Microsoft provides Surface customers with recovery images that allow you to reset your Surface as if it was just new out of the box. This requires a USB drive, some time, and an internet connection. If you're planning to sell your Surface Laptop, or are having technical difficulties, recovering the Surface Laptop is recommended. Here's how to do it.

Products Used in This Guide

• Stylish computing: Surface Laptop ($558 at Amazon)
• Stylish in black: Surface Laptop 2 ($999 at Microsoft)
• Storage on the go: SanDisk USB 3.0 drive ($8 at Amazon)

Download the recovery image

Before we get started, you have to acquire the files necessary for recovery. To do that, you're going to need your Surface Laptop or Surface Laptop 2 serial number and some time to allow the download to complete. (You can find the 12-digit serial number on the bottom of your device.) The download is around 9GB, so it may take a while depending on your internet connection.

Also, depending on whether your device is a Surface Laptop or Surface Laptop 2, you will either be recovering to Windows 10 Pro in S mode, or Windows 10 Home. The Surface Laptop 2 recovery image is Windows 10 Home, whereas the original Surface Laptop recovery image is Windows 10 Pro in S mode.

1. Open Microsoft's recovery image download page.
2. Select Surface Laptop or Surface Laptop 2 in the drop-down menu.
3. Enter your Surface Laptop serial number.

4. Select Download recovery image on the latest version available. The download will take some time depending on your internet connection.

Create a USB recovery drive

Now that you have the necessary files, you need to set up a USB drive for recovery. We'll be using the USB drive to recover the Surface Laptop. Make sure the USB drive is at least 16GB in size, and that you backed up all the data on it first.

1. Press Start.
2. Search for "Create a recovery drive".

3. Deselect Backup system files to the recovery drive.
4. Press Next.

5. Select the USB drive you'll be using as the recovery drive.
6. Press Next.

7. Select Create drive.

Extract recovery files

Once your USB recovery drive is created, you need to transfer all of the recovery files you downloaded earlier.

1. Right click on the downloaded recovery file.
2. Select Extract All.

3. Select Extract. This will create a folder in the same directory as your downloaded recovery file, into which the contents will be extracted.

4. Open the extracted contents folder. It will have a name along the lines of "SurfaceLaptop_BMR_151_12.761.0" (the specific name may vary depending on the recovery version you download).
5. Copy all the files in the extracted folder into your newly created USB recovery drive.

You can press CTRL + A to select all of the files in the folder and drag-and-drop them into the drive labeled "RECOVERY" in the left sidebar.

You may be prompted to replace already existing files in the destination. If so, select Replace files in destination.

Recover Surface Laptop

Now that you've created the USB recovery drive and loaded all the necessary files onto it, you can finally get to recovering the Surface Laptop. Make sure you backed up all your data first, as this process will remove all your apps, documents and settings.

1. Power off your device.
2. Insert the USB recovery drive we just created into the USB port on the Surface Laptop or Surface Laptop 2.
3. Hold the volume-down and power button at the same time.
4. When the Surface logo appears, let go of the buttons. A blue screen with language selection options will appear.
5. Select your language and keyboard settings.

6. Select Troubleshoot.

7. Select Recover from a drive.
8. If prompted for a recovery key, select Skip this drive.

9. Select Just remove my files.
   • If you're parting ways with your device, I recommend selecting Fully clean the drive to thoroughly erase your old files.

10. Select Recover. This will restart your Surface Laptop and take some time, but when it's done, Windows 10 S will be back on your Surface Laptop.

That's it. Your Surface Laptop should now be recovered and running Windows 10 S.

The right Surface Laptop

To complete this guide, you'll need to be using a 1st generation Surface Laptop or a Surface Laptop 2.

Additional Equipment

You'll also need an extrernal USB flash drive to complete this how-to. Here's what we used.

SanDisk USB 3.0 32GB flash drive ($8 at Amazon)

This all purpose USB-A flash drive is perfect for transferring files, reinstalling an OS, and storing content.

Our favorite accessories

Now you've got Windows 10 S back up and running, here's some of our favorite accessories you might also find useful.

Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 hub ($10 at Amazon)

Need more USB ports for your Surface Laptop? This USB hub should help! Turn one port into four.

Surface Pen ($99 at Amazon)

Enhance your Surface Laptop with the Microsoft Surface Pen, which allows you to interact with the touchscreen easily.

Surface Dial ($99 at Amazon)

Twist into action with the Surface Dial Bluetooth accessory. You can play with gestures and make certain actions easier.

Windows 10 in S mode is what Microsoft wants the future of Windows to be. It's a mode that stays fast, secure, and is locked to the Microsoft Store for all your apps and games. There are quite a few Windows 10 S devices on the market today, and more are being added all the time. Most of the Windows 10 S laptops available right now are either low-cost x86 devices, or premium Windows 10 on ARM-based devices. Here are the best.

Whether you're looking for a Windows 10 S device for the classroom, or a high-end, premium device for use around the house, there's a choice for everyone here. I'm a use fan of the Surface Go, as it's not expensive, yet still packs the same high-end build quality of the rest of the Surface line, but Windows 10 S installed by default. It's pretty great. Windows 10 S devices continue to show up from hardware makers all the time, so we'll continue to add to this article when we spot any new ones.

For some reason, the Microsoft Teams app on Windows 10 S is separate from the normal app for Windows 10. Because of this, Microsoft has to maintain two separate apps, one for Windows 10 without S mode, and the other for Windows 10 S. Or rather, that used to be the case.

Spotted by Petri, starting November 29 Microsoft is killings its separate Microsoft Teams app for Windows 10 S. This means that Windows 10 S users will have no choice but to use the web client from then onwards, as there will be no dedicated app for Windows 10 S users to use.

Why Windows 10 S can't just use a packaged version of Microsoft Teams for desktop is unknown. Regardless, if you're one of the few users using Windows 10 S and Microsoft Teams, you're going to have to either turn off S mode, or use the web client instead.

Many Windows 10 S naysayers will call this a big sign that S mode is dead, and I don't blame them. Yet again, Microsoft is failing in a unified message for Windows 10 S. Why should anyone else support Windows 10 S if Microsoft doesn't?

Are you using Windows 10 S and Microsoft Teams? Let us know in the comments.

Microsoft and Amazon have been cozying up quite a bit lately, most recently by integrating their two digital assistants, Cortana and Alexa. There's also now a dedicated Alexa app available for select "Alexa compatible" PCs (though, it's questionable how useful it is in its current state). And while that's great for devices that are able to install apps from outside of the Microsoft Store, it leaves one particular group in a bit of a pickle: devices running Windows 10 in S Mode.

But that barrier may be about to come down, according to a report from German blog Windows United.

While demoing the current Alexa app at the Trekstor booth at IFA 2018, a Trekstor spokesperson informed Windows United that an Alexa UWP app destined for the Microsoft Store is in the works. The is expected to be available by the end of the year, according to the report.

Amazon hasn't yet confirmed that any such UWP version of Alexa is in development, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the app hit the Microsoft Store in a bid to net as many users as possible. Given the restrictions on Windows 10 in S Mode, this would be the only way to get the experience provided by the Alexa app for devices without switching out of S Mode.

Why "PC Exclusives" like Amazon's Alexa app for Windows are bad for consumers

The Surface Go is Microsoft's latest Surface device, and is the second device from Microsoft to come with Windows 10 S out of box. Microsoft originally touted better battery life with devices that come with Windows 10 S on out of box, so does that mean battery life will be worse on the Surface Go if you turn S mode off?

The answer is: it depends. Seriously, the touted "better battery life" on Windows 10 S only counts because your selection of apps is limited to the Microsoft Store. Once out of S mode, you can install what you want, including more battery intensive programs such as Chrome or Premiere Pro.

If you're using heavy applications, then battery life will absolutely be worse. But, if you're keeping things light, even when S mode is off, your battery life shouldn't change. Surface Go's battery life is already on the lower side, so it's probably best to keep things light anyway.

How to turn off Windows 10 S mode on Surface Go

Of course, if you've got a Surface Go with S mode off, we'd love to hear about your battery life experiences. Let us know in our forums!

Microsoft provides Surface customers with recovery images that allow you to reset your Surface as if it was just new out of the box. This process requires a USB drive, some time, and an internet connection. If you're planning to sell your Surface Go, go back to Windows 10 Home in S mode, or are having technical difficulties, recovering the Surface Go is recommended. Here's how to do it.

How to reinstall Windows 10 Home in S mode on Surface Go

Download the recovery image

Before we get started, you must acquire the files necessary for recovery. To do that, you're going to need your Surface Go serial number and some time to allow the download to complete. (You can find the 12-digit serial number under the kickstand on the Surface Go.) The download is around 6.6GB so it may take a while depending on your internet connection.

1. Open Microsoft's recovery image download page
2. Select Surface Go from the drop-down menu.
3. Enter your Surface Go serial number. It is located on the underside of the Go's kickstand (you can also find in the pre-installed Surface app on the Go).

4. Select Download recovery image on the latest version available. The download will take some time depending on your internet connection.

Create a USB recovery drive

Now that you have the necessary files for recovery, you need to set up a USB drive for recovery. We'll be using this USB drive to recover the Surface Go. Make sure the USB drive is at least 16GB in size, and that you backed up any photos, documents, or files you want to save.

1. Press Start
2. Search for "Create a recovery drive".

3. Deselect Backup system files to the recovery drive.
4. Press Next.

5. Select the USB drive you'll be using as the recovery drive.
6. Press Next.

7. Select Create drive.

Extract recovery files

Once your USB recovery drive is created, you need to transfer all the recovery files you downloaded earlier.

1. Right click on the downloaded recovery file.
2. Select Extract All.

3. Select Extract. This will create a folder in the same directory as your downloaded recovery file, into which the contents will be extracted.

4. Open the extracted contents folder. It will have a name along the lines of "SurfaceGo_BMR_11_1.011.2" (the specific name may vary depending on the latest version available).
5. Copy all the files in the extracted folder into your newly created USB recovery drive.You can press CTRL + A to select all the files in the folder and drag-and-drop them into the drive labeled "RECOVERY" in the left sidebar.You may be prompted to replace already existing files in the destination. If so, select "Replace files in destination."

Recover Surface Go

Now that you've created the USB recovery drive and loaded all the necessary files onto it, you can finally get to recovering the Surface Go. Make sure you backed up all your data first, as this process will remove all your apps, documents and settings.

1. Turn off the Surface Go.
2. Insert the USB recovery drive we just created into the USB port on the Surface Go.
3. Hold the volume-down button and power button at the same time.
4. When the Surface logo appears, let go of the buttons. A blue screen with language selection options will appear.
5. Select your language and keyboard settings.

6. Select Troubleshoot.

7. Select Recover from a drive.
8. If prompted for a recovery key, select Skip this drive.

9. Select Just remove my files.If you're parting with your Surface Go, I recommend selecting Fully clean the drive to erase your old files thoroughly.

10. Select Recover. This will restart your Surface Go and take some time, but when it's done, Windows 10 Home in S mode will be back on your Surface Go.

That's it. Your Surface Go should now be recovered and running Windows 10 Home in S mode.

Although Microsoft has made it easier to switch off Windows 10 S mode on a device running Windows 10 Home or Pro, there is no easy way to switch S mode on. The only way to do it right now is to either buy a device with Windows 10 S mode enabled out of box, or create new installation media that has the S mode switch enabled. There's no in-OS switch to enable S mode.

All of the Windows 10 S devices you can buy right now

This seems like an oversight, as Microsoft's decision to turn Windows 10 S into a mode was fueled by complaints that Windows 10 S should have been an option that the user can configure with ease. That's what Microsoft allowed when it turned Windows 10 S into a mode, but only with a way to switch it off. In other words, a device that comes with Windows 10 S can switch out of S mode with a simple click of a button, but it can't go back without recovering the entire OS.

Turning on Windows 10 S mode with the flip of a switch

Starting with Redstone 5, it appears Microsoft is rectifying this oversight. References of a "Switch to S mode" have shown up in the Settings app on the latest Insider Preview builds, which suggest Microsoft is going to allow users to enabled S mode on devices that have it turned off. It's unclear if this will work on devices that never had S mode enabled to begin with, although I don't see why that wouldn't be allowed, because S mode is just a mode now and doesn't depend on OS versions.

In the future, it's possible that users will be able to turn any PC into Windows 10 S with a simple switch accessed via the Settings app. That might prove useful to some, especially those who are OK with only downloading apps from the Microsoft Store. Microsoft could eventually offer the S mode option when setting up a new PC for the first time, too, highlighting its benefits over a normal, disabled S mode install.

Of course, Microsoft would never enable S mode by default on a device that never had S mode enabled before, but prompting the user of the option's existence might convince some people to enable it for added security.

What say you?

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments if you're interested in an option that allows you to enable S mode with ease.

It's been a little over a year since Microsoft's Surface Laptop hit store shelves, which is a long time in the world of tech. When the Surface Laptop first launched on May 15, 2017, many were curious as to how the device would hold up. After all, there were two outstanding differences between the Surface Laptop and other laptops on the market: it ran Windows 10 S, and it used Alcantara fabric on the attached keyboard base.

I've been using the Surface Laptop as my primary laptop over the last year, and I have some thoughts on how things are holding up with the device. One year is a major milestone in the lifecycle of any device. How has the Alcantara held up? Has the app situation on Windows 10 S improved? How is the port situation?

Read on for answers.

Related: Surface Laptop review

• See at Microsoft Store
• See at Amazon

Surface Laptop and Windows 10 S

Microsoft has changed up Windows 10 S quite a bit since the Surface Laptop was released. Windows 10 S is no longer a standalone edition of Windows 10. Before, Windows 10 S was an edition just like Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro, but to make the choice easier for hardware makers to use Windows 10 S, Microsoft changed it so that Windows 10 S is now a mode that runs on top of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro.

This doesn't mean much for the Surface Laptop, however. With the Windows 10 April Update, users on Windows 10 S on the Surface Laptop were upgraded to "Windows 10 Pro in S" mode for free. Windows 10 S is now a mode, so the "switch" from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro on the Surface Laptop is free forever, not just for a limited time. That's great news for those who felt pressured into the switch or never got around to doing it in time. Now there's no reason to do it unless there's an app you need that isn't in the Store.

Related: Windows 10 S review

The app situation has also improved. The Microsoft Store on Windows 10 S has most of the top apps a consumer would be looking for, including Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, Twitter and Facebook. But there's still an issue with web browsers; Microsoft Edge is still the only web browser available on Windows 10 S devices.

That might be a problem for many of you, but it's not for me. I use Microsoft Edge and have since it launched back in 2015. Microsoft Edge is also a much better browser today than it was a year ago, and it's only going to continue improving with upcoming releases of Windows 10. If you must use Chrome or Firefox, Windows 10 S still isn't a viable option for you.

Surface Laptop hardware

Let's start with the biggest curiosity of the Surface Laptop: its Alcantara keyboard. It looks and feels great, but fabrics of any kind can get dirty. Microsoft's previous efforts with Alcantara keyboards often ended up looking really gross after only a few months of use. With the Surface Laptop, however, Microsoft coated the Alcantara in polyurethane which helps fight against stains and grease marks.

