Microsoft Reportedly Working on Windows 11 SE, New Low-Cost Surface

The more affordable Surface will likely have a 11.6-inch screen with a 1366 x 768 resolution. Sources for Windows Central claim the device—codenamed Tenjin during development—will possess a fully plastic exterior, ideal for exchanging hands every day in a classroom. It will also contain an Intel Celeron N4120 (commonly used in budget- and classroom-friendly laptops) and offer up to 8GB of RAM. Other specs include a full-sized keyboard and trackpad, a USB-A port, a USB-C port, a headphone jack, and a barrel-style charging port.

As for the device’s operating system, sources say Microsoft is in the process of creating a new edition of Windows 11 titled Windows 11 SE. This OS will likely offer fewer customization options and contain less bloatware than Windows 11, as it needs to be light enough to function smoothly on modest hardware. Though the general characteristics of Windows 11 will still be there, students may not be able to download apps outside of those offered on the Windows Store, including alternative web browsers. Microsoft has previously offered simplified versions of its operating systems using the “S” or “SE” moniker, such as with Windows 10 S, the last slimmed-down Windows OS to have entered the classroom.

While there are a handful of durable laptops geared toward education on the market, Microsoft’s most obvious competitor would be the Chromebook. Available from a wide range of manufacturers such as Acer, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung, Chromebooks exclusively run Google’s Chrome OS and are intended to be affordable and easy to use. Laptops have been growing in popularity within the confines of K-12 classrooms for a few years now, but with the rise in hybrid learning, dependence on these devices has spiked. Even without the unique routines necessitated by Covid-19, more and more edtech companies are producing virtual learning and tutoring tools, making laptops and tablets all the more practical at school.

As of now, the low-cost Surface and Windows 11 SE are just rumors (albeit pretty solid ones). Neither the device nor its OS have a public release date.

Continue reading

Microsoft: Pluton Chip Will Bring Xbox-Like Security to Windows PCs

Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm are working to make Pluton part of their upcoming designs, which should make PCs more difficult to hack, but it also bakes Microsoft technology into your hardware.

Apple: ‘It’s Up to Microsoft’ to Get Windows Running on New ARM Macs

According to Apple, the question of supporting Windows on the M1 is entirely in Microsoft's court.

How Does Windows Use Multiple CPU Cores?

We take multi-core awareness for granted these days, but how do the CPU and operating system communicate with each other in the first place?

Minecraft With Ray Tracing Now Available for All Windows 10 Players

You don't usually think of Minecraft as a realistic game, but the developers have been hard at work adding RTX ray tracing to the game for the last eight months. It's finally out of beta today, and it really works with the blocky look of Minecraft.