Windows 365 Announced

[CrimsonKnight13]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-365/?ocid=AID3038479&utm_issue=Aug2021&rtc=1

"Windows 365 is a complete software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that streams a personalized, secure, and scalable Windows experience to any device. It’s designed for simplicity—no virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) expertise required."

I can't say I'm surprised since so many saw this coming a long way off. Personally, I'm not interested but it will serve a purpose with VDI.

 

[HeadRusch]

Isn't this what we already have.....or do we mean upon hardware bootup the machine thin clients out and gets a custom windows OS experience installed. Not familiar with how the modern Virtual Desktop thing functions...so half flippant comment, have legit question "isn't windows 10 software-as-a-service at this point"...?

 

[cdabc123]

Isn't this what we already have.....or do we mean upon hardware bootup the machine thin clients out and gets a custom windows OS experience installed. Not familiar with how the modern Virtual Desktop thing functions...so half flippant comment, have legit question "isn't windows 10 software-as-a-service at this point"...?

The current pricing structure for windows is not software as a service. They plan to change that and shift the software to better represent such a model.

 

[LukeTbk]

Isn't this what we already have.....or do we mean upon hardware bootup the machine thin clients out and gets a custom windows OS experience installed. Not familiar with how the modern Virtual Desktop thing functions...so half flippant comment, have legit question "isn't windows 10 software-as-a-service at this point"...?

Do you mean using something like Azure virtual desktop when you set them up to have Windows 10 running on it (or windows virtual desktop of the past)?

The major difference seem to be how much Microsoft handle more things, making it an easier out of the box experience than Azure (self or microsoft hosted)

"isn't windows 10 software-as-a-service at this point"...?

I have had Windows 10 pro since pretty much day one that the windows 7 pro I bought was transferred to 8 than 10, never sent a monthly cent to Microsoft for it.

That seem for now clearly exclusive for enterprise, if they want to move IT inhouse to Microsoft (it also give your employee a unlimited 10 gigabits internet speed in download and 4 gigabits upload in their session with 5ms ping, which in some location is probably interesting and make the high price point more understandable).

That look at IT dream if you do not want to handle it yourself (from management pov, IT employee nightmare of the continuation of the rapid destruction of their jobs).

 

[HeadRusch]

Thanks for the edukation everyone....

 

[michalrz]

Yes, but is it streamlined?
Does it transcend the stagnant client-provider model?
Is it ready for the new age?
Does it have cloud?

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

So, what will you access this from?

Some sort of Citrix-like thin client?

Because the whole concept of having a full local operating system just so you can access your remote full operating system seems a little nuts to me.

If I have a desktop (or laptop) already, why would I want this?

 

[Darunion]

Isn't this what we already have.....or do we mean upon hardware bootup the machine thin clients out and gets a custom windows OS experience installed. Not familiar with how the modern Virtual Desktop thing functions...so half flippant comment, have legit question "isn't windows 10 software-as-a-service at this point"...?

It pretty much is a re-marketing strategy of their azure platform

 

[LukeTbk]

If I have a desktop (or laptop) already, why would I want this?

That is not for non jobs related. (it start at $45 USD a month)

From the end user perspective, you can turn an very old laptop with a 25 mbits connection into something recent power wise with a 10gig internet connexon that work maybe better than the current virtual session you run on your current employer server. And if you are not tech savy and work from home, it take everything out of your hand you have nothing to do, specially interesting for those that had to start from work all of the sudden. Anything that can stream Netflix well can do Visual studio and other expensive application:


Or , for people that work on 100 millions worth of files that is employer would never accept to be on is local machine, employer that prefer not having to deal with IT themselves and so on.
Level1techs went into a list of advantage not so long ago, but I cannot find it

It is the employer that want this, it make all the IT and security work much more easier.

So, what will you access this from?

Anything that ran a compatible browser I think, most of the thing do run on the server, if you want to user your local webcam-mic on the cloud team or other of the genre, you need to be able to install some local app on the local client.

 

[Rockenrooster]

better have some redundant internet connections before even touching this.
So many cloud services nowadays, why not move your whole desktop to the cloud?
that will make internet outages even more fun!!!

The IT part is concerning though.
Small time local MSPs are not going to like this at all.
Microsoft themselves will be everyone's IT.
Customer satisfaction will hit a new floor because all the "IT" will be from India and if they find the problem is "not their end" then the user is SOL.
MS is going in the direction to monopolize the IT market.

 

[LukeTbk]

better have some redundant internet connections before even touching this.
So many cloud services nowadays, why not move your whole desktop to the cloud?
that will make internet outages even more fun!!!

That exactly what this offer the possibility to do, no ?

There is many jobs now that if Internet does not work, it will not be great pain anyway for the remote worker (and that the target audience for this at least the business side, the industry side is for controlling the local desktop so I imagine it still work offline), but that will be on your employer anyway not on you. Internet is down so little in my market, that one would need a very critical job for that to be an issue I feel.

 

[Rockenrooster]

That exactly what this offer the possibility to do, no ?

There is many jobs now that if Internet does not work, it will not be great pain anyway for the remote worker (and that the target audience for this at least the business side, the industry side is for controlling the local desktop so I imagine it still work offline), but that will be on your employer anyway not on you. Internet is down so little in my market, that one would need a very critical job for that to be an issue I feel.

i was speaking in sarcasm. Forgot the /s

we all know what happens when part of AWS goes down.....

 

[GoodBoy]

It's like game streaming, except for the OS.

Think cloud computing for the desktop.

I'll pass.

 

[toast0]

So, what will you access this from?

Some sort of Citrix-like thin client?

Because the whole concept of having a full local operating system just so you can access your remote full operating system seems a little nuts to me.

If I have a desktop (or laptop) already, why would I want this?

I haven't looked at this offering, but I'd expect it to work with a remote desktop client, a lot of those thin client solutions are relatively wimpy x86 boxes with a tiny bootable flash. Probably could do it cheaper with an arm thing. Might be neat to do it with a phone app with continuum something to plug into a monitor and what not. Microsoft used to sell a laptop form factor remote display for the Lumia 1050 or whatever numbers the ultra high end w10 phone was. Could reuse for this, but would depend on rock solid connectivity.

I'd actually love to do something like this onsite for home use. I could justify a beastly server if it could run three people's desktops that they could use from any console in the house. But Microsoft licensing makes it way too expensive.

 

[cpufrost]

So, what will you access this from?

Some sort of Citrix-like thin client?

Because the whole concept of having a full local operating system just so you can access your remote full operating system seems a little nuts to me.

If I have a desktop (or laptop) already, why would I want this?

Raspberry Pi is plenty, no?
Small business is going to go crazy over this.
Until the net goes down!