Related: What the heck is Alcantara anyway?

Because of this, the Alcantara on the Surface Laptop has held up incredibly well. However, the polyurethane coating isn't perfect. After a year, there are signs of faint palm marks on the fabric. It's not terrible, and in most cases, you probably won't notice. But if you look close, there is some discoloration where you hands sit.

Of course, this all depends on how you treat your Surface Laptop. And I don't think the Alcantara is a deal-breaker, because for me it has held up well enough. However, I've seen reports online of Surface Laptop devices looking way worse than mine after just three months of use.

Regarding ports, I've found the single USB-A port to be limiting. I'd much prefer if there were two USB-A or one USB-A and one USB-C. Also, the lack of an SD card slot got to me more than I thought it would. I don't often take photos on my DSLR, but in the rare times when I do, it sucks not having that port.

Other things, including the battery, are all holding up very well. I'm still able to leave the house without my Surface Laptop's charger in the morning and feel comfortable getting through a day's worth of work.

Overall, this is my most favorite Surface yet. It may not be category-defining like other Surface devices, but it's still fantastic. It just needs USB-C and slightly better protected Alcantara.

• See Surface Laptop at Microsoft Store
• See Surface Laptop at Amazon

Google's Project Zero team has outed another Microsoft security flaw, this time in Windows 10 S.

The flaw, which is rated as "medium" in terms of severity, impacts systems with Device Guard enabled and it can't be executed remotely, so it's not easily exploited. Google explains:

Google's standard disclosure guidelines state that it will publicly disclose vulnerabilities after 90 days if they haven't been addressed. Microsoft was alerted to the issue in January, but had told Google in February that it would not be fixed in time for the April Patch Tuesday rollout. Microsoft requested extensions in early April, explaining that the issue will be fixed with the release of the Redstone 4 (spring) update. However, because there is no firm release date for Redstone 4, Google turned down the request.

This isn't the first time Google's disclosure policy has been a source of contention between the two companies. The two companies butted heads over the disclosure of a zero-day vulnerability in 2016, leading to an expression of frustration from Microsoft. That followed a similar clash between the two in 2015 over a Windows 8.1 vulnerability. More recently, Google disclosed flaws in Windows 10 and Microsoft Edge in February.

Windows 10 S is a variant of Windows 10 that's designed to keep your PC secure and streamlined over time. Unlike normal Windows 10, Windows 10 S is built from the ground up for people who do most of their work in a web browser or Office and is tied to the Microsoft Store for all your apps and games. This means every app that runs on Windows 10 S is checked by Microsoft to make sure it's safe.

Still, you might be unsure of whether or not you should buy a Windows 10 S PC over a PC running Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro. To help you out, here are four reasons why you should buy a PC that comes with Windows 10 S.

Here's a list of Windows 10 S PCs you can buy right now!

More secure Windows 10

The biggest benefit of Windows 10 S is enhanced security over other editions of Windows 10. Because Windows 10 S is locked to the Microsoft Store, users can't download apps and games unless they have been trusted and verified by Microsoft first. As such, PCs running Windows 10 S are less likely to run into malware or viruses, as they can't run programs unless they come directly from the Store.

Because of this, Windows 10 S is secure right out of the box. You don't need to configure any third-party antivirus software, nor make sure there's additional bloatware installed. This makes it an excellent choice for a family member or friend who may not be experienced in the world of PCs. Windows 10 S keeps itself safe, and secure, forever.

Built for a marathon, not a sprint

Because Windows 10 S can only download apps from the Microsoft Store, PCs running Windows 10 S are designed to remain fast over long periods of time. In most cases, buying a PC running Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro usually comes bundled with extra bloatware that can really weigh down your PC over time. If you've ever owned a PC that feels like it got slower as time went on, that's partly because of all the extra bloatware your PC maker likely preloaded onto your device.

With Windows 10 S, this is not allowed. Hardware makers aren't able to preload extra bloatware onto devices that ship with Windows 10 S, as those PCs simply cannot run those kind of programs. Instead, all programs must come from the Microsoft Store. This makes it more likely for PCs to remain super fast, even a year after buying it.

Still good ol' Windows 10

Even with the extra security and performance over time, Windows 10 S is still Windows 10. It features your familiar Start menu, taskbar, Action Center, and windowed apps. It can even run desktop apps, as long as they're available from the Microsoft Store. What's more, depending on the device, Windows 10 S has all the same business and education features that you can find on Windows 10 Pro. This includes Windows Update for Business, Shared PC Configurations, Azure AD and more.

It has access to the full version of Microsoft Office too, meaning if you rely on Outlook for email or Excel for heavy spreadsheets, Windows 10 S has you covered.

Switch to normal Windows 10 at any time

Windows 10 S is a mode, meaning you can turn it off if you ever need to download an app that isn't available in the Microsoft Store. The switch to normal Windows 10 is free, and can be done whenever you need it. This means that for most people, they can remain in Windows 10 S until they need to switch it off, and then jump straight to Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro, depending on what edition of Windows 10 your device came with.

This means there's nothing to lose when buying a PC with Windows 10 S. It's not a be-all, end-all choice you make when buying a device. You can buy a Windows 10 S PC, and switch over to normal Windows 10 whenever you like. This makes devices like the Surface Laptop an excellent choice, even if you're not planning to use Windows 10 S at all.

• See Surface Laptop at Microsoft Store
• See Surface Laptop at Amazon

Are you interested in Windows 10 S?

These are my reasons for why you should buy a Windows 10 S PC. Are you interested in getting one? If so, make sure you check out our list of available Windows 10 S PCs and let me know in the comments!

I'm back with another audience-driven episode of #AskDanWindows!

I'm answering five questions this week instead of the usual three. I'm focusing on Windows 10 S, why we don't push Samsung phones here at Windows Central, and the tech I recommend for getting back into fitness!

Audience questions for Episode 42

• Turning the Store-app restriction on for Windows 10 the same as Windows 10 S? - Asif Shadab Malick
• I hear you enjoy your fitness. Can you please recommend a good app for tracking progress (like weight)? - ZipZapRap
• Why are you not recommending or pushing Samsung phones despite Microsoft selling them? - randyoaks187
• How is Microsoft using the space for the fan on the Core i5 non-LTE Surface Pro? - Nero Cui
• Should Microsoft launch an iMessage competitor? Bruno D

Thanks to everyone for the questions!

Email me!

Don't use Twitter? After much feedback, we are happy to announce you can forward your questions to AskDan@WindowsCentral.com to submit your requests!

AskDan Forums!

Hate using email? Join me on our #AskDan Forums at Windows Central! I'll occasionally jump in there to try and answer questions or take ideas for new episodes of our web series.

Ask Dan Forums at Windows Central

You can also find previous episodes of #AskDanWindows here on the main landing page.

• Watch the #AskDanWindows playlist on Youtube
• Subscribe to #AskDanWindows in podcast format (RSS)

Microsoft has officially announced Windows 10 S Mode, an evolution of Windows 10 S as an idea. When Windows 10 S was announced last year, it was released as a standalone edition of Windows 10 that was available alongside Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Enterprise. Now, however, Microsoft is making Windows 10 S a mode that runs on top of Home, Pro, Education, or Enterprise, instead.

Today, Microsoft further detailed this change. Based on feedback from partners and customers, Microsoft says the decision to make Windows 10 S a mode instead of a standalone edition of Windows 10 is to help minimize confusion between the separate editions. Windows 10 S is designed to keep your PC secure and fast, which should be applicable to all editions of Windows 10.

As such, Microsoft is opting to allow partners to load new devices with Windows 10 Home or Pro, and optionally have those devices ship with S Mode enabled. S Mode is exactly the same as what Windows 10 S was when it was a standalone edition, except now it runs on top of Home or Pro instead. What's more, Microsoft says that S Mode devices will be able to switch to their respective full editions for free, even if the device ships with Windows 10 Pro in S Mode.

That's a huge deal, and is excellent news for everybody. No longer will people buying Windows 10 S machines be required to pay for an upgrade to the full edition of Windows 10 if they need to install a program from outside the Store. That upgrade is now free, forever, meaning the user won't feel forced to do it if the upgrade is free for a limited time. It'll be there to switch to whenever the user needs it, which is a much better.

Microsoft says these changes to Windows 10 S will be put into effect with the next update to Windows 10. It's not clear if this will be with Redstone 4, or Redstone 5 however. Existing Windows 10 S users will be automatically moved to Windows 10 Pro in S Mode, meaning existing S users won't be missing out on any of the benefits Windows 10 S provides.

Microsoft has confirmed plans to transition Windows 10 S to a dedicated "S Mode" in Windows 10. Early last month, a leak indicated that Microsoft was gearing up to make the change, but Microsoft corporate vice president Joe Belfiore today confirmed that Windows 10 S will shift from being a distinct version to a "mode" on existing versions in 2019 (via The Verge).

The change means that Windows 10 S will go from being a distinct edition to being an option that users can turn on with existing editions of Windows 10. Switching to S Mode will lock the device down, only allowing it to install apps from the Windows Store, just as Windows 10 S works today.

Since the move appears to be some time off, official details on how the new S Mode will work aren't available. However, it should have the effect of putting Windows 10 S (or S Mode, rather) into the hands of more people. According to an earlier report from Thurrott, devices that come with S Mode switched on will be able to turn it off, either for free or with a fee depending on which edition they're using. For example, Windows 10 Home users would be able to switch S Mode off for free, while Windows 10 Pro users may have to pay $49 to switch the mode off.

With the switch planned to come in 2019, the precise details of S Mode's implementation and potential pricing are likely still in flux. But it's certainly an interesting move, particularly as Microsoft continues to push forward with its strategy of a "low-hassle" version of Windows for schools and businesses.

Why Microsoft made Windows 10 S an OS 'mode' instead of a version

Recently, news broke that Microsoft is turning Windows 10 S into a mode that runs on top of other editions of Windows 10 such as Home or Pro, which appears to have caused a bit of confusion. Some reports claimed that Windows 10 S was dead, and others seemed to think that Windows 10 S was going to be made the default version of Windows 10. Let's set the record straight.

Windows 10 S is not dead

Microsoft is not killing Windows 10 S. In fact, this year will see even more Windows 10 S PCs ship, with Microsoft showing no signs of slowing down. The only thing that has changed is how Windows 10 S is distributed to OEMs.

In the past, Windows 10 S was a separate edition of Windows 10 that sat alongside Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro. Hardware makers could pick between the three editions. Now, however, Microsoft has removed that separate Windows 10 S edition and instead turned it into a mode that runs on top of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro.

This means hardware makers can now just pick between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro, and choose whether they want S mode to be enabled by default on the device that it is selling to consumers. In theory, this should make Windows 10 S even more accessible to hardware makers, and make it easier for users to switch between S mode and the "unlocked" version of Windows 10 Home or Pro.

Turning S into a mode is Microsoft broadening the availability of S for hardware makers, so OEMs now can preload a specific edition of Windows and still ship with Windows 10 S out of box. This change is so far from Microsoft killing Windows 10 S. In fact, the Windows 10 S game is about to be taken up a notch.

Windows 10 S is not going to be default

The S mode change does not affect existing Windows 10 installs that aren't already running Windows 10 S. This means if you're running Windows 10 Home or Pro today, you will not have S mode forced upon you in an update.

Microsoft isn't even making it a default option for hardware makers. Instead, it's making S mode cheaper for hardware makers to preload onto new hardware. It isn't forcing hardware makers to use S mode, which means OEM partners like Dell and HP will likely continue to sell versions of their hardware with editions of Windows without S Mode.

Microsoft wants hardware makers to choose Windows 10 with S mode over non-S mode editions, but by no means is Microsoft forcing this option on anybody. Windows 10 Home in S mode is cheaper for OEMs than Windows 10 Home without it, but a hardware maker is more than welcome to pay a little more to preload Windows 10 Home without S mode if they wish. Same goes for Pro.

All this means is that you might see new hardware go up for sale with Windows 10 S more often. This helps Microsoft get Windows 10 S out onto more devices, and gives users the chance to upgrade without paying.

Switch from Windows 10 S becomes free

In the past, the upgrade from Windows 10 S to a "full version" of Windows 10 would cost $49. The reason for this was because Windows 10 S was actually Windows 10 Pro underneath, so upgrading from S was more like "sidegrading" from S to Pro. As such, when you did the upgrade from S, you were actually paying for a full Pro license, which S users could grab for $49.

Now that Microsoft is turning S into a mode that runs on top of Windows 10 Home as well, things are a little different. The switch from Windows 10 Pro in S mode to Windows 10 Pro without it still costs $49, but the switch from Windows 10 Home in S mode to Windows 10 Home doesn't cost anything.

This is a good thing, as it means users no longer feel pressured into upgrading to the full version of their edition straight away. The Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro upgrade was free for a limited time, which meant lots of people felt the need to do the switch to make sure they didn't miss that free offer. Now Windows 10 Home in S mode to Windows 10 Home is free, users may feel less obligated to do it.

Windows 10 S users will remain on Windows 10 S

If you're already using a device with Windows 10 S, these upcoming changes won't change much for you. You will still be running Windows 10 S on your device, but only now the OS will call itself Windows 10 Pro in S mode. You're still benefiting from all the advantages Windows 10 S has, but now it's running as a mode on top of Windows 10 Pro.

What do you think?

Microsoft is only just getting started with Windows 10 S, and we're not expecting the company to give up on it anytime soon. If you're not a fan of Windows 10 S, don't worry, these changes won't affect you. Your existing devices will continue to operate as normal, so there's nothing to worry about. Let us know in the comments if you're using Windows 10 S already, as well as what you think of the changes.

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it was changing how Windows 10 S was delivered to users. When Windows 10 S was originally unveiled, it was a specific Windows SKU (edition) that was available alongside other SKUs such as Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Enterprise. Now, however, Microsoft is killing that specific Windows 10 S SKU and is turning it into a mode that runs on top of existing Windows 10 SKUs instead.

A report from Thurrott confirms these plans, and revealed that over 60% of users who are running Windows 10 S on low-end devices do not upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. That's more than a lot of us were expecting, especially with apps like Google Chrome not being available on Windows 10 S. Now, that 60% number doesn't mean much on its own considering we don't know the exact usage scenarios or the amount of people running Windows 10 S, but 60% is 60%, and it's definitely more than what a lot of us assumed it would be.

Microsoft turning Windows 10 S into a mode that runs on top of Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro and likely other editions of Windows is an interesting change. It allows for Microsoft to get Windows 10 S out into the hands of more people, and gives OEMs the flexibility of choosing a SKU with S mode or not. Thurrott claims that devices that come with S mode enabled will be able to turn S mode off, and depending on the edition of Windows that device comes with, will be a free or paid switch.

