Yesterday we told you about a series of rumors that began to sound strong around Cloud PC, a new operating system in the cloud that Microsoft could announce imminently. And, finally, it has come true. A few hours ago, the company officially presented what will be an operating system concept never seen before, a hybrid and customizable operating system that will be available to all users and, of course, will mark the way to the future of the computing. This is Windows 365 .
What is Windows 365 and how is it different from Windows 10 or 11?
Broadly speaking, both operating systems are the same, or, rather, very similar. The main difference lies in the way the OS is run. When we use Windows 10, or the new Windows 11, it is installed and executed directly on our computer, a computer that we can physically touch. However, Windows 365 is different, as this system runs remotely within Microsoft’s Azure cloud.
When we use 10 or 11, our data and our settings are saved on our computer. Therefore, when we use the same system on a different PC, the data and settings do not accompany us. With Windows 365, all the settings , personal data , files , programs and all other content always accompany us, whatever the system we use it.
Thanks to this new operating system in the cloud we will be able to have a fully functional Windows wherever we are. We can run it on any PC (both Windows and macOS or Linux), on Android, on iOS … and on any device that has a web browser. Of course, depending on the device, the experience may not be the same, and it may be somewhat limited.
The main features that we can find in Windows 365 are (those with an asterisk are exclusive to use on PC):
- Support for keyboard, mouse and touch screen.
- Serial port. *
- USB. *
- Support for multiple monitors (up to 16). *
- Dynamic resolution. *
- Screenshot protection. *
- Webcam support.
- Integration with the start menu. *
- Clipboard.
- Access to local disks.
- Accessibility. *
- Geolocation. *
- Microphone holder.
- Support for printers and scanners. *
- Smart Cards. *
- Speaker stand.
Availability: When can I try it?
The first thing to keep in mind is that this operating system is not intended to be used at home as an alternative to our Windows 10 or Windows 11. Microsoft has designed the new Windows 365 thinking, above all, of companies and users who pay a license Windows Enterprise, but this OS is too big for them. The requirements to be able to contract this operating system as a service are:
- Have a Microsoft Azure subscription.
- Have a Microsoft Azure Virtual Network subscription.
- Windows 10 Enterprise E3 + EMS E3 or Microsoft 365 key F3 / E3 / E5 / BP.
- Windows VDA E3 + EMS E3.
- AD synchronized with the Azure platform.
- Intune Service Admin supported licenses.
Regarding its availability, Microsoft will launch Windows 365 on August 2 of this year. And users can run it on different servers depending on their needs:
- 1 vCPU + 2 GB of RAM + 64 GB SSD: the most basic, for office automation and easy use of the PC.
- 2 vCPU + 4 GB of RAM + 64/128/256 GB SSD: for advanced office automation, use of Microsoft 365, Teams and more.
- 2 vCPU + 8 GB of RAM + 128/256 GB SSD: similar to the previous one, but with less limitations and better performance.
- 4 vCPU + 16 GB of RAM + 128/256/512 GB of SSD: advanced office use, designed for finance, government consultants, health systems.
- 8 vCPUs + 32GB RAM + 128/256/512 GB SSD – Software developers, content creators, and more.
On the price , Microsoft has not revealed anything yet. We can find out later, as the release date approaches.