icrosoft will launch next year a new mini Cloud PC for Windows 365 cloud service. Named Windows 365 Link, the Mini Cloud PC will be able to perform
similarly to a thin client PC that connects to the cloud to stream the newest version of the Windows 11 operating system.
Windows 365 Link device is specially created and designed to be a compact device, non-ventilated and to be also easy to use with different local monitors and external pieces. So, this new Microsoft Windows device will be the perfect choice for the Microsoft Windows 365 service, which was created to allow businesses to seamlessly transition their employees to cloud-based virtual machines that can be safely streamed between multiple devices.
“We want the focus of Link to be the Windows 365 part of it. We want to make it as simple and efficient as possible for you to be able to access your cloud PC. Our goal really is for the device itself to be as transparent as possible, so we minimize the steps for you from setup, to login, to handoffs and transitions.”, the head of Windows and Surface, Pavan Davuluri stated for The Verge.
The new Windows 365 link represents a secure device by its design because it uses all of the previous work from Microsoft in order to keep the hackers out of the system. So, it should be mentioned that it will only work with a lightweight OS locally, designed to connect users to a Windows 365 cloud PC securely.
This new Microsoft device is able to boot in just a few seconds, and it also uses its own integrated chips in order to process various videos for Webex or Microsoft Teams. It’s important to mention that the full specifications of this Windows 365 Link are not yet available because it is expected to launch in April 2025. But, it is rumored that an Intel Processor will power it with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
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From the pictures, we can see that it does include two USB-A 3.2 ports and one USB-C 3.1 port. Also, a display port along with an HDMI port is included in the design and also a port for ethernet connectivity. In the front design, the Windows 365 Link features just one USB-A 3.2 port, but it also has Wireless and Bluetooth connectivity.
It seems that this new Microsoft Windows device is ideal for various businesses that already have the Windows 365 service in order to allow multiple people to use the same device to connect to the Cloud PC.
“The way to think about it is that it’s a super hardened version of Windows. Think Xbox or phone, it’s a less is more. Because we don’t have to support win32, it’s super streamlined and super hardened so that everything that runs is signed by Microsoft and it’s isolated in sandboxes.”, the vice president of enterprise and OS security from Microsoft stated.
Windows 365 link is currently available only for preview and will become fully available starting at $349 in April 2025.
By
Bill O'Neill
•
November 20, 2024 8:00 AM
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