Microsoft's New Mini PC Can't Run Apps
How-To Geek, Friday, November 22nd, 2024
A mini PC that doesn't do anything. That's the general idea behind Microsoft's newest product, Windows 365 Link. It can't run apps and doesn't have a traditional operating system; it's just a box that logs into the Windows 365 cloud desktop platform.
Windows 365 is a subscription-based cloud PC service that provides remote access to high-end Windows 11 virtual machines. Customers can log into their cloud-based Windows machine from any device, be it a crappy laptop, a Chromebook, or an iPad. The Windows 365 platform is expensive, and it's also limited to business and enterprise customers.
In the short-term, Microsoft hopes that IT departments will purchase Windows 365 licenses instead of desktop or laptop computers. These licenses may have little or no cost benefit, but they ensures that employees can securely access their "work desktop" from anywhere. Windows 365 also reduces the challenge of running a secure, efficient network, as vulnerable compute tasks are relegated to Microsoft's secure cloud.