Nandini Roy Choudhury, writer
Brief news
- Microsoft is previewing a new personal computer, Windows 365 Cloud Link, designed for corporate employees to access cloud applications and files, priced at $349, available in select markets from April 2024.
- The device features a lightweight design, 8GB RAM, and 64GB storage, running a secure, stripped-down Windows CPC without local apps.
- Early testers have found it useful for call centers and hot-desking, positioning it as a viable alternative to existing thin client PCs from competitors like Dell and HP.
Detailed news
The company Microsoft is presenting a preview of a new personal computer that is intended to connect employees of corporations to their applications and files stored in the cloud.
A restricted number of nations, including the United States of America, Canada, and a few other countries, have access to the Windows 365 Cloud Link. In the month of April, it will be available for purchase in a select number of markets at a price of $349.
Microsoft has spent years trying to break into the top PC makers with its Surface product line, but it has been unsuccessful. Now, the company is attempting something fresh in a category of hardware that has been around for generations. Microsoft reported that its revenue from devices, which was $1.2 billion, decreased by around 11% during the second quarter. On the other hand, total PC shipments climbed by approximately 2%, according to one estimate.
According to Jalleen Ringer, the product leader for Windows cloud endpoints, early testers have utilized the devices in call centers and for hot-desking, which is the practice of temporarily shifting workers in accessible work spaces rather than having them stick to the same designated spots. This information was provided to CNBC in an interview.
Simply said, the device is designed to be easy to use and safe. In addition to having a stringent application control policy that cannot be disabled, it runs a stripped-down version of the Windows operating system known as Windows CPC. It does not have any local apps or users locally. In the background, it will automatically download updates, and then it will install them throughout the night.
The computer, which has 8 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM) and 64 gigabytes of storage space, is powered by an Intel CPU. The puck-like package, which weighs less than a pound, may be stored on a desk or even installed behind a computer monitor.
The rollout comes three years after Microsoft first announced Windows 365, which enables employees to access their individualised virtual desktops on whatever device they choose. Desktop virtualization, which included an earlier version from Microsoft called Azure Virtual Desktop, became popular at the beginning of the Covid pandemic in the year 2020, when workers were confined to their homes without access to the internet.
The Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, stated in July 2023 that the combined income earned by Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 in the 2024 fiscal year was one billion dollars for the first time.
Both Dell and HP provide thin client personal computers that can connect to virtual desktop infrastructure via the internet. Enterprises have the option of configuring them with either Windows or their own proprietary operating systems.
The Windows 365 Cloud Link is a “nice alternative” to thin clients, according to Melissa Grant, who is a senior director of product marketing at Microsoft.
Source : CNBC news
