Windows 10 s mode vs chromebook free.Chromebook vs. Windows 10: Which Is Best for You?

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What is Windows 10 S and how is it different from regular Windows 10? | Windows 10 | The Guardian 

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Windows 10 s mode vs chromebook free.Windows 10 S vs Chrome OS: Which is best for cheap laptops?

 

Here's everything you need to know about Microsoft's latest operating systems. Alison was previously an editor at TechRepublic. But Windows 10 isn't the only version of the OS out there: There's also Windows 10 S, a stripped-down version aimed at students and small businesses.

Although they are both based on the same foundation, there are several key differences between Windows 10 and Windows 10 S. Here's what you need to know. Read more: You can still download Windows 10 for free -- and you should because Windows 7 is dead.

Windows 10 is the latest version of Microsoft's operating system, first released in When it came out, a Microsoft employee called it "the last version of Windows. Microsoft releases major feature updates twice a year, typically in March and in September, and Microsoft recommends installing each update as it is available.

The latest was the November update. However, as hardware ages, some devices might not be able to receive updates anymore over time. Read more: The best antivirus protection of for Windows Windows 10 includes several new capabilities , including integration of Microsoft's digital assistant Cortana.

It also has a number of new security tools: Windows Defender Antivirus protects against malware and spyware across email, apps, the cloud and the web, while Windows Hello offers a password-free sign in option to unlock your devices with your face or a fingerprint reader.

While some people were initially hesitant to make the switch due to reports of several bugs in earlier versions of Windows 10, Microsoft has made several changes to its update approach starting with the May release, including slower rollouts with additional testing, more options for pausing updates and more disclosure of known issues, so your experience should be smoother.

Read more at TechRepublic: Windows A cheat sheet. Windows 10 S , announced in , is a "walled garden" version of Windows 10 -- it offers a faster, more secure experience by only allowing users to install software from the official Windows app store, and by requiring use of the Microsoft Edge browser.

Sometimes referred to as "Windows 10 in S mode," Windows 10 S is installed on lower-cost laptops aimed at schools and students, including the Microsoft Surface Laptop. The stripped-down OS represents Microsoft's efforts to compete in the classroom against the likes of Google Chromebooks and Apple iPads.

Machines running Windows 10 S are easier for administrators to set up and manage, according to Microsoft -- which can also be beneficial for small business owners. If you want to, you can upgrade from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro to get the full Windows 10 experience. However, switching back afterward is more complicated you can find out how to do so in this guide to upgrading from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro and back.

For more, check out Windows 10 tips and tricks: Secret start menu, taking screenshots and more , and 6 simple security changes all Windows 10 users need to make. Your guide to a better future. Alison DeNisco Rayome. Windows 10 S running on a Microsoft Surface device. Now playing: Watch this: Windows Features to try now.

 

Windows 10 in S mode: Pros and cons | TechRepublic - Windows 10 S versus Chrome OS – Apps

 

Also, a bit of a warning: not all games work on the best Chromebook! You simply cannot run many of the games you might want to play on a Chromebook. Neither Windows 10 nor Chrome OS supports every file type ever made, but on Microsoft-powered machines, you have the option of downloading codecs to play those files on your laptop. QuickTime files, among several other types, cannot be played back on a Chromebook. For media files, Chromebooks support. That means there's no. You also won't find.

Chrome OS doesn't support. You can also play optical discs on Windows 10 with the necessary hardware, but you won't be able to play DVDs or Blu-ray discs on a Chromebook.

You're unlikely to find a file you can't play on Windows Windows has long been a known target for hackers looking to infect PCs with viruses, malware, botnets and keyloggers. In fact, the very first thing anyone should do with a new Windows laptop is install an antivirus suite. However, Microsoft's Windows Defender does come built in, and that's better than nothing.

Windows Defender runs in the background and notifies you if you need to take an action, such as removing a virus. The SmartScreen feature also warns you when it doesn't recognize an app, to help prevent phishing attacks. Plus, the secure-boot feature means that every time you turn on your laptop, it will check itself for digital certificates of authenticity before it boots.

