Posted on 07/17/2021 12:29:57 PM PDT by ShadowAce
Microsoft has just announced the release of Windows 365 and Cloud PC. This new service, built on top of Azure Virtual Desktop, enables you to bring their Windows 10 and eventually Windows 11, desktop, apps, tools, data, and settings to your personal and work devices, including Windows PCs (naturally!) but Macs, iPads, Linux, and Android devices as well.
Let me repeat that: Windows 365 will enable you to run your Windows desktop, apps, data, etc., etc. on Linux. That's the Linux desktop they're talking about.
Ever since I started running Linux back in the early '90s, I've heard over and over again that people couldn't possibly run a Linux desktop because it doesn't run this Windows application or that Windows program. Well, guess what kids, that excuse doesn't hold water anymore.
Microsoft, yes, Microsoft now promises that you can run Windows on your Linux PC. We don't know exactly how they're going to do that. It might be by using a native Remote Desktop application or by a web browser. I'll bet that on Linux -- and probably on iPads, Macs, and Android devices -- it will be done over a web browser.
After all, the Linux-powered Chrome OS has already shown that you can do most of your enterprise work on just a browser alone. Indeed, Microsoft's entire move to a subscription, cloud service-based desktop was foreshadowed by Google's Chromebooks.
According to Wangui McKelvey, Microsoft 365's General Manager, regardless of your platform, "The Windows experience is consistent, no matter the device." This makes me even more inclined to think that you'll be using Windows 365 via a web browser. And, in particular, Microsoft will encourage you to use Edge on Linux.
So, what exactly can you run with Windows 365 "on" your Linux PC? Microsoft promises it will support most of its business application suite -- Microsoft 365, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft Power Platform -- line. Microsoft also promises app compatibility with Microsoft's Fastrack App Assure. This is a service that will help your business with 150 or more users fix any end-user programs problems at no additional cost.
Microsoft has also been working with its independent software vendor (ISV) partners. The four biggest who will immediately offer their applications on Windows 365 are Nerdio, NetApp, ServiceNow, and UKG. In addition, Accenture/Avanade; Atos; Crayon; Content and Cloud; Convergent; Coretek; DXC; Glueck & Kanja GAB; Insight; and Netrix will bring their programs and services to Windows 365.
This isn't just for big businesses. For small and midsize businesses, Iconic IT; MachineLogic; and Nitec Solutions are already supporting Windows 365.
Of course, there are notable exceptions who aren't on board yet. I'm sure you noticed Adobe and Intuit aren't on the list. Sure, some of their programs, like Adobe Acrobat, will be available on Linux via Windows 365, but big name programs such as Photoshop, Indesign, and QuickBooks have yet to make an appearance.
Give them time. Microsoft's made it clear. The future for Windows in business is going to be on its Azure cloud. Microsoft doesn't really care that much about Windows on the desktop per se, it's all about getting subscribers to its Windows Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS). Whether you choose to run it on Linux or a Mac, whatever, they're fine with that now.
Outlook is required by my employer.
All my other mail I use Thunderbird.
Yeah, consistently poor design and interface.
I don't know how I'd live without multiple desktops to organize my apps.
Yes. Lots of Linux tools run on that.
So then all your devices can be monitored by big brother.
They are going to use Cloud based computing to do it. This is how they are going to enable arm based windows devices to use the legacy intel x86 code. So the software won’t really be running on your PC.
You don’t even know what the hell you’re talking about.
This is running in the cloud so how the hell is it running on your machine?
I’m not switching to Linux until they make a Blue Screen of Death that will run on it.
Run a two HD system, one in Windows, one in Linux back them up however you wish?
So where is the tie between Thunderbird and Microsoft Windows?
I reinstalled Linix Mint 20 “Uma” and as a part of that process signed in to Thunderbird with my Outlook PW as my MS PW would not register. There, in the folder stack on the left was a folder named Notes. I opened the folder and my “sticky notes” were displayed. I used Notes software in Windows 10. Not wanting a connection to Windows at all, let alone in a Linux installation, as information flow is a two-way street, what’s left? Dump Thunderbird and Firefox from Linux Mint? Not use the MS sign-in credentials?
Thunderbird has no connection to Windows (other than it will run on Windows, as well as Mac, Linux, etc.).
But Thunderbird has added the concept of a "Thunderbird cloud account" or something like that, and I think it will let you authenticate using credentials from other non-Thunderbird identities, such as Microsoft, maybe Facebook for all I know. The idea is apparently to allow a sort of "Single Sign-On" (SSO).
CAVEAT: I might have that wrong, I don't use any of that consumer-level SSO shite, I don't trust it. Sounds like a great way to have all your various service identities compromised at once.
My employer uses SSO but that's all high-security services and I don't have any choice about that.
There’s probably still a way for Microsoft to get their their bloatware, spyware and trojans and trackers on to the computer.
Thank you for taking the time to reply and inform. When I first began using Thunderbird and Linux Mint, four to five years ago, the “Notes” folder was not present. After a year away from Linux Mint I returned to find this new development. I’ll stay with Mint but I’m looking for an Email service other than MS, possibly Mailfence. I’m leaving MS in the dust after forty-five years. Windows 10, Windows 11 as well as their software. Windows is spyware.
MVPS Hosts file rings a bell. I will check it out, probably save me a lot of trouble ;^)
I can use it, because I have to for my day job, and many other job functions are tied into it. I have learned to live with it, but it annoys me constantly with its stupidity.
My son hooked me up with a Linux OS for surfing the net seven years ago. In all that time I think it has locked up on a website forcing me to reboot two or three times total.
I have never actually used Outlook (went straight to Thunderbird when it came out), but a year ago a company wanted me to take a test for Excel, Word, and Outlook. scored 100 on first 2, and 93 on Outlook. Wasn’t too hard, but a little confusing at first.
First and last time I used it (thank God).
It is extensive and I edited it to allow some sites such as enable to follow some ads from Google shopping.
You will have to install a “Client”. That client will assume full remote control of your machine. While everyone is thinking browser it will actually be a direct client/server connection. It is the only way they can claim it as an “OS” and not just another browser linked to a webserver.
And they will be completely legal to do so because you will agree to give them this access through their crooked TOS contract when installing the client. This has been done before, think the first AOL but with more control and data transfer access over your machine in real time.
Curious why you are always so hot to defend the arrogant and extortive business model of the most crooked company in the world no matter what they do? Retired from MS? Work for MS? Own stock?
“I think it has locked up on a website forcing me to reboot two or three times total.”
And that was probably the firewall saving you. That is what it does when it hits a site that is trying to breach your firewall. It shuts down immediately to protect it’s self. It has happened to me also a couple times.
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