Windows 10 Home users, for example, will be able to switch off S mode for free. If your device comes with Windows 10 Pro with S mode, however, you will be required to pay $49 to switch it off. The idea of Windows 10 S hasn't change here, but rather Microsoft is making Windows 10 S more accessible to a wider audience. OEMs won't have to choose between Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, or Windows 10 S now, they just have to pick Windows 10 Home or Pro, and choose if they want it to have S mode on by default. This does not mean Microsoft is requiring S mode to be on by default when an OEM pre-loads Windows 10 onto their device. It is still optional.

For gamers, this isn't a change you have to worry about. Most PC gamers build their own PCs, which means they also buy their own Windows license for installing on that custom build. You will still be able to buy Windows 10 Pro without the S limitation, and as such that crowd will be fine. Microsoft also won't be springing S mode onto existing Windows 10 devices that aren't already running Windows 10 S, so your existing Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro devices will continue to operate as normal.

This change only really affects new devices that ship with Windows 10 in the future. Starting with Redstone 4, OEMs will be able to choose if S mode is enabled for their devices. Not every OEM will, and it will very likely depend on the specifications of the OEM device you're buying. Most low-end devices likely will have S mode enabled, as it's cheaper for OEMs and also helps with performance. And while I imagine there will be some higher-end devices with S mode enabled, most OEMs will likely want to stick with Windows 10 Pro without S mode enabled by default, at least for now.

Microsoft turning Windows 10 S into a mode is most certainly not the end of Windows 10 S as an idea. Microsoft see's Windows 10 S as the future of Windows; a streamlined, secure OS with good performance and battery life. I do wonder, however, if this change is in preparation for the upcoming Windows Core OS modern version of Windows 10. Perhaps Microsoft is making room for a true Windows 10 S SKU that runs on top of Windows Core OS and streamlines the OS even further? Only time will tell.

Microsoft is now selling an Intel Core m3 SKU of the Surface Laptop with Windows 10 S that's priced at $799, a whole $200 cheaper than the original cheapest SKU with an Intel Core i5. The Intel Core m3 model appears to only be available in Platinum for now, and is US only at this time.

Surface Laptop review: Microsoft's best Surface ever

This is Microsoft's new entry-level SKU for the Surface Laptop, which is available a much more affordable price for many. The Intel Core m3 spec is paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB Storage. This is definitely not a high-end model of the Surface Laptop, but it's still a premium one, with the same Alcantara fabric and high-quality display found on other Surface Laptop SKUs.

Specifications for the Intel Core m3 Surface Laptop are as follows:

Microsoft offers an Intel Core m3 model of the Surface Pro priced at $799 also, however that SKU doesn't come bundled with a keyboard or pen. At least with the Surface Laptop, you're getting a keyboard and trackpad in the box, so perhaps the Intel Core m3 Laptop is going to be the better choice for many. If you're looking for a straight laptop by Microsoft, that is.

The Intel Core m3 model is a SKU that's aimed more at college students or those that only do a bit of web browsing and email checking. It's not a powerhouse by any means, and you may find that 4GB RAM to be quite limiting after a while. Still, if you've been holding out for a cheaper Surface Laptop, $799 is definitely a step in the right direction.

See at Microsoft Store

Microsoft's Windows 10 S launched last year to take on Google's Chromebooks in the education market. Redmond is attempting to tap into a market where price is everything, but there are a few valid reasons why you might want to choose this version Windows 10 over the full-featured Windows 10 Pro.

It actually is Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 S is a little locked down compared to standard Windows, so you can't just go crazy and install whatever you want. But it does still have most of the features that everyone uses, including access to awesome games in the Windows Store, stylus support, BitLocker, Xbox Anywhere, Remote Desktop, and the latest security and feature updates.

And if you do decided to unlock it, you're getting Windows 10 Pro with all the features and not just Windows 10 Home.

A safe and secure app store

While limiting Windows 10 S to the Windows Store does also limit the selection of what you can install, it also means you're less likely to install something nasty. Apps in the Windows Store are screened for malware and viruses, and are also limited in how much access they have to your system. Sticking to Windows Store apps ensures your PC will stay secure and perform well.

Add in an ever-growing app selection in the Windows Store and Windows 10 S should be more than enough for most.

It's better than Windows 8

Windows 10 S is everything that the Windows RT experiment should have been. It's fast, has an app store with great apps from top developers and independent coders, and it's stable and reliable. It's easy to laugh at Windows 8 and RT, but Windows 10 Pro and 10 S are actually really good.

Edge is edgy

Microsoft's latest web browser is a solid experience and a vast departure from the clunky, unsupported, and slow Internet Explorer. There are even extensions that are available in the Windows Store to expand the functionality of the browser.

Microsoft Edge ultimate guide

Upgrade to Pro at anytime

The good part about Windows 10 S is you're not stuck with it. If you want to install software outside the Windows Store or tweak locked settings, you can upgrade to full Windows 10 Pro. It'll cost you $49, which isn't absurdly expensive, and the option is always there if you want it.

More on Windows S

• See our Windows 10 S review
• Everything you need to know about Windows 10 S

Updated December 19, 2017: Microsoft has now pulled Chrome Installer from the Microsoft Store.

Google has today launched its Chrome web browser in the Microsoft Store on Windows 10, allowing users to head to the Windows 10 app store and download Google's ever-popular Chrome browser ... well, sort of. It's true that you can now download Chrome via the Microsoft Store, but not directly as the app Google has submitted isn't actually a browser.

It appears Google has submitted a "Google Chrome Installer" to the Microsoft Store, which means what you're downloading from the Store is an installer that'll then proceed to download Google Chrome normally. This means the Chrome browser itself isn't a Microsoft Store app; it hasn't used the desktop bridge, it isn't a Centennial app, and will not be updated via the Microsoft Store either.

Why has Google done this? Likely to bypass Microsoft's limitations that conclude any browser on the Microsoft Store must use Microsoft's own rendering engine. Google Chrome doesn't use Microsoft's rendering engine, obviously, and as such isn't actually allowed on the Store. That, or Google was feeling particularly lazy and didn't want to go through the effort of running Chrome through the Centennial bridge.

Because Chrome still isn't technically in the Microsoft Store, this Google Chrome Installer doesn't work on Windows 10 S. It'll download, but when the Installer tries to install Chrome itself, the process will fail as the Chrome browser isn't coming from the Microsoft Store. So this begs the question; why is this in the Store if it isn't for Windows 10 S users?

It's likely in there because a few people might be looking for Google Chrome in the Microsoft Store, and up until now have been met with nothing but spam apps that somehow bypass Microsoft's approval system. Google putting an Installer in there gives Google an official home in the Microsoft Store for the few people who are looking in there for apps. This is only a good thing.

Of course, it would be better if Google had just put the actual Chrome browser in the Store, but either Microsoft or Google aren't allowing this to happen. Fact of the matter is; if Microsoft wants people to use the Store, it might be a good idea to have the proper Chrome browser available in there.

See Google Chrome Installer in the Microsoft Store

via Mehedi Hassan

The Surface Laptop is now six months old. Subsequently, this also means Windows 10 S is six months old today, as Windows 10 S debuted alongside the Surface Laptop back in June. I've been using both since June 15, and I wanted to give my thoughts and opinions on both six months on.

Check out our Surface Laptop review

See Surface Laptop at Microsoft Store

Surface Laptop: Still like new

I know a lot of people had worried that the Alcantara fabric on the keyboard would wear and get dirty over time. I can confirm that this is yet to happen, at least on my machine. Admittedly, I'm not often eating greasy or crummy foods around my Laptop, but I also haven't seen anyone online complaining about stains in the Alcantara on the Surface Laptop. I imagine there are some cases out there where this has happened, but definitely not on the scale it did with the first generation Alcantara Type Covers.

For those unaware, the Alcantara on the Surface Laptop and new Surface Pro Type Covers is different. This second generation of Alcantara is coated in polyurethane to help fight against stains and marks over time, meaning it's more durable and should last much longer than the old Type Covers. That's why my Surface Laptop still looks brand new. I'm using the grey model too, which would likely be the color to show stains and dirt the quickest.

Battery life is still excellent. I'm getting through an entire day with no problems, even after installing all my apps and programs from the Microsoft Store. This is in-part due to Windows 10 S and Microsoft's promise of excellent battery life for as long as you own the laptop. The charger that the Surface Laptop comes with is good but slightly less powerful than the one that comes with the Surface Book. (Pro tip: You can use the Surface Book charger on the Surface Laptop for faster charging, which is what I've been doing for the last six months with no issues.)

I opted for the Intel Core i5 model with 8GB RAM, which is pretty run of the mill. So far, it's performed well. At any given time, I'll have Spotify open, along with around five or six tabs in Edge, a Word document, Slack and GroupMe all open at the same time. The Surface Laptop can handle this workload great, with no real slow downs or noticeable performance drops.

Overall, the Surface Laptop has held up tremendously over the last six months. It still looks new, and I love the form-factor and light weighted-ness. I was a Surface Book user before I made the switch to the Surface Laptop, and I can honestly say that I haven't missed the Surface Book one bit. In fact, when Microsoft announced the Surface Book 2, it was the first Surface device that I wasn't super interested in.

Windows 10 S: I forgot I was using it ...

When I first reviewed the Surface Laptop, I said I was going to switch to Windows 10 Pro so that I could have the freedom of installing whatever program I wanted. It was more for the convenience of that freedom than me actually needing software that wasn't in the Microsoft Store. Regardless, I never actually got around to doing it. I meant to, but it slipped my mind one day, and over time, I forgot that I was even using Windows 10 S.

Windows 10 S has everything I need for a device that's using a laptop-class processor. Of course, I still need my editing and live streaming software, both of which aren't available on Windows 10 S, but that's fine because I have no intention of using the Surface Laptop to edit videos or live stream our podcast. I only ever browse the web, do some email, edit documents in Word or PowerPoint, and communicate with friends and colleagues using apps like GroupMe and Slack on the Laptop.

Windows 10 S Review

I have a powerful desktop at home that I use for all the heavy lifting. I rarely need to do any heavy lifting work when on the go, so the Surface Laptop with Windows 10 S is more than enough for me. But Windows 10 S won't be for everyone, especially those who swear by Google Chrome or any other browser. To a lot of people, Microsoft Edge still isn't ready for primetime, which is perfectly understandable.

However, I've been using Microsoft Edge as my default and only browser since it was first made available in beta under the name "Project Spartan" during the development of the first-ever Windows 10 release. I have no issues with it. I love how lightweight and clean the experience is. Admittedly, I'm not big on extensions, which I know many Chrome users depend on.

There hasn't been a single moment where any Windows 10 S limitation popped up stopping me from doing something I wanted to do. I've not once encountered the "You can't install this app" dialogue or found that I couldn't change a default app or search engine to something else. I'm perfectly fine with Bing as my default search provider in Edge because Bing is fine. It's not spectacular or anything, but it gets the job done. And if Bing isn't sufficient, I just head to Google and do a search query there.

Love at first (and second and third) sight

Windows 10 S has been more than good to me over the last six months. For about four months of that time, I didn't even know it was Windows 10 S. That' means Microsoft is doing a great job at getting all the apps I need into the Microsoft Store. Windows 10 S is only going to improve over time too, with the introduction of features like Sets, Cloud Clipboard and Timeline. I'm very excited to see where Windows 10 S is headed.

Six months on, both the Surface Laptop and Windows 10 S are doing very well. I honestly think the Surface Laptop is the best Surface on the market. I've always wanted Microsoft to build a proper laptop, and the Surface Laptop is precisely that. I was a Surface Pro user before the Surface Book came along, and I made the switch to the Book because it was more like a laptop than the Pro. So naturally I made the switch to the Laptop once that came along, and I have loved every minute of it.

See Surface Laptop at Microsoft Store

During the last 12 months, Microsoft made some significant advancements in positioning Windows 10 as a viable Chrome OS competitor. With Windows 10 coming to ARM, and the introduction of Windows 10 S, Microsoft is journeying towards turning Windows 10 into a real Chrome OS alternative.

The recent announcement of a "Sets" feature coming to Windows 10 is yet another step forward in that journey, essentially lifting the tabbed experience Chrome OS is known for and bolting it onto Windows.

Sets + Edge > Chrome?

The tabbed browsing experience is a popular one. People love tabs in their web browsers, so why not bring that same experience to apps? This is what Chrome OS already nails, putting everything in a tabbed environment, whether it be a website, app, or progressive web app. More and more people on Windows are using their web browsers exclusively to do pretty much everything on their PCs,

Microsoft needs a true "lite" version of Windows

The problem with that is even on Windows people are choosing Chrome over Edge. If more and more people are using Chrome to do everything, Windows itself is being used less as a result. So, Microsoft needs to somehow get people to start using Edge, and what better way to do that than to tie Edge with Sets, making Edge a more convenient choice when switching between websites and apps on a Windows 10 PC?

Sets and Edge will work together, just like the Chrome browser and tabs environment do on Chrome OS. With Sets on Windows 10, the user will be able to switch between the apps on their PC and websites they're browsing, without having to switch windows or environments. This scenario only really works if the user is using Edge, so the Sets function itself is almost going to have to trick people into using Edge.

With Sets, every window will have a tabbed UI above it, with a plus (+) button for opening a new tab. The new tab experience begins with the familiar Edge Start page, and from there you'll be able to launch not just websites but locally installed apps on your device, directly from within the Edge Start UI. This is Microsoft's attempt at keeping users within Windows and Edge, instead of switching to Chrome.

What sets Microsoft's approach apart?

Google Chrome on Windows is a serious problem for Microsoft. Windows 10 S is the perfect example of this. Many people will scoff at the idea of Windows 10 S because it doesn't have Chrome. But if Microsoft can minimize the want for Chrome by making Windows 10 perform and behave better when using its own tabbed experience, then perhaps Microsoft can eliminate people's need for Google's browser.

Why Microsoft's new tabbed "Sets" in Windows could be a genuine game changer

Microsoft is essentially trying to keep people within its own platform, which is important as users opt for a more web-orientated workflow. Microsoft is essentially webifying Windows 10 with Sets by bundling websites, apps and more under the same tabbed windows. It's all about the efficiency of the user's workflow, with Sets enabling the ability to resume entire windows across PCs and multitask with ease.

So, now we have the Chrome OS tabbed experience on Windows thanks to Sets, along with Windows 10 S and Windows 10 on ARM. Microsoft isn't done with trying to compete with Chrome OS, however. We understand that there are even more changes and features in the pipeline that will further help Windows 10 along, as more and more people flock to using their web browsers as their one-stop-shops for everything.

Chrome OS may be the dominant player in the U.S. education market as it currently stands, but Windows PC device share is on the rise. Microsoft today highlighted a new report from research firm Futuresource{.nofollow}, showing that PCs saw solid growth in the market over the past year, and that growth could be poised to continue based on market conditions and Microsoft's recent efforts in education.

In total, Windows device share grew by 4.3 percent on devices under $300 and 8.2 percent on devices over $300 in K-12 schools in the U.S. over the past year. Worldwide, Microsoft remains the in a dominant position in developed and emerging markets at an OS level, though Chromebooks are gaining share in Northern Europe, the firm says. Overall, Futuresource reports the total worldwide market (excluding the U.S.) grew by 26 percent in Q3 2017.