That means it will not load infected software. Cloud customers have access to a few extra security features. Device Guard protects Windows 10 machines from any unknown software that hasn't been approved by an official vendor or Microsoft itself.

In an effort to expand on its biometric systems, Microsoft is enabling Windows Hello to unlock devices just by using fingerprint scanners. Chromebooks have not yet caught the eye of many hackers. But more than that, Google promotes the security of its operating system as a key selling point. A Chromebook automatically checks for and applies security updates, while including Web filters and sandboxing media.

And while we've got a guide for how to update your Chromebook , it will often do that for you. Also, Chrome OS doesn't support Flash, so any security issues surrounding it won't affect the system. If something does get into your Chrome OS system, restoring it to its factory settings requires only a couple of clicks on the mouse pad. The only security problem Chromebook owners really face is thieves looking to hack the sites you use, where a lot of personal data is stored.

Assuming you can keep your Google password to yourself, you're safer in Chrome. Variety is the spice of life, and fewer types of technology offer as much variety as Windows PCs. The screens alone can range in size from 11 to 21 inches, both with and without touch capability.

Eight major manufacturers create Windows laptops, offering Intel and AMD chips, onboard memory that varies wildly from 2GB to 16GB, and storage sizes that go up to the terabyte level. Some Windows machines are plastic, and some are metal. Some come in nonstandard colors. Some are meant to be portable, while others are more deskbound.

You'll also find Windows machines dedicated to business and gamers, and 2-in-1 machines that double as notebooks and tablets.

There truly is an option for everyone when it comes to Windows. The Chromebook market is smaller but growing steadily. The display size ranges from 11 to 15 inches, but most are smaller than 15 inches.

Only a couple of models offer a touch screen. Chromebooks are incredibly portable, though, usually weighing between 2 and 4 pounds. You'll find some niche Chromebooks popping up for business customers. These machines, such as the gorgeous Google Pixelbook and the Gorilla Glass-enforced Acer Chromebook 14 for Work cost more, but look and feel a lot more like their PC counterparts.

For a deeper dive, check out our Should I Buy a Chromebook? Microsoft's ecosystem gives you more options, which means you're more likely to find something you really like. Let us know and why in the comments below. Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct. We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work.

Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. Founded in , Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy. Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1, products a year.

In this article… 1. Windows 10 S vs Chrome OS 2. Windows 10 S versus Chrome OS 3. Windows 10 S vs Chrome OS 4. Related: Best laptops Windows 10 S also gets the benefits of Battery Saver mode, which automatically keeps your device from consuming too much power at the expense of screen brightness and performance.

On the surface it feels like nothing more than a way to channel Windows users into using Microsoft applications and services. There must be some advantage? Microsoft makes several claims to support its contention that people should use S Mode. To begin with, S Mode is meant to be more secure. Apps are updated and uninstalled via the same Windows Store mechanisms. Everything is more uniform and predictable, and therefore easier to maintain.

In schools, business, and public use areas that might prove useful. Fair enough. If you plan to spend most of your time online, either web browsing, video streaming, or working with cloud apps, then a Chromebook is definitely something you should consider.

If you've never used one before, but are comfortable with learning a new operating system and interface, then you really can't go wrong here. Chromebooks are built for exactly this kind of computing so you're generally going to see better performance in your day to day use. If you don't plan on spending a lot of time online though - or you're just more comfortable with a Windows environment - then a Windows 10 S-mode laptop can give you a more traditional laptop experience than a Chromebook, including more traditional, full-feature software through the Windows Store.

That said, since Windows 10 S-mode wasn't built around lower-end hardware - it's more that Windows 10 was modified to run on it - your experience is going to be a lot more dependent on the quality of the hardware than it would be with a Chromebook, and you still might find the overall performance somewhat lacking.

Either way, whether you go with a Chromebook or a Windows 10 S-mode laptop on Amazon Prime Day, you're sure to find plenty of great deals no matter which one you choose. We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are constantly updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar. Named by the CTA as a CES Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews, PC gaming, as well as general science writing and the social impact of the tech industry.

North America. Audio player loading…. View Deal opens in new tab. How We Test We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are constantly updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.