It seems that Microsoft is getting ready to take on Chromebooks in a whole new level, with the software company reportedly gearing up for the launch of a new low-cost Surface Laptop, with the aim to cater to K-12 education markets with a new Windows 11 edition.
This edition is most likely going to feature the Windows 11 SE moniker, with Windows Central reporting that this new Surface Laptop could feature the SE moniker in its name.
The laptop will include an 11.6-inch display with Intel’s N4120 Celeron for power, coupled with up to 8GB of RAM. This will cater to K-12 students, with the laptop dropping to the lowest possible cost, sporting just a USB-A and USB-C port in the process.
In case you are curious, in the past, Microsoft has used this SE moniker for the likes of Windows 98, however, this SE edition of Windows 11 will not be a second generation of the update, rather it will be similar to the S version of Windows 10, which was made for low-cost devices taking the fight to Google’s Chromebooks.
What Do We Know About the Microsoft Surface Laptop SE?
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If this is true, then the Windows 11 SE will likely take cues from Chrome OS, which prioritizes ease of use over other features. This will come as another attempt from Microsoft to try and beat Chrome OS and its budget lineup, something which Microsoft has not been successful at for quite some time.
The publication fails to mention a launch timeline, so we do not know when it is coming to global markets. The last budget attempt from Microsoft that saw some attention was the Surface Go, which included S Mode, aimed at education markets for just $399 or $499.
If the Surface Laptop SE desires to take on and successfully claw back Chrome OS’ market, it will have to retail for around $400 or less to make any meaningful dent, given that the likes of Dell, HP and Lenovo offer budget laptops.
In other Microsoft news, during the testing phase, Windows Insiders can find descriptions of 50 Android apps in the Microsoft Store, along with links to download them from the Amazon Appstore.
It seems that this state of affairs did not suit the enthusiast under the nickname ADeltaX, who announced on Twitter that he was able to install Google Play services and the Play Store on Windows 11.
This means that he can run any Android mobile application available in the official Google store on his computer. Although the developer has detailed the method for installing the Play Store in Windows 11, the source notes that they should not be used by inexperienced users, as there is a possibility of disrupting the operating system.
