Windows 10 S and Microsoft's security claims

[Nuno]

Hey!
Recently the S version of Windows 10 was announced to the public.
According to Microsoft, from now on, all surface laptops (and several other lower end ones) will come with this new version. They claim that this new version is mostly focused in a better performance for the users and security. But their ways to achieve such claims do not sound quite right. Making the user unable to download anything outside the Windows store, forcing edge with bing browser to customers (yes, you can't change that).
I am very skeptical regarding what microsoft is intending to do with this new version and a lot of things are revolving on my head.

1- The name. The S, again. Just like Apple uses the S to identify the more powerful devices in their line of products. Just like car manufacturers use the S to identify the more powerful cars, the Sport version. Microsoft uses the S for something that looks like a limited version of windows 10. And they KNOW it's a limited version, as they charge 50 dollars for an upgrade to the pro version.

2- Performance? Being Windows 10 an already quite optimized and fast OS, comparing to its predecessors, was a new version of W10 really needed? From what I've heard, the S version doesn't differ much, if anything, from the regular pro version in terms of the core OS. The ability to run x64 and x86 applications from online sources are still present, only locked by default.

3-Edge with bing? I mean, even if you belong to the less than 1% that are a fan of both edge and bing, limiting the user's ability to choose what they want to use just doesn't sound right and isn't anything like what Microsoft has gotten us used to.

4- You can only download applications from the Windows Store. That's right, forget Adobe, most programming IDE's, steam, origin and all the software you need to work. Forget most antivirus and antimalware, Zemana, Malwarebytes (you can pay 8 euros for a song called malwarebytes though). Ey, at least you have candy crush saga.

5- Security claims. How much more secure even is the S version? You will probably have Windows Defender (which I know isn't horrible for what it is, not trying to bash on it), and not much else. A quick search for antivirus in the Windows Store lead me to Avast, Norton Studio, 360 Total Security, McAfee Central, AVG, Avira and several unknown things like NANO antivirus, REVE, Gratis Antivirus, Anti-virus center, Spiritual antivirus, Spartan adware cleaner (that costs 5 euros).
And most of these antivirus, like avast, mcafee, norton and AVG (you know, the bigger sharks), say they are just optimized for Windows 10 and you NEED to download something else and buy their license. So I believe they wouldn't even work in the S version.
Plus, as it stands the windows store is filled with software nobody asked for and that I wouldn't even trust downloading online.


I know that Microsoft wants to make its Store like the Play store, populate it with apps and make it popular for mobile Windows devices. But who is this targeted at? Do you think it's a step in the wrong direction from Microsoft?

 

[Ink]

1. For Microsoft, the S may indicate Slim or streamlined edition.
Xbox One S
Windows 10 S

2. Users can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for Free on select devices - see the footer notes (before December 31, 2017). Windows 10 S competes with Chromebooks and a relaunch of Windows RT.

3. Performance varies on Hardware.

4. All app stores have scams

Voted yes, because it targets a different audience away from general Windows user base.

 

[Exterminator]

A step in the right direction for Microsoft.
I believe this is more for students and educational institutions.
I imagine it has a performance advantage and that the average unexperienced consumers might find the "better performance" & "advanced security" claims comforting.For many consumers I would imagine this might be advantageous.
So I voted yes,a step in the right direction for Microsoft.

 

[Deleted member 178]

voted yes, because after all you buy a microsoft device lol

 

[Kuttz]

I voted the No. It seems MS failed to learn from their catastrophic failure of Windows Phone OS. The greatest strength of PC Windows is its infinite range of quality apps and its usage flexibility. By limiting the app availability through windows store who benefits from such crippled OS experience ?? I don't think people would buy Windows 10 S devices for just to run Angry Birds, Temple run and some really crippled apps

 

[Winter Soldier]

I voted No.
With regard to the use in the school environment, I think Windows 10S may have different kinds of limitations.
For example, if we consider ChromeOS, it allows you the sideloading in developer mode, which I think is important when you teach computer science.
In addition, you have to educate students to "survive" with the typical computer that they will use at home. Educating them to an armored system without having the possibility to teach the tips needed to use a normal PC, it may be far from positive.

Then some other reasons:

- you can install the browser you want, but only Edge can be the default one (at least what I understood).
- considering the possibility of finding other browsers on the Store, lets say that the browser is very complex and critical from the point of view of the performance. The repackaging for the Store will require, however, a testing phase very accurate, in the hope that there are no performance issues.
If the Store will not go in the right direction, it will be difficult to see an alternative browser.

 

[FreddyFreeloader]

Microsoft's answer (sort of) to Google ChromeBook, several years after the fact.
Note: ChromeBook does not allow for any anti-virus - doesn't need one. Malware won't load on it.