What (and WHY) is Windows 10 S? - Comments Page 1

You ask, "Why?", and the reason is, "Because we can." That's been their logic (sic) for a long time.

I'm looking around for a simple Windows computer for a senior citizen member of my family--something she can use without having to worry much about antivirus programs, constant program updates, Windows crashes, and so forth.

I've looked at the Telekin and the "Wow" (which I understand is the Telekin, re-branded and with an additional $500 on the price tag).

Perhaps this Windows 10 S Surface computer is my answer. If you have other thoughts, please post them here. Thanks.

A grand for a Surface laptop? Pass! I just bought a new "laptop" for $90; it's a large (12-inch!) Android tablet with a detachable keyboard. I can install any app from the Google Play Store, which has about 10,000X more apps than the Windoze Store. For that matter, I can buy a REAL laptop, an i3 machine with "real Windows 10" for about $300.

Microsoft still hasn't realized that they're over the hill, left behind, lost the bubble. They may be the kings of the corporate market, but they're losing the personal battle to iPads and cell phones.

Perhaps the folks at Microsoft tasked with developing new products should go visit a few schools. Join a listserv that serves teachers and administrators and find out what they have and why it isn't working for them. Go to an ISTE conference and see what schools are really doing with what kinds of kids. $999 for a school product? Try again.

As someone who handles the tech for a school, Microsoft may have grand dreams, but Google has taken the piece. Chromebooks with their growing flexibility, ease of management, price point, ease of repairs - you've lost Microsoft. The Google Suite has a lot more to offer for a classroom right now than Office in terms of breadth. This if far too late.

Is this an optional upgrade for Windows 10 users or is it only for the Surface laptop? If it is an optional upgrade for all Windows 10 users, what is the best way to stop it from loading? Thanks.

David,

Extracted from the "DailyWritingTips" web page at http://www.dailywritingtips.com/what-does-sic-mean/:

Samm [sic] asks “What does [sic] mean?”

Sic in square brackets is an editing term used with quotations or excerpts. It means “that’s really how it appears in the original.”

It is used to point out a grammatical error, misspelling, misstatement of fact, or, as above, the unconventional spelling of a name.

Since you are not quoting anyone else, you're use is not grammatically correct. As noted, it should be enclosed in square brackets ([]) not parenthesis.

Not trying to be critical, just pointing out something in case you did not know. I used to be the editor of a now defunct online magazine and old habits are hard to break.

Having said that, I do agree with what you wrote and I did understand your meaning. It is kind of like the phrase, "Military Intelligence" which many of the members of the Armed Forces highly doubt even exists.

If all software is thoroughly vetted before being offered through their store, I am all for a controlled environment. During the Windows 8 debacle I wanted a new computer and felt forced to buy Apple instead even though I had liked Windows. Now I only buy from the Apple store for my iMAC. I feel safer, but I know that nothing is bulletproof.

Personally, I think Microsoft is investing in a major loser. Just digging a deeper hole for themselves. I'm thinking of moving to an Apple.

Does the S, perhaps, stand for stupid? Microsoft have totally lost the plot...

I have the same question as Jim. How can I ensure this nightmare doesn't end up being downloaded by my computers? I don't want to use it, and I don't want any "advance" files for it being sent to me. Thanks for an excellent article, as usual, Bob. Much appreciated.

I know what the S stands for. Putting it delicately, it's what I put in the toilet this morning.

I think that I surmised about the same that you surmised, Bob, therefore the only thing I can add is in regards to the thickness of the laptop: there are 12.5 mm in 1/2 of an inch, therefore the laptop (being 14.7 mm thick) is 1.176 1/2's of an inch thick. Is this the same logic that Microsoft used?
There you go, Bob, I always like to help whenever possible.
Dwayne Hunt

As Maureen said: $999 for a school laptop? Which family has this kind of money to shell out for 1 Surface laptop, when others are available in the 3- 400$ range, and for the kids to have them in their backpack and then loose the backpack, that would be a real loss. Just think again on the Windows S 10.

When they made the announcement they also showed a number of vendors who would be releasing a laptop with Windows 10 S on it. The whole intention for the product is the education field. Never seen so much negativity.

I think we could all have a pretty good guess at what the "S" should stand for !

On the other hand one could just draw a vertical line or two through it !

I've been looking into getting a new computer and/or tablet and want to thank you for your timely information on the Surface and 10S.

Oh, BobC, it's YOUR, not YOU'RE.

It looks like something you would buy this WinS, I want to make sure it's not an update that I can't get rid of. Is it?

I repeat a previous poster's question: Is this "upgrade" or ""update" going to automatically install on my computer? How can I avoid ANYTHING related to 10 S?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Windows 10 S will not affect current Windows 10 systems. No worries there.

Bob, I know what sic means, and that brackets are normally used. Perhaps "logic" would have been better. If I'd done that, however, someone would have thought I was using the current usage of quotation marks to emphasize the word, instead of the original meaning of adding the silent adjective "so-called", as in "so-called logic."

Now tell me whether the commas and periods should have been inside or outside the quotation marks. I think I put them properly so that they wouldn't fall off. :)