Microsoft may be looking to break into the K-12 market with Chromebook rival
Expected to launch later this year
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It seems thatMicrosoftplans on competing with the likes ofHP,Dell, andLenovowith a brand newChromebookrival. A low-cost 11.6-inch version, to be specific, that targets the K-12 education market, according toWindows Central.
The rumored laptop is code-named Tenjin, has a fully plastic exterior, and will feature a 1366x768 display, anIntelCeleron N4120, and up to 8GB of RAM. In order to keep in vain with its no-frills competition to keep costs down, it will only come with a full-sized keyboard and trackpad, one USB-A port, one USB-C port, a headphone jack, and a barrel-style AC port.
Though no actual price was named, Tenjin will most likely be priced around $400 (about £290, AU$532) in order to compete with other education-focused Windows laptops such as the Lenovo 100W or HP Stream series. The device will apparently launch by the end of this year, pending any last-minute delays.
Analysis: Is a Windows 11 version possible?
According to those same sources, Microsoft also has plans to release a new version ofWindows 11called “Windows 11SE,” which would be developed specifically for low-cost educational PCs such as Tenjin. There seem to be talks that Tenjin might ship under theSurface Probrand with a possible name of “Laptop SE,” in order to match the OS brand.
If that’s the case, then it would make sense for the tech giant to create a competitor to2-in-1 Chromebooks. TheWindows 10version has seen success in the educational market over the years, thanks to the ease in which students can switch between the tablet for classroom note-taking, while using the keyboard for other assignments and reports.
Not to mention that targeting such a high-density market would be great as advertising, and possibly push students to invest in a more traditional — and more expensive — Windows 11 laptop in the future.
Of course, absolutely none of this has officially been confirmed. In fact, Microsoft officials denied to comment on the rumors when asked, so take all of this with a grain of salt.
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A Microsoft Chromebook-killer?
When we reviewed theSurface Go 3in October 2021, one of our biggest complaints was that it wasn’t a Chromebook. The low-powered hardware in Microsoft’s cheapest device just would have been far more at home on Chrome OS, as it makes much better use of low-powered hardware like the Intel Celeron chip mentioned here.
Since, after years of failing to make Windows Phone a thing, Microsoft released the Surface Duo 2 running on Android 11. So, maybe Microsoft is learning that its ownoperating systemjust is not meant for this kind of low-power and affordable hardware.
Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.
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