Says Microsoft:

This follows a year in which Microsoft has placed a renewed focus on the education market. Early on in 2017, Microsoft launched Windows 10 S as a more secure version of the OS aimed primarily at the education market. Services like OneNote continue to make strides with classroom-specific features, and even Minecraft is staking a claim on the classroom with more than 2 million Education Edition users. Going forward, it will be interesting to see where else Microsoft places its education focus, particularly where it concerns Windows Mixed Reality.

Alongside millions of desktops, laptops, and tablets, devices running Windows 10 S like the Surface Laptop and are expected to receive the Fall Creators Update (version 1709) starting October 17. While Microsoft has been getting better on rolling out big updates, bugs and issues aren't uncommon in the early days, so if that's something you'd like to avoid you'll want to delay downloading and installing the update.

If you have a Windows 10 S device, you can use the Settings app to delay the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update in at least two different ways.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through two ways you can prevent the Fall Creators Update from installing on Windows 10 S while still getting quality updates to keep your device secure.

• How to defer the Fall Creators Update installation on Windows 10 S
• How to postpone the Fall Creators Update installation on Windows 10 S

How to defer the Fall Creators Update installation on Windows 10 S

If you're still not ready to jump to a new version of Windows 10, you can use the Settings app to defer a feature update up to one year since the original release using the "Current Branch" readiness level, or up to 16 months switching to the "Current Branch for Business" option, using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Under "Update settings," click the Advanced options link.

4. Under "Choose when updates are installed," select the readiness level.Important: If you use the Current Branch option, you can delay the update for up to 365 days since the original release of the new version. If you use the Current Branch for Business, you can defer the installation up to 365 days since the update rolls out in this branch, which typically happens four months after it's general available.

5. Select the number of days you want to delay the update using the drop-down menu.

Once you've completed the steps, your device running Windows 10 S will not install the Fall Creators Update until the day you defined in the settings, or until you undo the configuration.

It should be noted that using these settings your device will continue to receive maintenance updates to address any issues and patch any security vulnerability.

How to postpone the Fall Creators Update installation on Windows 10 S

Alternatively, if you're planning to get the new feature update on your Windows 10 S device, but you just want to postpone the installation for another day when you're not busy, you can change the schedule using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Under "Update settings," click the Restart options link.

5. Turn on the Schedule a time toggle switch.
6. Pick the time and date you want the installation to happen (up to six days in the future).

After completing the steps, the upgrade process will only occur on the schedule you've specified.

If you receive a notification that the update is ready to install, you can also delay the installation at a different time the same day. The only thing you have to do is to click the Change active hours link from the Windows Update page and specify the time range you don't want the update to happen. After applying the changes, the Fall Creators Update will install outside the active hours.

Wrapping things up

Keeping your device up-to-date is always important to take advantage of new features, changes, and security improvements. However, if you're concern about early bugs and issues, or you don't have spare time to go through the upgrade, Windows 10 gives you different ways to temporarily delay the installation until you're ready.

Also, remember that similar to other editions, every release of Windows 10 S is maintained for at least 18 months, which means that your device will continue to receive security and fixes to address any issues even after a newer version becomes available.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Microsoft initially debuted Windows 10 S in May as a primarily education-focused version of Windows 10. However, at Ignite 2017 this week, Microsoft revealed that new Windows 10 S devices for the enterprise are coming later this year. As it turns out, Microsoft is also working on a special version of Windows 10 S for enterprise users as well.

As reported by Neowin, this new version, called Windows 10 Enterprise in S mode, will still be locked down to only install apps from the Windows Store. The main difference is that it will be based on Windows 10 Enterprise, whereas the standard version of Windows 10 S is based on Windows 10 Pro. Just like Windows 10 S users can upgrade to Pro, Enterprise in S mode users will be able to upgrade directly to Windows 10 Enterprise, should they choose.

Windows 10 Enterprise in S mode will be available in spring 2018. That means it won't be available in time for the launch of new Windows 10 S devices for commercial users later this year, so it seems they'll initially be available with the standard version of Windows 10 S.

When Microsoft first debuted Windows 10 S in May, it was clearly targeted at the education market. A large reason for that is due to the fact that it's more secure without the ability to run apps from outside of the Windows Store. That can have its perks in other scenarios as well, particularly when combined with low-cost devices for the enterprise.

At its Ignite 2017 event in Orlando today, Microsoft has announced that new commercial Windows 10 S devices are coming from HP, Lenovo, and Fujitsu. Starting at $275, pricing firmly falls into the low-cost territory, which, combined with simplified management and self-service deployment, Microsoft is hoping will provide an overall reduced cost for businesses.

The devices will also be offered alongside a new Microsoft 365 F1 subscription bundle, which is tailored for firstline workers. The bundle combines Office 365 F1, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobile and Security and more.

Aside from the students and educators, commercial users seem like a natural fit for Windows 10 S. The Windows Store-bound OS offers a more secure environment and will be available with relatively low-cost hardware. For organizations that must leverage legacy Win32 apps, Windows 10 S is obviously a no-go. However, the arrival of full Office apps on the Windows Store likely alleviates at least one major pressure point for many users.

As for when to expect the devices to arrive, Microsoft doesn't have any firm dates available, but it does say to expect them "later this year."

Windows 10 S is Microsoft's streamlined version of Windows 10, introduced in tandem with the Surface Laptop. It's built with security and performance in mind; only apps downloaded through the Windows Store can be installed. But Windows 10 S can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro for anyone who needs a bit more freedom.

An anonymous poster on the Windows Central forum recently asked how much of hit a laptop's battery life takes when upgrading to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 10 S.

The anonymous poster went on to say that the only apps they use are Google Chrome, Google Allo, and an extension for Chrome.

Do you have first-hand experience with the difference in battery life between the two versions of Windows 10? If so, visit the thread and deliver some knowledge!

Join the discussion on the Windows Central forum!

If Microsoft wants to get serious about competing with Google in the education market, it needs a version of Windows 10 that isn't just Windows 10 Pro with a virtual block on installing programs from outside the Store. Windows 10 S, while a nice idea, is not a true Chrome OS competitor. Microsoft needs a real, lightweight version of Windows 10 that removes the bloatware of Win32 and focuses primarily on being a web-first OS.

The beauty of Chrome OS is that it doesn't get in the way. It's a simple, straightforward experience that puts what you bought the thing for front and center: browsing the web. Microsoft's idea of a Chrome OS competitor is normal Windows with a block on installing non-Store apps, and while Windows 10 S is good for other reasons, it's not a viable Chrome OS competitor.

Windows 10 S Review

I think Microsoft needs a version of Windows 10 with a desktop environment that's true Universal Windows Platform (UWP)-only. That means no legacy Win32 programs, no classic Control Panel, and no ancient File Explorer. Microsoft needs a version of Windows 10 that's entirely modern while remaining familiar enough to be recognizable. Microsoft needs Windows 10 Mobile ... but without the Mobile part.

It wouldn't be for power users

I can already hear the power users in the comments ranting about why such a version of Windows 10 is a bad idea, but let me be clear here: This version of Windows 10 is not for you. It's for those in the education sector or casual users who do nothing but surf the internet.

In my life, I have bought or given Windows laptops to all kinds of people. Old people, young people, workaholics, casuals, you name it. While everyone's use case is different, I've noticed a trend amongst several of them; their use cases are using the web browser for accessing email, watching Netflix, and writing documents. These laptops often come with bloatware and extra crap that they're not ever going to use, killing performance, and it's overkill for a lot of people.

The fact of the matter is for a lot of people, Windows as a whole is overkill. Not everyone wants to customize every last setting available in the Control Panel. Not everyone wants to access the registry, manage connected domains or organize files in File Explorer. A lot of people just want to use the internet, and I think Microsoft needs a version of Windows 10 that gets out of the way and lets people do just that.

A version of Windows 10 that's true UWP-only, with a simple desktop experience that includes a taskbar, Start menu and windowed apps, is exactly what a lot of people need. Maybe not you or me, but people. Windows 10 S gets a lot right, but it's still the same old Windows under the hood. It still has the extra settings, functions, and capabilities that most people don't need.

As I showcased in my CShell video earlier this year, Continuum has been updated with windowed mode, which actually makes Continuum useful. Take that experience, build the hardware into a laptop rather than a phone, and you've got the exact scenario I'm imagining: A version of Windows 10 with a desktop experience that's UWP only, and runs on ARM-based laptops.

Edge needs to be better

Don't get me wrong, a true UWP-only version of Windows would come with its own problems. For example, UWP itself isn't exactly doing well when it comes to third-party apps, but again, a lot of these people just use the web browser on these kinds of devices. The only real problem with this is Microsoft Edge, which many would argue is still subpar compared to Chrome or Firefox.

While I personally disagree, I totally understand that argument. Microsoft needs to do more work to Edge before people will start taking it seriously, which is why a true UWP only version of Windows 10 today wouldn't work. Until Microsoft gets more extensions for Edge in the Store and improves Edge under the hood, the idea of a version of Windows 10 that puts the browser first falls flat. But Microsoft is serious about Edge, and I think Microsoft wants Edge to be the best browser out there.

And I'm not saying this version of Windows 10 should be installed on high-end machines. This would be a version of Windows 10 for Intel Atom or ARM-based devices that aren't all that powerful and are good at browsing the web or doing lightweight tasks. Too many times have I bought a sub-$300 laptop and found it to be incredibly sluggish thanks to Windows being so old and heavy, along with the added bloatware hardware makers like to pre-install. A UWP-only version of Windows 10 would improve the experience on devices like that dramatically.

What are your thoughts on such a version of Windows 10? Do you know anyone who would benefit from an OS like this? Let us know in the comments.

Alongside the launch of Windows 10 S and the Surface Laptop earlier in 2017, Microsoft also announced that Windows 10 S users would get to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free for a limited time, should they choose. While that offer was originally set to end this December, Microsoft has now announced that it will extend the free upgrade through March 31, 2018.

Windows 10 S is being positioned for the education market as a more secure version of Windows 10 because it only allows apps from the Windows Store to be installed. It also happens to come as the default operating system on the Surface Laptop. If find you need to install an app that is only available outside of the Windows Store, the ability to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro at any time is handy to have, particularly through the free promotion. Once the promotion ends in March, however, Microsoft is expected to charge upwards of $49 to upgrade.

This announcement comes alongside news that the Core i7 version of the Surface Laptop is now available in the full range of colors in 20 new countries. We already spotted that preorders had opened up last week in the U.S. and UK, but Microsoft says they're now available in the following 20 regions:

• US
• Canada
• Austria
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Luxembourg
• Netherland
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• UK
• Taiwan
• HK
• China
• Norway
• Australia
• NZ

See at Microsoft

Alongside the release of a new Fast ring Windows 10 build for Insiders today, Microsoft also officially called on Insiders to help test new builds for Windows 10 S. As detailed by Windows Insider chief Dona Sarkar in the latest build notes, Insiders can install Windows 10 S and opt in for testing new builds.

Says Sarkar:

Microsoft has gradually opened Windows 10 S up for testers since its initial debut. Prior to this, developers and school IT administrators could install Windows 10 S on their existing hardware with a convenient installer. Insiders can also use a simple installer to set up a clean install of Windows 10 S.

Do note that this will only work with machines that are already running Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise editions. Keep in mind that this will wipe your current install, but you'll be able to opt into receiving Insider builds once Windows 10 S is installed.

Updated August 23, 2017: As we've written before, Windows 10 S and the Surface Laptop could already opt in for Insider testing before this. Microsoft's latest notes provide access to a convenient installer while calling on Insiders to jump in and test Windows 10 S on their machines.

Microsoft has released a tool that makes it incredibly easy to "sidegrade" from a Windows 10 Pro installation to Windows 10 S with just a few clicks, allowing anyone to try out Microsoft's Store-only version of Windows 10. Microsoft recommends doing this on test hardware, for reasons we'll outline below. And to be clear, Windows 10 S is a version of Windows 10 that's locked to the Windows Store for all your apps and games, and you cannot run programs from outside it.

If you want to try out Windows 10 S on your own hardware, there are a few things you need to take note of. Microsoft doesn't recommend you try this on all hardware because some device drivers don't install or run or Windows 10 S. That can cause problems

The sidegrade to Windows 10 S only works from a Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Education, Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Pro Education installations. If you're using Windows 10 Home, this upgrade will not work and you will be left with an unactivated version of Windows 10.

If you're using any of the four variants that work with the Windows 10 S sidegrade, you shouldn't need to worry about activation. Under the hood, Windows 10 S is just Windows 10 Pro with a few additional security tweaks, meaning your device will remain activated through the sidegrade.

The sidegrade will remove your already installed programs that you downloaded from outside the Store, however, so keep that in mind.

Switching from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 S

1. Head to Microsoft's site and download the Windows 10 S Installer.

2. Select Run when prompted. (This option should be present with most web browsers.)

3. In the Installer, select Next.

4. The Installer will check your PC and make sure it is eligible for the upgrade, and once that's done you should select Next.

5. The Installer will download and begin installing Windows 10 S, you can now go back to using your PC like normal.

6. Once the Installer is finished, it will give you an amount of time before it needs to restart. Select Restart now to continue the installation.

7. Your PC will restart and continue installing Windows 10 S.
8. Once your PC boots back up, you should be running Windows 10 S!

Depending on your hardware, the time this takes may vary. For most machines, this process shouldn't take more than an hour. Remember, once you're on Windows 10 S, you can sidegrade back to Windows 10 Pro anytime. Here's how to do it.

If you're interested in Windows 10 S but don't have a dedicated Windows 10 S device on hand, Microsoft is making it easier for you to try out the latest edition of Windows 10 on your already existing hardware. If you've got a device running Windows 10 Pro, you can now use Microsoft's Windows 10 S upgrade tool to switch to S from Pro.

The upgrade tool works on Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Pro Education, Windows 10 Enterprise, and Windows 10 Education, and will automatically activate your PC once the upgrade is complete. You don't need to purchase a separate Windows 10 S product key to get activated. The installer won't work, however, on Windows 10 Home since Windows 10 S is technically a version of Windows 10 Pro with some advanced networking features.

This tool is aimed at those who wish to test Windows 10 S on their existing hardware, however it can be used as a way of putting Windows 10 S on any device you wish. Check out the upgrade tool here and let us know if you're going to be switching to Windows 10 S!

Microsoft has announced that the first low-cost Windows 10 S devices are now available for schools to purchase. Starting today, Microsoft says, schools can get their hands on the Lenovo N23 and N24 for $249 and $279, respectively (via Neowin).

These two are just the start, however. Microsoft also highlighted the following devices that will be coming soon with Windows 10 S on board:

• ASUS Vivobook W202 ($279 USD), available in the US
• Dell Latitude 3180 ($229 USD) and 3189 ($299), available in the US and Canada
• Fujitsu LIFEBOOK P727 ($999 USD), available in the US and Canada
• HP ProBook x360 11EE ($299 USD), available in the US, UK and Australia

Of course, the very first Windows 10 S device to hit the market was the Surface Laptop, which debuted in May. Its $999 price tag makes it out of reach for most school uses, however, which is where these low-cost Windows 10 S devices from other manufacturers come in.

