Microsoft's Windows 10X leaked. However, it has not brought tremendous waves.
First of all, the new design is boring. It's simple, really uncomplicated, honest, and without the mess of traditional Windows. PCWorld assessed last year that Windows 10X appears to be the new Windows 10 S (Windows 10 S mode). As a result of using the leaked build this time, I confirmed that the feeling at the time was correct.
Windows 10X was a wish to have completely redesigned the graphics and equipped with various new features, but the reality is that there is little difference from the review a year ago. The biggest difference is that Windows 10X is now an operating system for single-screen PCs rather than dual screens.
The leaked build, version 20279, can currently only run on one of the Microsoft Hyper-V virtual machines. The virtual machine has the advantage of isolating the operating system from the rest, but its slow speed is the disadvantage. Even in this instant review, Windows 10X ran really slow in a virtual machine on the Surface Laptop 3.
On the other hand, there is no chance for general users to download and install Windows 10X. This operating system is expected to be supplied pre-installed on low-end PCs, and most of them are estimated to be used for education or specific business purposes.
Windows 10X startup
The theme of simplicity begins with installation. Windows 10X only shows a concise Windows logo and runs right away, without the annoyance of Cortana.
Users who prefer a local account should think carefully about purchasing a Windows 10X system. This operating system requires a Microsoft account, and you cannot select 'No'. The user can choose whether to use the PC for home or business use. Under these conditions, it seems that Windows 10X-equipped PCs can be purchased at general retail stores.
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| Windows 10X lets you choose what your PC is for |
Windows 10X actually tries to tell the user what data the operating system is collecting. Users can choose from a variety of privacy options, such as allowing targeted advertising. At least in the builds that PCWorld looked at, Windows checks for relevant updates, but nothing was seen to bother the user. When you select the privacy setting, Windows 10X goes to the main screen.
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| Several privacy options to choose from in Windows 10X |
Core UI of Windows 10X
If you are new to Windows 10X, you may be a bit shocked by an unfamiliar interface.
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| The default screen of Windows 10X. Search is at the top, apps in the middle, and documents at the bottom |
For example, the Start menu does not appear in the lower-left corner. There are also no colorful live tiles. It is simply displayed as a colored icon on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. When you click the start button, the app drawer opens up, much like a Chromebook.
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| By default, all apps are not displayed. Click to expand the screen |
The apps that Windows 10X hides in the app drawer are basic apps: settings, calculators, to-do lists, news, weather, and photos. Apps like OneDrive that users expect aren't visible, and apps like Groove Music aren't expected. What doesn't match expectations is that Edge is displayed as the default browser. Edge Browser syncs users' cloud accounts with extensions and favorites.
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| I see this screen often, and it seems to be a problem with Hyper-V and early builds |
When you click on an app like Weather, it takes time to download and update the app. We don't know if this will happen in the final version of Windows 10X.
Not surprisingly, Microsoft appears to have limited its apps to apps that can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store. I was able to download and install the Candy Crush Soda Saga from the Microsoft Store, but 7Zip disappeared when I tried to download and install it.
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| Windows 10X Task View |
If you can't find the app you're looking for, there's a large search box at the top of the Start screen. When you enter a word, it searches the web, Microsoft Store, and even local documents and displays the results.
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| Windows 10X search box and search results |
Apps can be aligned to one side of the screen with a snap function, or run in full screen. For now, Windows 10X doesn't seem to support the sophisticated quadrant snap view like Windows 10 does. You can move between running apps by clicking on small icons, keeping the window's task view intact.
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| It offers a snap feature but is limited to two apps |
In addition, Windows 10X kept the settings menu as it was, with some options for virtual hardware and operating system limited.
I left the notification center in the lower right corner, which simplifies a series of options. However, when Windows 10X is installed on the hardware and officially released, it is likely that more options will be available.
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| Windows 10X Notification Center has been minimized to match the overall tone of the operating system |
The last question left now is the possibility of upgrading to Windows 10 Home, which is negative. Microsoft seems to have eliminated such an escape route.
As a result of looking at so far, the basic premise of Windows 10X is a simplified Windows, an operating system for users who need such Windows or those who have been determined by IT administrators. It remains to be seen what Windows 10X will look like when installed on the hardware and used by end-users.
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