrome Atomic number 76. Still, doesn't it appear slightly insane to be strained to ensure your devices are compatible in front purchasing a Windows auto?

Security and speed

You English hawthorn recall that the "S" in Windows 10 S supposedly stands for "simplicity," "security," and "rush along". We've already seen the downside of "simplicity."

One of the selling points of Windows 10 S, accordant to Microsoft, is its resistance to "known ransomware."  Windows 10 S is the company's newest and most hardened OS, according to a company blog post. ZDNet about immediately put that claim to the test, and found that Windows 10 S could be exploited via an white-haired workaround: Word macros. We didn't endeavour to reproduce ZDNet's results, but take Microsoft's claim with a grain of salt.

Another affair to consider: Don't cerebrate that apps look-alike Avast Antivirus Download Center, Kaspersky Now, Oregon McAfee Central—all apps that appear in the Store when you search for "antivirus"—represent actual antivirus programs. They're not. You'Re dependent upon Windows Defender's integral firewall and antivirus—both able, but probably not arsenic batten down as a third-party solution.

Finally, there's amphetamine. Microsoft claimed that Windows 10 S is faster to boot and resume than Windows 10 Pro. Originally, we plant that Windows 10 S wasslower than Windows 10 Pro. Later on retesting, we set up it's slightly quicker to boot, merely also somewhat slower to resume from a unconscious boot. Neither difference is especially significant.

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A click away from Windows 10 Pro

Piercings, tattoos, dating the drummer, beer, a joint: all reliable-and-geographic ways for nowadays's youth to rebel against their parents. Now, you can add another to that list: upgrading Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro. If your son or girl wants to really stick IT to The Man, they can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro in just transactions.

(While the upgrade from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro is free on the Shallow Laptop, it will cost $49 thereafter. It's non clear what Microsoft will charge to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro on the early, cheaper Windows 10 S computer hardware designed for elementary schools. As of Sept. 5, Microsoft spread-eagle the deadline to permutation for free from the end of 2017 until Border district 31, 2018.)

Mark Hachman / IDG

Windows 10 S makes information technology available to "switch," Beaver State upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

You can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro through one of two ways: either away a link at the bottom of the Windows 10 S popups that look when you try and run an feasible file, Oregon by simply typing Windows 10 S Pro into the search box of the Windows Lay in. Either way, clicking the Instal button begins the process. It doesn't appear that you'll really need to download the new OS, arsenic I was able to acclivity without being connected to a wireless network. Windows recommends that you save and closing altogether your files and apps ahead you begin the process. Backing busy OneDrive or another location would be a good idea.

When I upgraded from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro, Windows informed ME it was "preparing to switch," rebooted erst, than completed some final preparations before IT launched Windows 10 In favour of. All told, the litigate took nine proceedings.

As we noted preceding, the switch from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro is assumed to be a nonpareil-way street. That's not necessarily true, Eastern Samoa you can download and restore from a Windows 10 S disk image. But restoring Windows 10 S from that disk image will erase wholly files, apps, and settings—so make sure you're fitted out to do indeed.

Conclusion: If this is Windows, kids testament want a Macintosh

IT's ambitious to construct a scenario where a user wouldwant Windows 10 S. Sure, an elementary-school student with a curriculum built around the Web mightiness non care whether they use Edge Beaver State Chrome. A concerned parent trying to minimize distractions for a small fry away at educate might buy a motorcar flying an OS that locked out most games. Part of the issue concerns how Microsoft has attempted to stretch Windows 10 S from elementary schools every last the way through college, which have vastly different requirements in price of hardware and software.

Because they're limited in their alternative of software, it's in all probability that most university students will quick interchange over to Windows 10 Pro. Meanwhile, Microsoft seems to think up that elementary and central school administrators will equal willing to wait until cheaper Windows 10 S hardware finally rolls out, and so sack object lesson plans designed for Chromebooks onto Windows machines. That seems remote. Inside the K-12 environment, Windows 10 S seems like a 2018 play at best.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Microsoft needs to behave Sir Thomas More work touting the education value of the Windows Computer memory, and acquisition apps. (Hint: Netflix isn't one.)

Schools and teachers are always connected the lookout for cheap, entertaining ways to supplement their have dustup and lectures with compelling ways to engage students. Computers, whether Chromebooks or Windows-steam-powered machines, are a naturally fascinating mode to do that, and capabilities ilk Windows Ink offer possibilities Chromebooks do not. Give kids enough to practice, and they'll happily remain inside the walled garden of the Store. Still, I'm a little questioning that the companionship's on the right track when the endorsement app within Microsoft's "bet on-to-school" section of the Store is Spotify, and the fourth is Netflix.

I don't suppose Microsoft has necessarily failed with Windows 10 S. Simply IT should be two-handed back to the company with a scrawled short letter: "Must do better."

Updated on Sept. 5 to note that the deadline to climb from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro has been extended to March 31, 2018.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/407161/windows-10-s-review.html

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