Microsoft ditches its Chrome OS competitor in Windows 10X
Things at Microsoft seem to be a mixed bag at the moment. On one hand, you have the unbelievable success of Xbox Game Pass, along with surging sales for the Xbox Series X and Series S. The Surface lineup seems to be doing admirably, providing an Apple-like option for those who want a high-quality and minimalistic approach to a Windows laptop. But then, things like the Surface Duo seemed a bit unfinished at launch, and it still hasn’t been updated to Android 11.
When the Surface Duo was announced, it was intended to usher in a new wave of dual-screen devices for Microsoft, eventually to be followed up by the Surface Neo. But instead of being powered by either Android or even an ARM version of Windows, the Neo was intended to launch with Windows 10X.
Windows 10X was expected to be Microsoft’s answer to Chrome OS, ushering in a new wave of Windows-powered devices with a few key changes. The biggest change was a redesign of the platform, bringing with it a more simplistic interface without users needing to worry about a process-intensive operating system.
Microsoft had been working with computer makers like Samsung and Lenovo to launch devices powered by Windows 10X over the course of 2020 and 2021. This was pre-COVID, and Microsoft’s timeline was pushed back due to development concerns. However, it appears that Microsoft might just be giving up the goose entirely on a Chrome OS competitor.
Brad Sams over at Petri has reported that Microsoft has “shelved” Windows 10X entirely while confirming that it won’t be arriving at any point in 2021. Instead, it appears that Microsoft is dedicating as many resources as possible to its Sun Valley release of Windows 10, slated to arrive this Fall.
Sun Valley is very likely to be the largest update to Windows since W10 was introduced, as it will bring in an almost entirely modernized interface. It’s said that some features designed for Windows 10X, like the redesigned Start Menu with icons placed in the center of the taskbar, could be coming to Sun Valley.
While Chrome OS and Chromebooks were already pretty popular pre-pandemic, sales numbers saw Chromebooks skyrocket in popularity. Low-cost laptops with the ability to download all of your favorite Android apps and get work done from anywhere are still extremely enticing. Especially when you consider devices like the Lenovo Chromebook Duet and the ASUS Chromebook Flip, these are much more than just your traditional laptops or computers.