The new year gave us an early look at Microsoft’s Windows 10X, which we saw before the expected release in the spring. While the software is expected to launch on new hardware – and not as a download or upgrade – fearless enthusiasts have launched Windows 10X on existing hardware, giving us a taste of the new UI and UX.
User XDeltaXForce (via MSPowerUser) posted a video showing Windows 10X on a Surface Pro 7. While the other hands-on videos we saw showed the operating system with a traditional keyboard and mouse setup, this latest demonstration shows how compatible the upcoming operating system is is touching.
The video quickly takes users through the Start Menu, Settings and Inventory programs of Windows 10X. We also look at the multitasking features of the operating system, including how easy it is to switch between applications. All this is done with swipes and touch – and at some point the video shows how the software responds to the stylus.
Microsoft’s Windows struggled to adapt to a touch environment when the first Surface Pro was released, but it does not look like Windows 10X will have such issues, as the UI is built to accommodate a more tangible approach. In other words, Windows 10X will fit on 2-in-1 devices.
We got another good look at Windows 10X in action last week thanks to Windows Central and The edge. These hands-ons have shown everything from reworked taskbars to programs running side by side to installing progressive web applications (PWA). As a reminder, the new operating system allows a lot of software support, and it is designed to run only UWP programs and PWAs at launch.
Apparently, the pre-release builds of Windows 10X that are floating around are almost final, although there are still a few things missing. This early appearance gives users a good idea of how Microsoft intends to tackle Chrome OS and really cement Windows’ place among the enterprise and education customers. As already mentioned, the upcoming operating system will not be released as a standalone software update. Rather, expect it to be exclusive to new hardware released later this year.