It's also worth noting that Microsoft has provided an easy-to-use installer that allows schools to install and test Windows 10 S on eligible PCs that already have Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Pro Education, Windows 10 Education, or Windows 10 Enterprise installed. If you're an IT administrator, this is intended to be a handy way to test and provide feedback on Windows 10 S on a variety of devices in use at your school.

See at Microsoft

If you're an MSDN subscriber, we've got some good news for you. Microsoft is now making available official Windows 10 S ISOs for developers, meaning MSDN subscribers can now download, install and activate Windows 10 S on any device.

Microsoft says the availability of these Windows 10 ISOs are primarily for developers and the education market. The availability of these ISOs mean more people can download and use Windows 10 S, without needing to buy a machine that comes bundled with it.

MSDN subscriptions are pretty expensive, but it likely won't be long before those ISOs get mirrored online elsewhere (we don't recommend downloading ISOs from unofficial sources, of course). Microsoft says they will be releasing the ISOs alongside an Update Assistant Tool for existing Education customers next week.

See MSDN Subscriber Downloads

Windows 10 S is technically Windows 10 Pro with a special configuration that aims to improve performance and security while retaining the same familiar experience. However, it can only run apps available in the Windows Store. And the fact that you can't run executable files makes it impossible to install desktop programs that you download from the internet.

Although a more restricted version of Windows seems like a good idea for non-technical users, the stock of apps in the Windows Store is still light, and some apps, such as those converted using Windows Desktop Bridge do not always work.

Of course, you can switch to Windows 10 Pro, but if you want to keep your device secure and performing at top speeds, as an alternative option, you can set up remote desktop on a second machine to use non-Store apps on your Windows 10 S device.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to use desktop (win32) applications on your Surface Laptop running Windows 10 S by setting up a remote connection to a device running Windows 10 Pro or Home.

• How to use non-Store apps on Windows 10 S using a remote connection to Windows 10 Pro
• How to use non-Store apps on Windows 10 S using a remote connection to Windows 10 Home

How to use non-Store apps on Windows 10 S using a remote connection to Windows 10 Pro

Although Windows 10 S limits you to use only apps from the Store, you can still use traditional desktop apps using Remote Desktop on Windows 10 Pro (Windows 8.1 Pro or Windows 7 Professional).

How to enable Remote Desktop on Windows 10 Pro

If you're looking to access another computer on a local network, you only need to make sure that Remote Desktop is enabled.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on System and Security.
3. Click on Allow remote access.
4. Under Remote Desktop make sure to select Allow remote connections to this computer.

1. Click OK.
2. Click Apply.
3. Click OK.

After you've completed the steps, your Windows 10 Pro device will allow remote desktop connections from other devices, including those running Windows 10 S.

If you are accessing desktop programs through the internet, you'll need to perform additional steps, including setting a static IP address on your computer, figuring out which is your public IP address, and configuring port forwarding on your router to allow remote connections. (You can refer to our set up remote access through the internet guide for more details.)

How to disable sleep and hibernation

Additionally, you need to make sure to keep your computer awake to establish a remote session. You can do this by disabling sleep and hibernation on Windows 10.

Disabling sleep

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Power & sleep.
4. Under "Sleep," select Never from the drop-down menu.

Disabling hibernation

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the result, and click select Run as administrator.
3. Type the following command and press Enter:powercfg.exe /h off

Identifying your PC's IP address and name

In order to connect remotely to your machine hosting the non-Store applications, you need to know the device name or IP address.

There is a number of ways to figure out the name and IP address of your machine, but you can quickly get the required information using these steps:

1. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
2. Type cmd and click OK.
3. In Command Prompt, type the following command to get the computer name and press Enter:hostname
4. Type the following command to get the computer IP address and press Enter:ipconfig

How to set up a Remote Desktop connection on Windows 10 S

There are at least two ways to start a Remote Desktop connection on Windows 10 S. You can use the built-in Remote Desktop Connection tool, or you can install the Remote Desktop app from the Store.

Here we show you the steps to access another device remotely using the Remote Desktop app because it's easier for non-technical users.

Installing Remote Desktop app

1. Open the Windows Store.
2. Search for Microsoft Remote Desktop.
3. Click the Install button.

Configuring a Remote Desktop connection

After the installation, use these steps to set up a new remote connection.

1. Open Remote Desktop.
2. Click the + Add button from the top-right corner.
3. Click on the Desktop option.

1. Type the IP address of the remote computer.
   • Note: You can also use your computer's name, but if you don't have an environment with a DNS server correctly configured, Windows 10 may not be able to resolve the name to the correct IP address to contact the remote host.
2. On "User account," click the + button.

1. Type your username, or email address if you're using a Microsoft account, and your password.
2. Click the Save button.

1. Click the Save button again.

Establishing a Remote Desktop session

1. On the right side, under Saved Desktops, click the computer tile to start a connection.
2. If you're prompted to accept a certificate, check the Don't ask about this certificate again option.
3. Click the Connect button.

Once you complete these steps, you'll connect to your remote computer running Windows 10 Pro, and you can then start using your traditional desktop (win32) applications as you would normally on any device.

How to use non-Store apps on Windows 10 S using a remote connection to Windows 10 Home

Remote Desktop isn't available on Windows 10 Home, but you can still access non-Store apps from your Windows 10 S device using third-party tools.

While there is a number of remote desktop software options available, for this guide, we'll be using TeamViewer because is easy to set up, and it has a remote desktop client app in the Store, which you can install on Windows 10 S.

Quick Tip: If TeamViewer isn't for you, when choosing another solution, make sure it offers a client that you can download from the Store, or at least it provides a way to connect using Microsoft Edge on Windows 10 S.

How to configure remote desktop on Windows 10 Home

Setting up TeamViewer on Windows 10 Home

1. Download TeamViewer.
2. Double-click the TeamViewer_Setup.exe file to start the installation.
3. Select the Installation to access this computer remotely (unattended) option.
4. Select the Personal / Non-commercial use option.
5. Click the Accept - finish button.

1. After the installation, the unattended access setup will appear, click Next.
2. Set the password to access your computer.
3. Click Next.

1. If you don't already have an account, select Create a free TeamViewer account and enter the required information. Otherwise, select I already have a TeamViewer account and complete the information needed.

1. Click Next.
2. Click Finish.
   • Note: You may be prompted to add your machine to the list of trusted devices to connect. If you don't see the prompt and you can't connect, login to your TeamViewer account and manually add the device.

After completing the steps note your ID number and password, which you'll need to configure a remote session using your Windows 10 S device.

How to set up a remote desktop connection on Windows 10 S

Setting up TeamViewer on Windows 10 S

1. Open the Windows Store.
2. Search for TeamViewer: Remote Control.
3. Click the Install button.

Establishing a remote connection to Windows 10 Home

1. Open TeamViewer: Remote Control.
2. In the "Connect" box, type your nine-digit TeamViewer identification number.
3. Click the Remote Control button.

1. In the "Authentication" box, type your password.
2. Click OK to connect.

Once you complete these steps, you'll be connected to your Windows 10 Home computer, and you can start using your traditional desktop (win32) applications as you normally would.

Wrapping things up

In this guide, we outlined two different ways you can use non-Store apps on Windows 10 S, but if you find them too challenging, you can always switch to Windows 10 Pro quite easily using these instructions.

While we're using TeamViewer to bring remote desktop capabilities to Windows 10 Home, remember that you can also use this tool on any major release of Windows. However, on Windows 10 Pro, I personally prefer Microsoft's Remote Desktop (even though it requires extra steps to configure), because TeamViewer is a paid service, and while you can use it for free, it'll nag you to get the paid version. And you can't use it without an internet connection.

Also, remember that if you're only planning to use desktop apps in a local network, you can enable Project to this PC on devices with Miracast support and use the Connect app on Windows 10 S as an alternative remote connection solution.

It should be noted that the experience using Remote Desktop or TeamViewer will vary depending on the network connection quality.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

The Surface Laptop is just over a month old, so we're revisiting some topics including the controversial decision to ship it with Windows 10 S. While that OS has some high points, I recently documented some early issues with it too when using it daily.

The solution to Windows 10 S is obvious: just switch to Windows 10 Pro. We've had people ask what it's like to do the switch and many wonder if it's a long process e.g. does it need to download a huge file to upgrade?

In this new short video, Mark Guim will demonstrate how to make that switch in real time.

I've noted in the review that switching to Windows 10 Pro is about as fast as brewing a cup of coffee, but now you can see the whole thing happen for real. You be the judge if it's a hassle or not.

Unfortunately, what is a bother is going from Pro back to Windows 10 S, but we imagine few will want to do that. Just in case though, we did make a tutorial explaining how to reinstall that version of the OS for the Surface Laptop.

Luckily, switching to Windows 10 Pro is free through 2017 for Surface Laptop owners. In 2018, Microsoft will reportedly charge $50 for the Pro license, which is $50 cheaper than going from Home to Pro ($99). License fees are fixed into the product price meaning whether you pay now or later for a Pro license, you are going to get that $50 fee somewhere.

For more on Windows 10 S make sure you read our mini-review, check out our full Surface Laptop review or see our other Surface Laptop articles that deep dive in the nitty gritty.

• Windows 10 S and the Surface Laptop can enroll in the Window Insider Program
• Is the Surface Laptop's faster 512GB SSD worth the extra cost?
• Surface Pro vs. Surface Laptop — Which is better (and why)?
• Surface Laptop Core i5 vs. Core i7: Comparing performance, battery life and more

Introduced with the Surface Laptop, Windows 10 S is a new take on the OS we all love. It's made to run more efficiently by only allowing apps from the Windows Store. Microsoft leaves a grace period for a free (for now) update to Windows 10 Pro for anyone who doesn't like the stripped-down OS.

Windows Central forum member ariez84 started a thread asking the question of whether or not all new laptops and tablets should come with Windows 10 S by default, as long as there is a six-month grace period to upgrade to either Home or Pro for free.

ariez84 listed a few reasons why this might be a good idea, including the idea that most people get their apps from the Windows Store anyway, and that it would help dispel the idea that Windows is full of viruses.

Do you agree with ariez84 that all new devices should come with Windows 10 S? Head over to the forum and share your opinion — there are already more than 75 replies.

Join the discussion on the Window Central forum!

The Surface Laptop has been available for exactly one month, and with running Windows 10 S there are a few interesting limitations that I have experienced. Sure, we all know the Surface Laptop only runs apps from the Windows Store – if you don't switch to Windows 10 Pro – but there are some other side effects too.

Here are just a couple that I have found that you likely don't know about either.

Drivers for unconventional peripherals

Microsoft and its OEM partners are doing a decent job of getting many drivers into Windows Update, but all is not perfect.

For those who don't know it is Microsoft's long-term goal to get all drivers and firmware for non-Microsoft devices into the Windows Update system. In fact, by late 2018 OEMs will be required to do drivers this way. The idea is simple: instead of manufacturers installing their "helper apps" to manage drivers and firmware they just get pulled in with regular OS and Windows Defender updates. Already, most modern PCs and laptops grab default drivers for display, Wi-Fi, keyboard, trackpads, and audio through Microsoft's Windows Update – that's why "clean" installs are so much easier now.

There are limits, however. I picked up the new Asus ZenScreen – a portable 15-inch display that connects through USB Type-C to any laptop. Asus, however, tosses in a USB Type-C to Type-A converter in the box and it works with the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop…

…once you install the drivers.

Therein lies the problem. Asus supplies the drivers through its website via a downloadable .exe file. For any PC that's not a problem, but Windows 10 S does not let you run .exe files, and Asus did not provide manual .inf drivers either.

I should be able to plug the ZenScreen into the Surface Laptop with Windows 10 S and – through Windows Update – it would magically grab the right driver. Those drivers are not there though, so I am left with a peripheral that will not work.

Switching to Windows 10 Pro, however, and it's all good. This issue is easily solvable, and I'm sure it will be, but file this under early hiccups.

Not all Windows Store apps work

Another rare issue that is the result of the nascent Windows 10 S and Windows Desktop Bridge (Project Centennial) is that not all apps in the Windows Store work. Well, to be fair, just one so far – Adobe Photoshop Elements 15 ($99).

I'm a huge fan of Photoshop Elements (mostly because regular Photoshop is overkill for my needs) and I was very excited when the app – through the Desktop Bridge – came to the Windows Store. In theory, I can now run Elements 15 on the Surface Laptop with Windows 10 S – but I can't.

When I try to run Adobe Photoshop Elements 15, I get an error message during the initial setup. The app appears to be trying to run its own .exe on its first run to get things going, and Windows 10 S does not like that. As a result, the app just crashes, and there is no advanced photo editing for me.

I see this as yet another early bug with Windows 10 S and the Desktop Bridge that is easily solvable, but right now it's a rather unfortunate experience.

Not for developers

Probably not too surprising but there is no "For Developers" area under Settings > Update & Security.

Under Windows 10 Home and Pro, this area let you enable developer mode (install any signed and trusted app) or "Enable Device Portal" features for diagnostics, device discovery, and changes to File Explorer.

While this change does not affect most consumers if you are a developer obviously Windows 10 S probably won't be much fun. For power users, this also means you cannot "side load" Windows Store appx files either.

No Regedit, Command prompt, or PowerShell

Related to the above Windows 10 S does not let you do advanced tinkering with the OS such as running the registry editor (Regedit), command prompt, or Windows PowerShell.

In fact, you cannot run the following .exe system inbox apps:

• bash.exe
• cdb.exe
• cmd.exe
• cscript.exe
• csi.exe
• dnx.exe
• kd.exe
• lxssmanager.dll
• msbuild.exe
• ntsd.exe
• powershell.exe
• powershell_ise.exe
• rcsi.exe
• reg.exe
• regedit32.exe
• windbg.exe
• wmic.exe
• wscript.exe

While the majority of those are things consumers rarely touch it understandable that a more locked down OS that focuses on stability and security would not let users access such programs, which can do a lot of damage if used nefariously.

Locked to Bing

Microsoft Edge is the default – and only – web browser for Windows 10 S due to no real alternatives like Chrome or Opera in the Windows Store.

While many may know that, did you know you also cannot switch the default search engine of that browser away from Bing?

Personally, I like and use Bing (I have 116K Bing points, thank you) many people still rely on Google for searches. Whether it is a preference for better localization results – particularly in Europe – or just familiarity if you like Google's way of doing things you won't like being forced into Bing. Of course, some users will just adapt – after all, it is just a search engine; moreover you can still type in google.com and just use that.

Heck, there is even a highly-rated Windows Store app called GSearch that you can install instead.

Wrap up – It's not so bad

While these are some of the limits and walls you may hit with Windows 10 S it's not all terrible. I do miss some smaller apps like DNS Jumper, and I would love to use the Asus ZenScreen for when I travel while sticking with Windows 10 S, but overall I do get on with Microsoft's locked OS quite well for my job as well as leisure.

