facebook rss twitter

Windows 10 Cloud edition aimed at cheap PCs, runs only UWP apps

by Mark Tyson on 1 February 2017, 09:31

Tags: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Windows 10

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qaddve

Add to My Vault: x

Microsoft looks set to begin another assault upon ChromeOS with Windows 10 Cloud edition, according to some reports. ZDNet says that the new OS edition wouldn't offer any specialised cloud functionality; rather it will be a simplified version of Windows 10 limited to installing apps from the Windows Store (UWP apps). Windows 10 Cloud is likely to be provided to PC makers for free or at a low cost, just like the Windows 8.1 with Bing edition was.

Talk about Windows 10 Cloud began after references to it started to appear in Windows 10 Insider test builds. It was apparently spotted first by The Walking Cat, the source of the first news about Windows 10 Game Mode. If you look at the strings revealing the Windows products in the screen shot above, you will note that there are two Windows 10 Cloud editions, the one with the N suffix doesn't include Media Player, apparently.

Sources speaking to Mary J Foley at ZDNet say that we should expect the official debut of Windows 10 Cloud to be around April, when the Creators Update goes mainstream.

I'm sure a number of HEXUS readers will have a negative stance concerning Windows 10 Cloud, its UWP lockdown, and possible ties to Microsoft services like Bing. Even thought the Microsoft 'Cloud' OS looks set for pre-installs on the cheapest PCs, 2-in-1s, and so on.

PC gaming industry figurehead Tim Sweeney of Epic Games fame has already reacted strongly concerning the news. Via his Twitter account Sweeney dubbed Windows 10 Cloud "Windows 10 Crush Steam Edition". Sweeney went on to explain his annoyance, "It's great for Microsoft to compete with ChromeOS, but NOT BY LOCKING OUT COMPETING WINDOWS SOFTWARE STORES," he Tweeted.



HEXUS Forums :: 15 Comments

Login with Forum Account

Don't have an account? Register today!
Whoever would want this?

Windows 8.1 with Bing was a smart move on Microsoft's behalf, but this…

And while I do share Tim Sweeney's dislike for everything Windows 10, I do think he's gone a bit off the rail here.
azrael-
Whoever would want this?
Very few people, but will most people realise what they're getting? Remember the original Netbooks with Linux, people thought they were ‘real PCs’ with Windows and sent them back. Now you'll be able to walk into PC World, hand over your money for a ‘real PC’ and end up with something they can't install normal applications on.
So a “Cloud” edition that doesn't actually feature any unique or improved cloud based features? I think even for free that sounds like a con to someone who wanted it for its assumed practicality.

jimbouk
Very few people, but will most people realise what they're getting? Remember the original Netbooks with Linux, people thought they were ‘real PCs’ with Windows and sent them back. Now you'll be able to walk into PC World, hand over your money for a ‘real PC’ and end up with something they can't install normal applications on.

Well, there's always a silver lining - I don't think you'll see as much bloatware on one of these machines…
Ozaron
Well, there's always a silver lining - I don't think you'll see as much bloatware on one of these machines…

You've seen Windows 10 right? Candy Crush being installed automatically. I hate to think what else they'll push to people's machines when they're giving away the OS for free…
jimbouk
You've seen Windows 10 right? Candy Crush being installed automatically. I hate to think what else they'll push to people's machines when they're giving away the OS for free…

Egh, you're right. Sorry, it's been a while since I had to deal with that stuff on my machine. I was thinking more along the lines of the standard Dell bloat, Acer e-Empower or whatever they shovel in nowadays on the default system configs you get at PC World etc., since that's the type of system and situation that we're expecting.