Microsoft To Release Low-Cost Windows 10 With Bing Branding

jones_supa writes: Linux-based Chromebooks have experienced a huge growth in sales during the last couple of years, so much that Microsoft is getting nervous. The company is working with partners to bring cheaper devices to the market, and part of this plan is Windows 10 with Bing, a special version of the new operating system that would only be addressed to original equipment manufacturers. This low-price basic version of Windows comes with hardcoded Bing branding, although the search engine can be changed by the user. Microsoft wants Windows 10 to be installed on as many devices as possible, and the company's roadmap expects 1 billion PCs, tablets, and smartphones to be running it until 2017. The build for Raspberry Pi 2 is still in the works as well.

Comments

Before everyone jumps on the "Hatez the microsoft"

[msobkow]

Before everyone jumps on this with their "Hatez the Microsoft" commentary, let me just point out that Android relies on exactly this kind of branding, except it's Google instead of Bing.

Re:Before everyone jumps on the "Hatez the microso

[Jax Omen]

And, you know, this isn't exactly big new news...

Windows 8.1 with Bing has been around for a while.

the important takeaway is that THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VERSIONS is that THE OEM cannot change the default search software prior to sale. THE END USER CAN CHANGE WHATEVER THEY WANT STILL.

This is a good thing, anything that brings the price of the OS down for the average joe is a good thing. And maybe, if we're lucky, the Chromebooks will have to step up their game to compete with real Windows.

Dear Microsoft.

[Lumpy]

Stop being idiots.

Just release 10 home for free to everyone. This will overnight solve a lot of problems and increase adoption back to the levels you want.
I thought the new CEO was a smart guy, but it seems he just doesn't get it.

Re:Dear Microsoft.

[msobkow]

Au contraire. The system came with Windows pre-installed. I had to go to an *effort* to install Linux on it.

I didn't save a damned dime.

Re:Hard-coded with Bing

[Cro Magnon]

Unless they already have a preference for Google. Or if Bing is so bad it drives people away in droves.

Raspberry Pi 2 and Windows? Not.

[Anonymous Coward]

The post makes it sound like you could run Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 2.

Well you can't. Nothing with GUI anyway.

It is basicly a windows kernel with terminal only connection. So you can connect a bunch of sensors, do some stuff with PowerShell and develop IoT applications with .NET. Think about everything you can do with linux and original Raspberry Pi (even with 256mb) and add Windows bloat. That should quadruple the requirements and still be of limited use..

Any developer with decent skill set can work out some way to get results from RPi running linux and import those into his .NET application.

I joined the Insider Program and watched 2 hours of video... for .. this. I am not impressed.

Re:Ya Don't Say

[meglon]

If they really really want it, they could make a decent fucking product that does what people want, and not worthless bullshit they don't want.... then again, it is Microsoft.... they're not as hardwired to fuck everything they touch up as Sony Online Entertainment was, but they're pretty damn close.