I stick to mostly Windows Store games like Pinball FX2, Killer Instinct, or Microsoft Ultimate Word Games. I can, of course, pair my Bluetooth Xbox controller with ease as well as other peripherals that rely on the wireless tech.

Interestingly, Microsoft has yet to update its Arc Touch Bluetooth Mouse app to unlock functionality in its new Surface Arc Mouse. Instead, you need to rely on the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center – which, also means you need to switch to Windows 10 Pro.

Most of the issues presented here are solvable and more initial speed bumps than a permanent fatal flaw. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft and its partners address some of these in the coming months and I'll be following that closely.

In the end, though, it does not matter. At any time, I can just switch to Windows 10 Pro in a process that's faster than brewing a cup of coffee. So, while a hassle for some, Microsoft still gives you a very easy out to avoid any frustration.

One month on, though, and I'll stick with Windows 10 S, while fully recognizing it's not for everyone.

Finally, it's important to remember that Windows 10 S is ultimately about education, schools, and IT departments. When you consider making Windows secure for such environments, all of those limitations above seem mostly necessary. On the other hand, apps in the Store should run and external peripherals plugged in through USB should work.

Let's hope Microsoft fixes those soon.

Before the Surface Laptop launched, there was a bit of controversy over the Surface Laptop's use of Alcantara for the keyboard base of the device. Due to Microsoft's previous attempts at Alcantara, many users were worried that the Surface Laptop would eventually get dirty and gross, and considering the keyboard base on the Laptop is non-removable, once it gets dirty there's nothing you can do about it.

Microsoft says that the Alcantara on the Surface Laptop is different from the Alcantara on the older Type Cover devices in that it is far more resistant to dirt. Despite this, many refuse to believe Microsoft's claims, saying that the Surface Laptop will suffer the same fate as the older Alcantara Type Covers. Well, it's been about a month since the Surface Laptop launched, and I've had several people asking me how my Surface Laptop has been holding up.

Now, a month isn't nearly enough time to make any concrete claims as to whether the Surface Laptop is resistant to dirt unlike the older Alcantara Type Covers, but it does give us a good idea as to how well the Surface Laptop is holding up thus far. A month in, and my Surface Laptop still looks brand new, as if it has never been touched. There's no dirt, grease marks, or stains on the Alcantara whatsoever. I'm yet to find anyone online complaining that their Surface Laptop is suffering from any discoloration too.

Surface Laptop Review

I'm using the Platinum Surface Laptop, as that was the only color available in the UK at the time. I think the platinum color looks fantastic, and I've had no issues or complaints with it so far. I've had no hardware issues or defects either, battery life is still superb, and the speakers are loud and clear. I've also not run into any hibernation issues, of which some Surface Pro users have been complaining about. It doesn't look like that issue is affecting the Surface Laptop, which is good.

Regarding Windows 10 S, I did, in fact, upgrade to Windows 10 Pro quite quickly, but not because I couldn't put up with Windows 10 S. As I've mentioned many times in the past, I do believe in Windows 10 S, but only on certain devices. I'd not be a happy camper if I were stuck with Windows 10 S on a desktop PC with a GTX 1080 and 32GBs RAM, but on devices that are low-spec, Windows 10 S makes plenty of sense.

I purchased the Surface Laptop as a replacement to my Surface Book, which I use to edit videos and other productive things. Unfortunately, the video editing programs I use are not in the Windows Store, so I was unable to continue using Windows 10 S. If I had purchased the Surface Laptop as a replacement to my Surface 3, or my HP Spectre x360, I'd have absolutely been able to put up with Windows 10 S on it.

The Laptop doesn't get all that hot under the base. I'd say the hottest it has ever got was "moderately warm," and was never uncomfortable on my lap. The fan is incredibly quiet, and it hardly ever comes on. When it does, it's there, and it is noticeable, but it isn't loud or distracting. I'm using the Intel Core i5 with 8GB RAM and 256GB Storage model.

One thing I have done is swapped out the Surface Laptop charger with my Surface Book one. The Surface Book charger is slightly more powerful than the one that comes bundled with the Laptop, which means the Laptop charges faster with the Surface Book charger. Something to keep in mind.

So, a month in using the Surface Laptop, and I love it. I haven't picked up my Surface Book since I started using the Surface Laptop, and that's the highest possible compliment I can give such a device. I haven't missed the ability to detach my screen because I never detached the screen on the Surface Book anyway. Of course, your opinion on whether the Surface Laptop is a viable Surface Book replacement may vary. But I am very happy.

If you've been using a Surface Laptop since launch, I'm curious as to what your experience has been like. Make sure you let me know in the comments!

See Surface Laptop at Microsoft

The Surface Laptop and Windows 10 S have been available for a few weeks now, so it's time to take a look at some things it can – and can't – do in 2017. These are things I have learned as I've used Windows 10 S.

One question I did not address in my original Surface Laptop review and I have been asked is whether Windows 10 S can enroll in the Windows Insider Program.

Luckily, I don't have to spend much time on this as yes, it can. And that includes joining all Insider Rings like Release Preview, Slow Ring, and Fast Ring.

While for many here this may seem obvious there are still many questions new users have about Windows 10 S making it a pertinent subject to explore.

As of right now, enrolling in Release Preview does not get you much outside of some early cumulative updates on occasion. The Insider Fast Ring just installs build 16237 and since Windows 10 S is just Windows 10 Pro everything – including new bugs – is still present with those advanced releases.

Whether you should join the Windows Insider Program on your Surface Laptop is another question. Release Preview is almost certainly safe, whereas Slow and Fast Rings – even with Windows 10 S – will expose you to some "quirks" found in beta OS builds. While build 16237 runs fine on Surface Laptop, those hiccups certainly exist too.

It's worth noting that even if on Fast Ring users can still at any point switch to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 10 S through the Windows Store and not lose data, or have to roll back.

6 things you need to know about Windows 10 S and Surface Laptop

All this conjecture just reinforces the idea that Windows 10 S is Window 10 Pro but with the limit of only Windows Store apps. Everything else is the same including enrollment in the Windows Insider Program.

So, feel free to jump in and get your feet wet. If you run into some serious problems you can watch our guide on how to re-install Windows 10 S.

Microsoft's latest version of Windows 10, Windows 10 S, is billed as a much more secure version of the operating system — largely owing to its locked down nature. The OS can only run apps that have been vetted and allowed on the Windows Store, leading Microsoft to declare that "no known ransomware" runs on it. The folks at ZDNet decided to test that claim, and the results were pretty interesting.

After setting up a new Surface Laptop with Windows 10 S and installing the latest security updates, ZDNet contacted security researcher Matthew Hickey of Hacker House to see if he could bypass the Laptop's security. Remarkably, despite the inability to use common scripting tools available in full versions of Windows, Hickey was able to find a way in using a novel vector: Microsoft Word macros. From ZDNet:

Fortunately, the report points out, a "protected view" kicks in with documents downloaded from the internet or via email, blocking macros from running. Hickey was still able to run the macros by downloading a file from a network share, which Word treats as a trusted location. Doing so still requires macros to be manually enabled, however. ZDNet continues:

Hickey stopped short of installing ransomware, but system level access would allow him to do things like turn firewalls on and off, or tamper with system files. When reached for comment by ZDNet, Microsoft reaffirmed its stance that Windows 10 S isn't vulnerable to any known ransomware, stating:

On its face, the test looks troublesome, but it is worth considering the number of steps and social engineering involved would seemingly make an attack through this particular vector unlikely. But while Windows 10 S is much more locked down, and subsequently more secure, it's worth keeping in mind that, as ZDNet puts it, "nothing is unhackable."

Along with the Surface Laptop, Microsoft this week debuted Windows 10 S, a new edition of Windows 10 that's locked to the Windows Store for all your apps and games. Most reviewers decided to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro almost immediately, as I'm sure many consumers will do too. Unfortunately, because of this, many reviewers noted that they didn't see any performance differences between Windows 10 S and Windows 10 Pro, even though Microsoft said Windows 10 S has better performance.

That's because Windows 10 S doesn't have better performance, at least not when compared to an identical, clean install of Windows 10 Pro. Keep in mind; Windows 10 S is just another edition of Windows 10. Saying Windows 10 S is faster than Windows 10 Pro is like saying Windows 10 Pro is faster than Windows 10 Home when we all know that isn't the case. Microsoft's case for calling Windows 10 S faster isn't to do with raw optimizations to the OS; it's to do with how the user is able to use the OS over time. I think a lot of people have missed that point.

How is it faster?

With Windows 10 S, the user is locked to the Windows Store. That means if the user wants to download any particular app or game, it must come from the Windows Store otherwise it simply won't install. This, in theory, is more secure, and over time keeps your machine running smoothly, as chances of installing malware or rogue programs are zero to none. What's more, Windows Store apps don't add themselves to your startup folder when you install them, which also means that over time your login time won't slow down as you install more apps on your PC. This is explained on Microsoft's Windows 10 S website.

The idea is Windows 10 S won't slow down after 6-12 months of use. You could make the argument that a Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro machine does, in fact, slow down over time, due to installing and uninstalling lots of apps and games. Some of those programs may add themselves to your startup folder, slowing down login times. You may also find that some programs change up the registry quite a bit, which can also slow down your PC over time too. A lot of "tech experts" will recommend a clean install every now and then to keep everything running smoothly, but normal people don't have such a luxury, likely because they don't know how to clean install Windows to begin with.

6 things you need to know about Windows 10 S and Surface Laptop

Windows 10 S essentially solves this issue. With Windows 10 S, you shouldn't need to clean install Windows every so often as so many tech experts recommend should be done. That's what Microsoft means by better performance over time. It's a version of Windows that continues to run just like new, forever. Of course, if you're sensible on a Windows 10 Pro install, you too can likely get the same performance mileage as if you were on a Windows 10 S install, but most normal people don't care what they're installing on their devices, as long as the thing they're installing gives them what they want.

The average Joe

On a Windows 10 Pro machine, your average Joe is far more likely to install something that also installs additional toolbars, search engine optimizers, trialware and more. That "Express Install" button we all know and love can, more often than not, include additional things that the user might not even be aware is installing in addition to the program they've downloaded. This is one of the biggest reasons why a Windows machine slows down over time. On Windows 10 S, this isn't possible. It remains fast and smooth, no matter what you install, as it all comes from the Windows Store.

Windows actually has a reputation for slowing down over time. It was, for a while, one of the main reasons why people started switching to Mac. In reality, it isn't "Windows" that slows down over time; it's the programs you install on Windows that slows it down over time. The more rubbish you install, the slower your Windows machine will be. If you're smart about the apps you install, Windows doesn't slow down over time. Of course, the average Joe doesn't see it like that. If there's a problem with their device, it's Windows' fault. To them, it's simply Windows that eventually gets slower over time.

For the more techy users who are aware of the things they're installing and uninstalling, the performance gains Microsoft is touting with Windows 10 S might not be a thing to you because you're probably already pretty sensible with how you treat your Windows 10 Home or Pro machine. But most people don't even know that a "startup" folder exists, let alone the fact that programs can slow down your machine over time.

So that's what Microsoft means when it says Windows 10 S has better performance over time. It has better performance because the user can't just install randomapp.exe along with ten different toolbars and trialware apps. Windows 10 S should stay running fast and smooth for as long as it is in use because apps won't slow down boot times, and malware is far less likely to find its way installed on your system. What do you think?

Windows 10 S is very similar to Windows 10 Pro, with a few key differences. More specifically, devices that run Windows 10 S, such as the Surface Laptop, are limited to apps from the Windows Store, which means you can't simply download and install Microsoft Office from the web.

As a result, Microsoft is now making available the full (Win32) desktop versions of the Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and Publisher, in the Windows Store for devices running Windows 10 S.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to get the Office apps from the Windows Store on devices running Windows 10 S. Also, we show you the instructions to remove one, or all, of the apps from your computer.

• How to install Office apps on Windows 10 S
• How to uninstall Office apps on Windows 10 S

How to install Office apps on Windows 10 S

Getting Office on your Windows 10 S device is straightforward using your Microsoft account linked to an Office 365 subscription.

Note: Office in the Windows Store is currently in preview for Surface Laptop users. Once the preview is over, you'll be able to buy the apps from the Windows Store, Microsoft Store, Office.com, and other retailers for other Windows 10 devices.

1. Open Start.
2. On the App list, find and click an Office app you want to use, for example, Word or Excel.
3. The Office page will open in the Windows Store, and you should click Install.
4. Open one of the newly installed apps from the Office product page.
5. Click Got it! to start using Office.

How to uninstall Office apps on Windows 10 S

If you no longer have an Office 365 subscription, or the apps aren't working and you need to reinstall them, it's possible on Windows 10 S to uninstall apps individually or all at once.

Uninstalling an Office app

1. Open Start.
2. On the App list, find the app you want to remove.
3. Right-click the app, and select Uninstall.
4. Click the Uninstall button to confirm.

Uninstalling all Office apps

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click on Apps & features.
4. Select Microsoft Office Desktop Apps.
5. Click Uninstall.
6. Click the Uninstall button to confirm.

Additional information

You can acquire the apps using Office 365 Personal, Home, Education Plus, and Education E5. If you don't have an Office 365 subscription, Microsoft includes one year of Office 365 Personal with your new Surface Laptop, which gets you Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and Access.

Initially, the Office apps you get from the Windows Store are available in preview, because they use a new install and update process that is still being tested. Therefore some unexpected behaviors may occur during the early days.

Although you get the full version of Office, there are a few limitations with apps available in the Windows Store. You can only install the 32-bit versions, COM add-ins are not supported, and the desktop version of OneNote isn't included, for example. Instead, you get the more limited OneNote app.

More Windows 10 resources

For more help articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Microsoft's Office desktop apps are launching in the Windows Store today, coinciding with the launch of the new Surface Laptop with Windows 10 S. The Office suite, having been brought to the Windows Store using Microsoft's 'Project Centennial' desktop app bridge, is available to Surface Laptop owners only as part of a preview install and update process, according to an Office on Windows 10 S FAQ initially spotted by Microsoft leaker WalkingCat.

Microsoft clarifies that, while the install and update process is in preview, the apps themselves are not. Still, during the preview period, the following apps are only available to install for Surface Laptop users with Windows 10 S:

• Word
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• OneNote for Windows 10
• Outlook (not available in preview for Office 365 Education plans)
• Access (not available in preview for Office 365 Education plans)
• Publisher (not available in preview for Office 365 Education plans)

It's worth noting that OneNote is the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) version of the app that has been available for some time.

Though the bulk of the suite is made up of bridged desktop versions of the Office apps, they are the 32-bit versions; 64-bit versions are not available via the Windows Store. Likewise, they are not compatible with COM add-ins, Microsoft points out.

As for the Office Mobile apps, which were previously the only versions of Office apps available on the Windows Store, Microsoft is repositioning them smartphones and tablets with screen sizes under 10.1-inches. Given their "Mobile" designation, this makes much more sense.

