Windows 11 SE is Microsoft’s latest Chromebook killer

Update: On January 18, Microsoft said it had started shipping Surface Laptop SE along with a number of third-party laptops, described in a Microsoft blog post. They include the Acer TravelMate Spin B3 laptop, the ASUS BR1100F, the Dell Latitude 3120 and 3120 2-in-1 for education, the Dynabook E10-S and more. The original story follows.

On Tuesday, Microsoft unexpectedly announced a “simpler” version of Windows, Windows 11 SE, in its latest effort to push Chromebooks aside and make Windows the operating system for elementary and middle school students.

For years, that operating system was Windows 10 (and now Windows 11) Home in S mode, aka Windows 10 S or Windows 11 S, which powers the new Surface Go 3. Windows 11 SE seems like a slightly more flexible alternative : The operating system will support third-party apps, including Chrome and Zoom, Microsoft said. Windows 11 SE will also be exclusive to the education market, Microsoft said.

The new operating system also got approval from hardware developers, Microsoft said. Classrooms and parents will have the option to purchase Windows 11 SE PCs from Acer, Asus,
Dell, Dynabook, Fujitsu, HP, JK-IP, Lenovo and Positivo. Even more surprisingly, Microsoft announced that it would launch its cheapest Surface yet, the Surface Laptop SE at $249. They will be available later this year, Microsoft said.

For years, the American classroom has been a battleground for major tech players, starting with basic Commodore computers and moving on to early Windows PCs, Apple Macintoshes, and even iPads. In 2011, however, Google moved Chrome OS from its own CR-48 pilot laptops to early Chromebooks from Acer and Samsung. Over the past decade, Google-powered Chromebooks have grown in power, influence, and functionality enough to make the decision between buying a laptop and a Chromebook an important one.

It should come as no surprise that Chromebooks have surged during the pandemic, or that Microsoft is stepping up its efforts in this territory. Chromebook sales skyrocketed as kids turned to distance learning and parents sought out the technology they would normally use in the classroom. According to Canalys, Chromebook sales soared 275% year over year in the first quarter of 2021, after climbing even higher in 2020. For the year, Chromebooks even surpassed Macs , according to analyst firm IDC. (However, Canalys reported Nov. 1 that Chromebook sales fell 37% from a year ago as students returned to class. Mercury Research reported similar results in the processor market for pc.)

What is Windows 11 SE?

Microsoft only talks about Windows 11 SE in vague terms, though company reps gave more details on how it would differ from Windows 11. According to a blog post by Paige Johnson, VP of Marketing education at Microsoft, educators told Microsoft that “they need options that are simpler, more secure, and work on more affordable devices.” Johnson described Windows 11 SE PCs as “distraction-free” and easy to manage.

According to the screenshots provided by Microsoft, Windows 11 SE looks exactly like Windows 11. But there are some key differences. For one thing, Microsoft has removed the distracting Widgets menu in Windows 11 SE, according to an email from a company representative. Apps will also launch in full-screen mode by default. Unlike Windows 11, kids using a Windows 11 SE PC will only be able to run two apps side-by-side, instead of four. Finally, the Start menu will only include four “recommended” files to help kids find what they need, the rep said.

Johnson also said the new PCs will be optimized for popular educational experiences, including Microsoft 365, and will be configured specifically for online and offline experiences. Microsoft has named Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote as apps that will be included on Windows 11 SE PCs. As you would expect, a Windows 11 SE PC would allow the student to work offline. Students will be able to locally sync files to OneDrive, which will then connect and sync to the cloud once back online. Naturally, school administrators will be able to manage Windows 11 SE devices through InTune for Education, keeping them up to date behind the scenes.

For years, Windows 10 S and now Windows 11 S has prohibited users from uploading or downloading third-party apps like Chrome or Zoom in the interest of security. But as Zoom usage skyrocketed during the pandemic and users ditched Windows 10 S to accommodate it, it’s likely that Microsoft simply caved.

Microsoft

Well, sort of. While Microsoft will allow apps to be loaded outside of the Microsoft Store on Windows 11 SE devices, only IT administrators will be able to perform these tasks, a company representative said. This seems to prevent children from loading apps willy-nilly. According to Johnson, Windows 11 SE also includes “broad support for web-based learning apps”, although it’s unclear if Microsoft is just talking about supporting something like Zoom’s web app. compared to a true standalone downloadable application.

Microsoft

Finally, it’s unclear what will happen to Windows 10 S/11 S following Microsoft’s new operating system. Microsoft originally released Windows 10 S in June 2017 as a “streamlined for simplicity” solution for schools, similar to the language Microsoft used to describe Windows 11 SE. But Windows 11 SE certainly seems like a happy medium between Windows 11 and Windows 11 S, and perhaps quite a wholesale replacement. For now, however, both will exist: “Windows 11 in S mode is still a great option for people looking for a general streamlined Windows experience, and in fact it continues to ship in devices like Surface Go 3,” a company representative said. .

Microsoft representatives also noted that Windows 10/11 S will be used to power retail devices, while Windows 11 SE will only be used in laptops aimed at the education market. For now, the two operating systems are on two different tracks.

This story was updated at 10:59 a.m. to clarify that Windows 11 SE will only be used in the education market. This story was updated a second time on January 18 to note that the Surface Laptop SE and third-party laptops are now shipping.