Windows 11 SE and $ 249 Surface Laptop SE are designed for students

For many years, Microsoft has been pushed cheap Windows laptops such as good school computers. They can do anything similar to the Chromebook, while running Windows software. But now, Microsoft is poised to jump on the bandwagon of cheap, child-friendly games and PC $ 249 Surface Laptop SE. It is one of the first PCs to run Windows 11 SE, an unlocked OS that targets K-8 students (and their problematic teachers). You can also expect to see Windows 11 SE devices coming from Dell, HP, Acer and ASUS, among other PC manufacturers.

Microsoft has not had a good experience with Windows versions over the years: Windows 10 S it was a light attempt to provide a simple Advanced Startup Laptop, where the dual screen looks great. Windows 10X was he eventually failed. (Windows 11 actually moved to the ash of Windows 10 X.) But according to Aaron Woodman, General Manager of Microsoft Windows, the new OS is focused on solving a problem: How can Microsoft create a better OS for students and educators?

Windows 11 SE tries to do this by looking at simplicity. There are no Microsoft Software Store (although IT departments can use any Win32 and Universal software they require). It is designed to work slowly. And Microsoft also removed window options by simply letting apps sit to the left or right of the screen. One of the great features of Windows 11 is the easy way to push the program easily across the various corners of your screen, but it is probably the most difficult for primary school children who run scripts with small screens.

Surface Laptop SE is similar in design. It is a booklet with plastic shells that clearly matches the line of the Surface Laptop, especially the cheapest of the past, the $ 549. Laptop Top Go. It has an 11.6-inch TFT LCD screen with 1,366 and 768 resolution – a step above 720p, but below the Laptop Go’s sub-1080p display. And don’t expect any powerful hardware under the hood, as the Surface Laptop SE has dual-core Celeron chips (either N4020 or N4120), as well as 4GB or 8GB of RAM. For storage, there is a choice between 64GB or 128GB eMMC cards.

But really, what else do you expect from the starting price of $ 249? What is most interesting about the Surface Laptop SE are the important features that were still able to enter. Microsoft brought the excellent Surface Laptop Go keyboard and trackpad, as well as its easy-to-open cap, Woodman tells us. Laptop SE also plays 720p web cameras, which are sharper than what we see in standard pricing books. And, based on the short Teams chat I had with Dave Alles, General Manager of Surface Laptop SE, its camera and microphone features are surprisingly strong. (It was better than the $ 1,200 laptops I reviewed.)

For the most part, the Surface Laptop SE seems to be the perfect fit for a normal schoolboy. It weighs 2.45 pounds, so it should not be too strong to roll in small bags. And its on-premises storage, while limited, should be sufficient to run Microsoft Office online. Microsoft claims to gain 16 hours of battery life with its “device usage.” Woodman tells us that the developers had students without a reliable internet in mind. They can download school activities, work from home, and coordinate their activities when they return to class.

IT departments can appreciate easily accessible ground floor tiles, which make it easier to open and edit page notes. The low cost of Laptop SE should also make it possible for schools to get enough units for each student, instead of sharing a few PCs in the classroom.

I am curious to see how Windows 11 SE works slowly on Laptop SE. And for some as a baby gets older, he or she will outgrow this. But as a former IT-assisted jockey, Surface Laptop SE seems to be the cheapest book I’ve ever wanted for my schoolmates. Sure, it’s not as flexible as $ 400 Surface Go 3, but only for basic education with no problem. And when I loved Laptop Top Go, begins at $ 549—So schools can buy two SE laptops at the same price.

Currently, Microsoft is planning to sell Laptop SE to schools through training vendors later this year. Ordinary consumers and businesses can never order. But if it goes well, I would not be surprised if Microsoft finds a way to bring this cheap computer to more people.