Again, the preview period limits the new Office apps to Surface Laptops running Windows 10 S. Microsoft notes that the apps will be available for purchase and installation on other Windows 10 devices after the preview period is over. Finally, as a bonus for Surface Laptop owners, Microsoft is offering one free year of Office 365 Personal for laptops that ship during the preview period.

The new Surface Laptop ships with Windows 10 S, a variant of the Windows 10 Pro OS with one caveat: it only runs Windows Store apps. We've written a lot on Windows 10 S already including detailed a hands-on, and we explained why Windows 10 S is the right move for education – and eventually for consumers.

Today, I want to highlight a few things you may not know about Windows 10 S, how it works, what's unique about it, and how upgrading to Pro works.

See Surface Laptop at Microsoft

Windows 10 S is really just Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 S is a just variant of Windows 10 Pro. That's not a naming trick because it has all the same features, including BitLocker and Remote Desktop, both of which are not in Windows 10 Home.

These features are the reason why you can only upgrade from 10 S to Pro and not Home, which would be a downgrade. The pricing also reflects this, too, because users with PCs that cost more $799 and that come with Windows 10 S will be charged $49 – versus $99 – to upgrade to Pro starting in 2018. (It's free for 2017.)

The one difference is the inability to run non-Windows Store apps and games. In other words, if you download a .exe from the internet (or side load it) that .exe won't run. This limitation is for security, battery, and long-term performance considerations. The idea is to make your laptop more like a tablet or smartphone for speed and reliability.

How to upgrade from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro

The process of going to Windows 10 Pro is simple. If you try to run an app you downloaded off the internet, a popup message will explain why it cannot run. Eventually, that same dialogue will fetch data from the Store to let you know if that app is available in the Store, and it will take you there to get it.

A dialogue box asks, "Still want to run this unverified app? See how." Clicking "See How" takes you to the Store to unlock Pro. Next, you just click "Free" and it will grab a file and begin the installation.

Once installed, the Surface Laptop will reboot, do a quick configuration and return to Windows 10 with a little notification to let you know the update is complete.

The whole process takes about three minutes and requires only a button click.

You pay for a Windows 10 license either way

I often hear that Surface Laptop should just ship with Windows 10 Pro, or that Microsoft is "nickel and diming" by charging $49 starting next year to upgrade to Pro from S.

But even if Microsoft shipped Surface Laptop with Windows 10 Pro, the company would just slip that $49 fee into the base cost anyway, raising the price from $1,299 to $1,348. You're buying a Windows 10 license either way, whether's Home, S, or Pro. Microsoft audits how many licenses it sells and distributes, and even on its own devices, there is a fee. Whether you see that cost upfront or embedded in the device purchase is another issue. But you are paying it.

Microsoft Office is in the Store

Microsoft's goal is to get as many of its old Win32 apps into the Store, and Microsoft Office is a big one. If you're on Windows 10 S, you need Microsoft Office, so it's great to see it launch on day one of the Surface Laptop.

The process is simple, and the apps behave and look just like the Win32 apps that you would download from the web. You can also just download Word, for example, if you don't need all the apps. Later, if you upgrade to Pro the same process takes you to the web, and you can't download Office through the Store.

The Surface Laptop comes with a free one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal.

You can't rollback to Windows 10 S from Pro

Once you go to Windows 10 Pro, there is no go-back button to Windows 10 S. It's a one-way process that is the same if you upgrade from Home to Pro, so there is nothing new here.

However, there is a way to revert. You need to download the Surface Recovery Image from Microsoft's website. Those files will let you wipe and restore the Surface Laptop to its original state.

Simply resetting the Surface Laptop through the "Reset this PC" feature will not work. That makes going back to S more cumbersome than I'd like, but the worst case scenario is you'll use the top tier of Windows 10.

Windows 10 S performs the same as Windows 10 Pro

Another misunderstanding about Windows 10 S is that it is only part of Windows 10 Pro, or that it's"Windows Lite" and missing some core components. That's not accurate.

During the upgrade process, the Store just checks the license and configures some files on your Laptop. You then reboot the PC, and you're on Pro. There are no files to download or large installations. If you take a Windows 10 S Surface Laptop and run it next to a Surface Laptop with Windows 10 Pro, they'll behave exactly the same if you stick to Store apps on both machines.

That means if you unlock to Pro but still stick to Windows Store apps, your Surface Laptop is effectively running Windows 10 S. Going to Pro and using just Store apps won't change battery life or performance. If, however, you upgrade to Pro and begin to install third-party, non-Store apps like Google Chrome or Adobe Creative Cloud all bets are off. Both of those apps, for instance, install background updates or phone-home helper apps that take up memory, CPU cycles, and can slow down your Surface Laptop.

Microsoft guarantees Windows 10 S machines will behave as consistently on day one as on day one thousand. The company can't say that for Windows 10 Pro, because you could install dozens of awful apps that destroy performance and battery life.

Conclusion: Windows 10 S is a breeze

If you're an enthusiast or someone who needs a random app that's not in the Windows Store, upgrading to Windows 10 Pro is super simple. It takes just a few minutes, it is free, and you lose nothing. If you don't install apps that run in the background or hog your registry, you won't see any performance degradation going to Pro from S.

Windows 10 S, for now, is ideal for people who find everything they need in the Windows Store (I fit that description), or people who just want a premium Windows laptop that never gets "PC rot" from unverified applications. This discussion is not about right or wrong, or which is better; it's about trying to deliver a particular experience.

Surface Laptop Review

In my experience with Windows 10 S, I had no issues going to Pro. Everything was simple to understand, and the process – if you can even call it that – was easy. I'm curious to see how many people stick with Windows 10 S. I am sure Microsoft will pay close attention to those upgrade rates too and whether they decline over time as the Store grows.

Bottom line: There is absolutely no reason to let Windows 10 S on the Surface Laptop deter you from a purchase.

See Surface Laptop at Microsoft

Windows 10 S launches with the Surface Laptop this week, so we put together a Windows 10 S video walkthrough. It provides an identical experience to the Windows 10 you know and love, with one restriction: apps must be installed from the Windows Store.

You can check out our in-depth Windows 10 S review for more details. You can also read our Surface Laptop review if you want to know about the first Windows 10 S machine on the market.

With Windows 10 S, the only real difference is you can't install apps unless they come from the Store. Microsoft also added some security popups to take you to the Windows Store if you try and install an app that isn't from the Store. If you try to install Evernote from outside the Windows Store, for example, Windows 10 S redirects you to the Windows Store, where you can download it there instead.

Check out the video and let us know in the comments what you think of Windows 10 S so far.

We've published many stories about Windows 10 S already, even though it's not currently available and will first ship with the new Surface Laptop, which is expected to be available starting on June 15. For a general primer read, "6 things you need to know about 'Windows 10 S,'" or for more detail, jump over to our Windows 10 S review.

There's a lively thread in our forums right now, discussing Windows 10 S and the reasons why you might want to upgrade to it if you could, as well as the reasons why you wouldn't.

What say you, Windows Central reader? Are you interesting in Windows 10 S, or do you simply see it as a "crippled" version of the OS? The whole locked-to-the-Store aspect could be limiting, for sure, but we're also intrigued by the new software and can't wait to start kicking around in there. Hit the link below and let us know what you think in the forums.

From the forums: Windows 10S availability on existing devices

The Google Chromebook is arguably one of the main reasons why Windows 10 S even exists, but the question on everyone's mind is simply: is Windows 10 S enough to beat Chromebooks? One of Windows 10 S's main goals is to be a Chromebook competitor, but for what it offers, is it capable enough to be exactly that?

Chrome OS is interesting, because it's super lightweight, much more lightweight than Windows 10 S. In most cases, Chrome OS will likely be somewhat faster in certain tasks on low-end hardware too, thanks to the OS being built around a browser. Windows 10 S is full Windows, with some improvements to performance here and there.

Our users on the forum have been asking the exact same question, and it's a legitimate question to be asking. Will Windows 10 S help Microsoft beat Chromebooks? Only time will tell, but we're curious as to what you think. Let us know on the forums!

From the forums: Will Windows 10 S help Microsoft beat Chromebooks?

Windows 10 S is a new version of Windows which is initially being targeted at the education sector. Microsoft hopes that in time it will become the default mass market version of the OS.

Windows 10 S and the Surface Laptop take on Google and Apple

Here's the issue: Unlike the Windows we know, this version does not run Win32 apps. In the lingo of "Joe Consumer," it won't run familiar programs such as the popular Chrome browser. Instead, it's locked to the Windows Store where users can download the more secure Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps that have features such as Live Tiles, Cortana integration, and access to other app services.

Why Windows 10 S?

This new OS has some perks. By keeping Win32 apps at bay, a host of drawbacks that Windows users have grown used to enduring are also kept away. Lead Program Manager for the Windows Developers Platform Group, Stefan Wick, put it this way:

Windows 10 S offers many benefits. The modern desktop experience it provides, as well as the potential for increased Store traffic, are reasons Microsoft deems the OS good for users. It also benefits UWP, the company's positioning in the modern app-ecosystem-driven market, and the company's bottom line. Microsoft has many incentives to aggressively push Window 10 S.

Though most early Windows 10 S PCs will be targeted at schools, some consumers will buy them. Furthermore, the Surface Laptop running Windows 10 S is targeted at college students. These early customers and a possible growing number of users will buy these new Windows PCs that won't work like their old PCs.

The question is, how is Microsoft planning to communicate to consumers that the Windows PC they may be buying will work differently than the Windows they know? And getting to the Windows they know will cost an additional $49 after they get their new PC home.

Communication must be intentional

Windows has been on the market for decades, and users are comfortable with it. History has shown that when this staple in personal computing changed too radically or in unexpected ways, users rebelled. (Think Windows Vista.)

Many of us grew up on Windows, so it's both personal and familiar. Even with updates and evolutions to the OS we expect things to fundamentally work the same. When they don't our responses are visceral. The backlash to Windows 8 was profound, for example.

Changes that came with Windows Vista frustrated users, and the Live Tile UI of Windows 8 angered them. Imagine how users will respond when they are surprised by a requirement to pay $49 to do what they have always done on any other version of Windows.

Microsoft's Windows S strategy and the company's vision for that OS are the future of Windows. I'm not arguing for or against that strategy. What I am addressing is Microsoft's need to ensure that the limits of the platform are broadly and clearly communicated to the entire market.

If consumers knew these limits beforehand, they likely wouldn't mind Microsoft's positioning a version of Windows that won't allow traditional programs. Especially since they don't have to buy those PCs, and if they do, the option to upgrade is there. What consumers will mind is ignorantly buying a Windows 10 S PC and being surprised by its limits and the cost to upgrade.

Good will

With Windows 7, Microsoft overcame the general bad will of the Vista debacle. Windows 10 is helping the company recover from the more recent Windows 8 flub. With UWP, Microsoft is attempting to establish a strong footing in a personal computing paradigm that has shifted away from the desktop toward a mobile and app-based model.

Windows 10 S is key to the company's strategy to make UWP and its app ecosystem relevant. It is also foundational to the company's long-term mobile plans to bring an ultimate mobile device to market that via Continuum can be a PC.

Windows 10s and Project Centennial are critical to Continuum's success

Failure to communicate the limits of Windows 10 S to unsuspecting consumers can create a PR nightmare for Microsoft in the critical early stages of the platform. Rather than marketing the merits of the OS, Microsoft may find itself in the uncomfortable defensive position of assuaging angry users.

Though the numbers of Windows 10 S users outside of the education arena (where the limits of the OS would be known) will initially be small, the effects of negative experiences are exponential. One user's negative experience will be compounded as he shares his opinion within his circle of friends and family.

Several hundred bad experiences become echoed by the thousands, and potentially millions, with the additional support of social media. Mainstream media may pick up the story with the slant that Microsoft failed to communicate the limits of its new OS and required consumers to pay $50 to do what they "expect" to do with Windows.

Getting ahead of the story

I know that Microsoft is offering the Windows 10 Pro upgrade for free to students, teachers, and administrators. But how does the company plan to communicate the Windows 10 S story to the masses?

Will there be a television ad campaign? Will Microsoft rely entirely on retail associates and store displays to tell the story? Is Microsoft assuming that there will be an "unassisted" natural progression of the Windows 10 S story from the education sector to the mainstream? Is Microsoft relying on the "tech experts" (like you) to communicate the story?

Microsoft can't assume consumers will "know" what Windows 10 S is, and it needs to make every effort to ensure they know.

In a recent interview, he confirmed Microsoft's commitment to mobile on first-party hardware and reiterated Microsoft's vision of a phone that could be a desktop via Continuum:

My ongoing analysis is that Microsoft's anticipated Surface phone will be a telephony-enabled ultramobile PC. Focusing on its strengths, Microsoft is capitalizing on the smartphone's increasing adoption of tasks traditionally relegated to PCs but that also (in the case of iOS and Android) have OSes which cannot fully embrace the dominant Windows desktop environment that consumers and enterprises know.

Those phone-focused OSes and app models, though successful, are reaching their limits. Furthermore, the iterative advancements in these "slabs" is arguably a dead end in Apple's and Google's physical evolution of the smartphone.

Smartphones are dead

These tech giants maintain desktop OSes that have different development platforms and user experiences separate from their mobile OSes. This could be a hindrance to their advancement to the desktop, even in the case of Samsung's Galaxy S8 and DeX dock.

Finally, I anticipate Microsoft's context-sensitive ultimate mobile device will transcend the stagnant decade-old rectangular slab form factor. But to be a real PC it needs to run familiar PC apps, and that's where the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), Project Centennial and Windows S come in.

UWP is foundational to Continuum

Microsoft's UWP strategy is designed to enable app development across all Windows 10 devices and provide a unified user experience.

In the case of a Continuum-enabled ultramobile PC, it also potentially provides a consistent user experience as one device "becomes" many across different personal computing scenarios.

Whether connected via Continuum to a monitor, mouse, and keyboard as a desktop, or held in a user's hand, context-conforming hardware and software with a UI supported by CShell should provide a fluid experience.

Microsoft's ultimate mobile device "will not play by the other guy's smartphone rules," says Nadella. I believe he means it will be a telephony-enabled ultramobile Windows 10 PC with Continuum that Microsoft will position in the mobile, not smartphone, space.

This strategy potentially solves for the impasse Google and Apple have reached where smartphones cannot perform the full range of PC tasks. This will be a PC with full PC and smartphone capabilities and an evolving app ecosystem.

Microsoft's Project Centennial app bridge, which helps bring Win32 apps to UWP, and Windows S are essential to this strategy.

Windows 10 S breathes life into the UWP and paves path for Surface phone

Windows S, which allows only UWP apps and is aimed at the education sector (with hopes of eventual mass adoption), gives developers a reason to use Project Centennial. The hopes for a Continuum-enabled device providing a full and modern PC experience fall apart if developers aren't convinced.

Talking Project Centennial with Microsoft's Stefan Wick

Making Win32 into UWP apps is a process that begins with the Desktop App Convertor and Project Centennial. I explained this four-step process last year.

