Computer Shopper - UK (2020-04)

ISSUE386|COMPUTER SHOPPER|APRIL

10X...SOUNDSLIKEASTRONGLAGER

Maybetoyou,buttoMicrosoftitrepresentsthhhenextstepin
theevolutionofWindows10,oratleastanotheeerstringtothe
operatingsystem’sbow.
BackinShopper 383 wetookalookatMicrooosoft’sSurface
NeoandDuodual-screendevices,whichMicrosssoftplansto
havereadyby autumn2020.Partof thereasonwhyapairof
devicesthatlookedverymuchliketheywerereeeadyforthe
marketaresettobereleasedsome 12 monthsaaaftertheirreveal
isdownto Microsoftwantingto ensureWindowwws10runswell
acrosssuchdual-screendevices;it’sworthnotingthatthe
SurfaceDuoisexpectedtorunAndroidwithavvveryWindows
10-likeinterfaceontopofit.
AndthusWindows10Xwasdevised.

HOWDOESITDIFFERTOWINDOWS10?

It’seffectivelyareworkedversionofWindows 111 0designedto
workproperlywithdual-screendevices.
Thinkof itasthemeansto getappsworkingggacrosstwo
screensoradjustingdynamicallytoworkononedisplayorthe
otherandinteractingwithtouchscreencontrolsssaswellas
otherinputs,suchastheSurfaceNeo’sattachaaablekeyboard.

THAT’SALL?
Well,there’smoregoingonunderthesurfacewwwithWindows
10X.Asit’sexpectedto beusedonthintablet-likedevices
with limitedspaceforbatterypacks,Microsoftwantsto ensure
that Windows10Xwillbepower-efficientbutstillhavethescope
to run thevastarrayofappsRedmond’soperatingsystemhas
supportedforyears.
Itwillalsoactasaplatformonwhichdeveloperscanbuildapps
fordual-screendevicesorretooltheirexistingapps–thinkpopular
productivityappssuchasAdobePhotoshop–toworkwithdevices
that areneitherlaptops,tabletsorsmartphonesbutsome
amalgamationof allthree.
Whilefoldablephonesarenowathing,and
we’veseenvarioustakesondual-screenlaptops
before,theyhaven’texactlyhadthebestapp
supportorbeentheslickestto use.That’swhy
MicrosoftisworkingonWindows10Xrather
thansimplyrelyingontheabilityforWindows
10to switchbetweendesktopandtabletmodes.
Suchdevicesliveordieby theappsthat
theysupport:Applehasfarmoretablet-
optimisedappsthanAndroid,forexample,
whichisprobablywhytheiPadisoftenconsideredto offerthebest
tabletexperience.
SoifMicrosoftwantsitsSurfaceNeoto appealto peoplebeyond
Surfacefans,itwillneedto ensureWindows10Xhelpsdevelopersto
easilymakeappsthatworkwellindual-screenformats.
Furthermore,Windows10Xwillhelppavethewayforother
dual-screendevicesfromotherhardwarecompanies,asitwillgive
them anoptimisedoperatingsystemto tapinto, therebybypassing
the needforthemto carryouttheirownoptimisations.

SOCANWEEXPECTMOREDUAL-SCREENDEVICES?
Yep, atCESthisyearthereweredual-screenmachinesonshowfrom
Dell,LenovoandIntel.
Whilethat’snotto sayyou’llsuddenlyseepeopleintrendyscarves
sittinginStarbuckstappingawayonsuchmachinesratherthanon

MacBookPros,it’sasignthatdual-screendevicesmightbemorethan

aflashintheprototypepan.

However,fromwhatwe’veseenandheardthusfar, suchdevices

don’tseemto workparticularlywellwithWindows10initscurrent

form,whichlendsfurthercredenceto theneedforWindows10X.

Microsoftcertainlybelievestherewillbeanappetitefordual-screen

devices,particularlyforpeoplewhoworkonthemove.We’llletEran

Megiddo,corporatevice-presidentatMicrosoft’sWindowsand

Educationdivision,outlinethecompany’svision.

“Betweenworkandfamily,ourtimeis

precious.Withadual-screenPCandWindows

10X,peoplecangetthingsdoneon-the-gofaster

thanever:takenotesononescreenwhile

reviewingthefullprojectproposalontheother

whileintransit;sitdownatatableto writea

thoughtfulemailonahardwarekeyboardwhile

waitingforlunch;andthenwatchavideo,

browsetheweborreadabookasyougetback

to yourlife,” Megiddoexplains.

“PeopleareexpectingmoreflexibilityfromtheirPCs–they

want performant,highlyflexible,fullycapableandcompatible

devices thatareatthesametimedeliveredinasimple,sleekand,

increasingly,mobileformfactor.Thisnewhardwarerequiresan

expressionof Windows10thatevolvesto meetthisopportunity.

This is Windows10X.”

SOUNDSAMBITIOUS!

That’sbecauseitis,atleastinoureyes.Butit’sniceto see

Microsoftlookingtofindnewwaysto changeandevolve

traditional Windowscomputing.

We’vebeensayingforawhilenowthatthere’sstillplentyof

innovationleftinthePCworld,andWindows10Xanddual-screen

devicesareindicativeof this.Microsoftjusthasto makesureithas

learntfromitsmistakeswithWindowsRT andWindowsPhone.

WWWiiinnndddooowwwsss 111000 XXX

Microsofthopestopave theway forproperdual-screenPCs

There’s still lots of innovation

left in the PC world, and

Windows 10X and dual-screen

devices areindicativeofthis

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