Windows 10 S is Microsoft's answer to Chrome OS ("S"=="Store", it only runs Windows Store apps)

The Verge ^ | May 2, 2017 | Tom Warren

[dayglored]

Microsoft is introducing a new version of Windows 10 today: Windows 10 S. It's essentially Microsoft's answer to Chrome OS, to simplify Windows for low-end hardware and in particular, the education market. “Everything that runs on Windows 10 S is downloaded from the Windows Store,” says Microsoft’s Windows chief Terry Myerson. That doesn't mean that desktop apps won't run on this version of Windows 10, but they'll need to be specially packaged and listed in the Windows Store.

During a demonstration onstage, Myerson showed off the ability to support peripherals and devices just like regular Windows 10. Myerson also noted that Microsoft has "streamlined" the default wallpaper for Windows 10 S, a strange change to note during Microsoft's keynote. "Windows 10 S will run any browser in the Windows Store," says Myerson, hinting that if Google is willing to list Chrome in the Store then it will be available on devices that run Windows 10 S. Without Chrome, Microsoft has obviously focused on its Edge browser and in particular education sites and web apps.

(Lots more at the link.)

[catnipman]

Microsoft claimed they were going to have only one operating system: Windows 10. Instead, they have 10 DIFFERENT operating systems, all with the same name: Windows 10:

[dayglored]

> Microsoft claimed they were going to have only one operating system: Windows 10. Instead, they have 10 DIFFERENT operating systems, all with the same name: Windows 10:

I seem to recall reading that they're going to drop the "10", and it will just be "Windows" -- a service, a subscription, no more versions, just a never-ending sequence of updates to "Windows".

So maybe it'll be "Windows" and "Windows S". Or maybe "WindowsS".

Hell, I dunno. If I could figure out how Microsoft brands their stuff, I'd write a blog about it.... :-)

[dayglored]

Just you wait, they’re gonna bring back “Windows RT”, running on ARM processors. What’re they gonna call it then? Can’t use “RT”, that flopped.

They really need desperately to get their squat together. The world is passing them by, while they sit on the throne of their market share, and watch it disintegrate.

I hope they wise up. Microsoft has some incredibly good engineers, very smart people that could be doing great things for the world, not just computing, but other related fields as well. It’s a shame to waste so much talent on things like Vista and Win8.

I have friends who have worked for Microsoft, good people. They, and Microsoft’s customers, deserve better.

[goldstategop]

I have LTSB.... classical Windows purged of the Windows Store, Cortana and the Edge browser.

Super stable and no new features.