After years of waiting, Microsoft now seems to have a real answer to Chrome OS. A new and almost final version of Windows 10X has been leaked and it gives a first look at the changes Microsoft has made to the upcoming operating system to get it ready for laptops. Windows 10X first came to life as a variant of Windows 10 designed for dual-screen devices. It was supposed to launch with Microsoft’s Surface Neo a tablet-like device with two separate nine-inch screens that can be folded to a full 13-inch workspace.
Microsoft revealed last year that Windows 10X is now being reworked for ‘single screen’ devices such as laptops, and Surface Neo has been delayed. Although the company has distinguished Windows 10X for foldable and dual-screen hardware for years, it now looks and feels more like Chrome OS than ever before.
The latest version that has been leaked is an almost final form of what will appear on Chromebooks later this year. Windows 10X is not an operating system that you will upgrade to or an update that will appear for existing machines. It’s just shipped with new hardware, and it’s a lightweight version of Windows designed for those who might be tempted to buy a Chromebook instead.
Windows 10X already looked a bit like Chrome OS on Chrome devices, but it’s even clearer now that it’s more designed for single screen laptops. Microsoft has simplified almost every Windows area in Windows 10X, to the point that it feels like a portal to the Internet rather than a portal for Windows apps.
The Start button is now centered on the taskbar, with a Start menu acting like a launcher. It does not have the Live Tiles found on Windows 10; instead it is a list of programs and recent documents. You can also search for programs, documents, or even content on the Internet through Microsoft’s Bing Search Engine.
The comparisons to Chrome OS are immediately apparent here, with a launcher and the focus on web applications. You can even install Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) from the built-in Chromium Edge browser and pin to the taskbar.
This Windows 10X taskbar is also a big part of the operating system which is very simplified. You may be used to getting rid of many system tray icons from programs, but they do not exist in Windows 10X. Instead, there is a simple action center that displays the time and appears to reveal quick settings, such as turning off a machine, turning on a VPN, connecting screens, or managing the volume. It also includes access to notifications and an updated puzzle to control media playback.
Windowing in Windows 10X is also simplified compared to Windows 10. You can drag and drop apps to run them side by side, but there is no way to allow the size of apps to change freely. As a result, the middle button you are used to at the top right of apps (which alternates between full screen and window) has been removed in 10X. You can simply minimize programs or close them here. Laptops that ship with Windows 10X will also provide support for the trackpad for multitasking applications.
Microsoft has also been working on a modern version of File Explorer in Windows 10X. It is primarily designed to access OneDrive cloud files, but you can also manage downloaded files here or files from USB storage. There’s no way to access local files in this new File Explorer, as 10X is designed primarily for cloud storage.
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It seems that Microsoft may not be sending desktop app support in Windows 10X at least initially. Microsoft has built a container technology to run traditional desktop applications on a lightweight virtual machine. It was originally designed to be used to ensure that old-fashioned applications work properly with dual-screen devices and have not compromised their battery life or how the application is displayed on multiple screens.
Microsoft is still working on this container technology, and it looks like a developer mode in this latest version of 10X. This could mean that end users will not be able to install regular desktop applications on Windows 10X when shipped. Either way, it’s clear that Microsoft is focusing on a combination of apps from the Microsoft Store here as well as web apps.
In some ways, Windows 10X feels like a preview of some of the user interface and UX changes we’re likely to see in regular Windows 10 later this year. Microsoft is planning an “extensive visual rejuvenation of Windows”, which includes a modernized Start menu, File Explorer and built-in programs that make the overall Windows 10 UI feel more consistent.
Microsoft has not yet officially confirmed when Windows 10X will ship, or which laptop manufacturers will launch devices with this OS variant. Clearly, this is a more direct attempt to challenge Chromebooks, after Microsoft for years trying to place Windows 10S awkwardly as an alternative. The project failed and turned into a simple S mode. In contrast, Windows 10X feels like a much bigger attempt to recreate the simplicity of Chrome OS with the added benefit of Microsoft services and applications.