Microsoft's Project Centennial app bridge makes sense of Win32 apps on phone

To provide greater insight, Stefan Wick, Lead Program Manager for the Windows Developer Platform Team (who also set up the deck for the Centennial Presentation on the first day of Build) was kind enough to answer a few questions.

Jason Ward: Hi Stefan, I'd just like your feedback confirming or correcting [my] understanding that Win32 apps can be made into full UWP apps.

Stefan Wick: Hi Jason, This is exactly the purpose of the Desktop Bridge: provide developers a path to make full UWP apps from their existing Win32/NET investments.

The nice thing about it, is that developers can do so gradually. They start by converting their installer to a Universal Windows app package and get the immediate benefit of modern deployment on Windows 10, through Windows Store or other distribution channels of their choice.

Next, they can now modernize their existing apps with new Win10 APIs and features thanks [to] using UWP. Overtime, they can move all their code to UWP-compliant APIs and become a full UWP.

I've gotten a couple of negative responses challenging what I presented as the purpose of the Convertor and Centennial. Here's one of the comments (edited for length):

The Desktop Bridge is more than just the converter. The converter is the first step. It is correct that it doesn't change the APIs your app is calling, and the converter won't produce a full UWP (app) for you. But it sets you up for the gradual process of modernizing and migration to full UWP (calling only UWP-compliant APIs). In some cases, the full migration can be trivial, for example for Unity games, since all Unity APIs are already supported in UWP.

In other cases where apps have a lot of dependencies on non-compliant APIs, completing the migration is more complex. However, with every update of Windows 10, we are making this process easier for developers as we keep expanding the API surface supported in UWP (both for Win32 and NET APIs).

Right, I did understand that the Converter is the first step and makes the app available in the Store, but the subsequent steps of enhancing (modernizing) and migrating are what make the app a UWP app. So that I understand, in a practical sense the purpose is to bring Win32 apps to full UWP and as of today:

• Some APIs are UWP compliant, and apps that use those can undergo that complete process.
• Some APIs are not yet UWP compliant, and apps that use those APIs cannot yet undergo that complete process.
• If my understanding of No. 2 is correct, how long do you anticipate before UWP will support all APIs?

Regarding No. 2, if your app is calling a non-compliant APIs you can replace them with an equivalent UWP API and still go through the full process. The big example here is HWND-based UI APIs. Those are not supported in UWP, so you have to CoreWindow based UI.

So as of today, the process can be completed for any developer who wants to move his or her app from Win32 to UWP (as Microsoft broadens the base or surface of APIs covered with each update of Windows 10) because non-compliant APIs can be replaced?

Yes. In practice, depending on the app, the full journey can still be a considerable amount of work though. And UWP still has some gaps compared to Win32, where there is no equivalent API yet. With every new update of Windows 10, this will get better and easier though as we expand the API surface. It's a journey. The nice thing about the bridge is that they can start today and their app will be fully functional and shippable in the Store at all times along the way across the bridge, and they can go at their own pace.

There is no plan to support all legacy Win32 APIs in UWP. However, we strive for UWP to enable all relevant app scenarios - with modern, better APIs. Same example: HWND-based UI APIs are not something we will bring forward into UWP.

That's an interesting point. What other APIs will not be supported and what percentage of legacy Win32 APIs does that affect? Also, can you define what you mean by "relevant" app scenarios?

I don't think this can be expressed in percentage. UWP is a new app model; it is not supposed to be a superset of Win32. Win32 was invented in a time you bought software in a box and installed from disks. In today's world, Win32 has a lot of problems in terms of user confidence, privacy, battery life, etc. We don't want to bring those problems into UWP but want to provide the functionality that the user wants - and make sure the user is in control at the same time.

Win32 apps can run code at any point in time at full privileges without the user's intent, drain your battery, read your files, etc. UWP creates a much higher level of user confidence and control. Developers migrating to UWP will have to make changes to their code accordingly, to make their products better for their users.

How do developers find out if their Win32 program is one that will be supported?

Before starting a conversion, we point developers at the preparation guide on MSDN.

One more thing: My view is that Centennial making Win32 apps into UWP apps, (thus) modernizing the desktop experience, is important to Microsoft's vision for Continuum. Without a modern desktop experience, the "phone as desktop" loses its appeal. Any feedback on that?

That's another good aspect, yes.

Regarding Continuum, note that the app will need to do the full conversion in order to do Continuum. Just running the converter won't get you Continuum. This is because it needs to be able to run on the phone device. And then there is Project Rome - different, but somewhat related topic that we'll talk more about at BUILD.

Wrapping up

Microsoft's ultimate mobile device vision is a long-term journey. What Wick reiterated about the multi-step process of bringing Win32 apps to UWP and the current state of unsupported APIs reinforces my assertion.

Is early 2018 to soon for Surface phone?

The fact that Win32 apps must go through the full conversion process to UWP for Continuum to be effective is a critical point. Though Wick stresses it can be done at the developer's own pace, it's a time-consuming process for some apps.

A rumored Surface phone may not motivate developers to convert their Win32 apps to UWP but the launch of Windows 10 S might. Will developers embrace Project Centennial and the full UWP conversion process? If Microsoft's vision of a phone being a desktop is to become a reality, they'll have to.

Must Read

Continuum vs Motorola's Atrix

Continuum: This is not you father's smartphone

Windows 10 S being locked to the Windows Store is an interesting concept. However, Microsoft has done the very same thing before with another version of Windows that went by the name Windows RT. Nobody liked Windows RT, and the entire idea was abandoned just two years later.

So why is Microsoft doing the same thing again with Windows 10 S? It isn't ... at least not exactly.

Windows 10 S vs. Windows RT

I've noticed lots of people refer to Windows 10 S as the new Windows RT, and while I understand why that connection is being made, calling Windows 10 S the new Windows RT is entirely wrong. Sure, both Windows RT and Windows 10 S are locked to the Store, but the similarities end there. That's like saying planes and cars are the same things because they can both get you from a point A to a point B.

Windows 10 S is so much more than just another go at Windows RT — it's Windows RT done right.

Windows RT was bad, but only because it was locked to the Windows Store with no other options. Windows 10 S has options, including the ability to not be Windows 10 S anymore. If you buy a Windows 10 S machine, you will never be "locked" to Windows 10 S forever. Users have the option to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for a discounted price.

Windows RT never offered this way out. Once you purchased a Windows RT device, that was it, you were locked into Windows RT for the remainder of that device's lifecycle. What's more, Microsoft did an incredibly poor job at explaining to users the difference between Windows RT, causing confusion. Above all, developers simply didn't take advantage of the Windows Store in Windows RT, which ultimately led to its failure.

Windows 10 S is a better OS

Windows 10 S avoids all these problems by simply being upgradable to Windows 10 Pro. But even in a scenario in which the upgrade to Windows 10 Pro isn't possible, Windows 10 S is still so much more than what Windows RT was. For starters, the Windows Store can now house more than just modern apps, it can house Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, and even Win32 programs, too. This means you can get iTunes, Spotify, and more directly from the Windows Store.

Plus, Windows 10 S runs on a much larger selection of device types, including those with x86 processors. Windows RT was very much locked to ARM32 based devices, which meant, for the most part, Windows RT was experienced on very underpowered hardware. With Windows 10 S, you can find it on anything from low-end devices to high-end devices with the Surface Laptop, so users should never notice any slowdowns.

In short, Windows 10 S has plenty of benefits over Windows RT In fact, Windows 10 S and Windows RT share only one similar aspect: they're locked to the Windows Store.

For decades, Microsoft has dominated personal computing on the desktop in businesses and homes. Its closest rival was Apple, which for more than 30 years strove to reach a mere 10 percent of the PC space. With the advent of the smartphone, both Apple and Google were instrumental in shifting many personal computing tasks to a mobile and app-based platform.

As the dominant players in the smartphone space, this shift resulted in the positioning of Apple's and Google's broader ecosystems in front of millions of users.

Consequently, Apple's and Google's desktop alternatives to Microsoft's PC hegemony have been embraced by users. To Microsoft's dismay, many college students seem to prefer MacBooks over Windows laptops. And schools, particularly in the U.S., have increasingly adopted Chromebooks and the accompanying products and services Google provides.

To stop this progression into its personal computing space Microsoft is positioning the Surface Laptop for college students and the app-based Windows 10 S, along with affordable OEM laptops, for primary and secondary school-aged students. Will it work?

First strike, the Google advantage

Google has had great success in the U.S. education sector with Chromebook deployments and the implementation of Google for Education. Many IT professionals find that managing lightweight Chromebooks, which essentially employ a web-based OS, is far simpler than managing Windows-based devices.

School districts also find the associated costs of Chromebooks (often $149) are less than Windows laptops. Furthermore, because Chrome OS, (the OS on Chromebooks) is web-based, deploying updates, and protecting against viruses has also been a benefit of a Google environment.

Educators have the ability to easily manage multiple Chromebooks within the classroom, as well.

Many of these same benefits have been reasons a growing number of small businesses have embraced Chromebooks and Google's free web-based services. Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive and other Google services are becoming more relevant tools in both schools and small businesses.

Google Expeditions, an implementation of the low-cost Google Cardboard VR option, has even been used to broaden student's experiences, as seen in the video below.

For Microsoft to adequately combat Google's strengthening position in the education sector it needed to address:

• Hardware costs.
• Device manageability.
• System integrity (protection against viruses and malware).
• Ease of deployment.

With Windows 10 S, a host of tools and OEM partnerships, Microsoft has created a comprehensive education solution that it hopes will be a sufficient to defer Google's thrust into the education sector.

Microsoft empire strikes back

Low-cost PCs have always existed. So resting the success of reclaiming ground lost in the education space only on reasonably priced hardware would not suffice. Microsoft needed a platform that low-cost hardware would run on and would also provide benefits in manageability, system integrity and ease of deployment. Windows 10 S, the app-based Windows OS that allows only Store apps (Win32 apps can be accessed via a $49 upgrade to Windows 10 Pro) is the company's offensive and defensive parry to Google's strategy to gain the next generation of users.

Hardware costs and OEM partners

Microsoft announced that this fall Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Samsung, Toshiba and Fujitsu will launch Windows 10 S devices starting at $189. This is a benefit to both schools and families. These affordable devices are comparable to what school districts would be paying for Chromebooks. Furthermore, families who like to provide their children with the tools they use in school may purchase these devices for home just as they have with Chromebooks.

Manageability

The ability to manage devices is essential to device maintenance as well as to how educators use them in classrooms. Windows chief Terry Myerson demonstrated that with the "Set Up My Schools PC" tool, a USB stick key could be used to configure a PC from any state in seconds. He reported that one school set up 600 PCs with 30 USB sticks in one day. The ability to set up devices with such a level of simplicity was a needed advancement for Microsoft to compete with Google and Chromebooks.

Set up a classroom in an hour.

Myerson also shared that Intune, Microsoft's enterprise-class management tool, has been customized for schools as Intune for Education. With Intune for Education, an administrator can manage the attributes of any device connected to the system. He could turn the camera off for all devices in a particular school for instance. Intune for Education has been made available to administrators worldwide.

The ability to manage devices with this degree of specificity over a broad range is another area in which Microsoft needed to compete with Google's education solution.

Intune for Education.

Logging into devices could hamper productivity and efficiency within a classroom. Myerson demonstrated that a student could log into a device for the first time in 15 seconds and each subsequent login to the system would take just five seconds. This should help Microsoft's solution better compete with Google's.

Finally, Myerson shared that because Windows S runs only secure Store apps, Windows 10 S PCs will have the same performance on the last day as they do on the first. This improved device integrity and security is another area that makes Microsoft's solution a better competitor to Google's. Microsoft has made Windows 10 S free for all schools that are currently using genuine Windows Pro.

Best in class

Microsoft also introduced solutions that improve collaboration and enhance the learning experience.

Office 365 for Education, and Teams

Microsoft Office for Education and Microsoft Teams are meant to enable modern classroom collaboration, content creation, personalized learning and encourage creativity. Google's collaborative tools have been a strong point for the company's education play. Microsoft may have introduced a viable alternative.

Mixed Reality

Mixed Reality is considered by many to be the next paradigm shift in personal computing. Microsoft's HoloLens creator and futurist Alex Kipman declared the smartphone dead in anticipation of a coming mixed reality device that will do away with many of our screens.

As a leader in mixed reality Microsoft provides a platform for many VR devices. Microsoft also created HoloLens, a tetherless, wearable Windows 10 computer that superimposes holograms in the wearer's field of view.

Microsoft has positioned Hololens in various industries including the U.S. military and NASA. The company's now bringing that technology to schools to help students learn by experiencing interactive content via mixed reality opposed to only reading it in a book.

Inking and Edge

Windows Ink allows users to write directly on the screen and in various apps. The Edge Browser also takes advantage of this feature. Students can save tabs that they've used for research and write notes directly on those pages, and then share them. This natural way of interacting with technology is an edge Microsoft has over Google's solution.

Myerson said that Microsoft's education solution was inspired by students, runs rich applications, is easy to manage and setup, and that Windows S devices have the same performance on the last day as on the first. Will this be enough to stop Google's assimilation of the education sector? Time will tell.

Students love Windows Ink.

Surface Laptop

Microsoft also addressed college students as a strike against Apple. Whereas Google has assimilated school systems and made headway with low-end Chromebooks, Apple has appealed to college students with the MacBook. As a thin, light, and attractively designed device with good power consumption, the MacBook is an attractive laptop for students.

Microsoft claims the Surface Laptop strikes the best balance between all the features users look for in a laptop.

Besides the specs, the Surface brand may make the Surface Laptop an appealing option. Microsoft's Surface team, led by Devices Chief Panos Panay, has succeeded in building an industry-respected brand around the Surface. Quality, design and category creation are its hallmarks.

Though the Surface Laptop forgoes the detachable display common to the Surface and Surface Book, Panay says the Surface Laptop, running Windows 10 S, is resetting the laptop category.

Inspiring a new class of laptops

As an aspirational device, we can expect OEM partners to build similar devices to this $999 Surface that will also target college students. As a range of laptops that will certainly come with an equally varied price range, Microsoft is hoping the Surface Laptop and inspired OEM devices will appeal to MacBook owners, just as the Surface Studio has done with Apple's creatives.

Furthermore, given the tepid reception of the touch strip-enhanced MacBooks Apple introduced earlier this year, the Surface Laptop with its touch screen and attractive design may appeal to disappointed MacBook users. Inking, mixed reality and 3D Paint may also make the Surface Laptop and future Windows 10 S options more appealing to MacBook users.

One downside is that some users may find the app-focused nature of Windows S limiting even with a full Universal Windows Platform (UWP) version of Office. The prompt to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for $49 may be off-putting to some who may not have been aware of the new OS's limits.

All said, Microsoft has gone on the offensive to defend its position in education and on the desktop. But will all of this be enough? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Related reading:

The truth about the new iPad ads, Microsoft Surface and Windows

How the Surface changed Microsoft forever

Getting in touch with creators: How Microsoft is courting Apple's Creators

Microsoft's reimagining the PC for creators heralds a new generation of PC