Johnson also said that the new PCs will be optimized for the most-used education experiences, including Microsoft 365, and that they’ll be configured specifically for both online and offline experiences. Finally, the Start menu will only include four “Recommended” files to help kids find what they need, the representative said. Unlike Windows 11, kids using a Windows 11 SE PC will only be able to run two apps side-by-side, rather than four. Apps will be launched in full-screen mode by default, too.

For one, Microsoft did away with the distracting Widgets menu in Windows 11 SE, according to an email sent by a company representative. Windows 11 SE looks virtually identical to Windows 11, complete with Snap features and support for Microsoft 365 (Office) apps.Īccording to screenshots Microsoft provided, Windows 11 SE looks exactly like Windows 11. According to a blog post authored by Paige Johnson, the vice president of education marketing at Microsoft, educators have told Microsoft that “they need options that are simpler, secure, and work on more affordable devices.” Johnson described Windows 11 SE PCs as “distraction-free” and easy to manage.

Microsoft is only talking about Windows 11 SE in vague terms, though company representatives followed up with more specifics on how it will differ from Windows 11. Mercury Research reported similar findings in the PC CPU market.) What is Windows 11 SE? (However, Canalys reported on November 1 that Chromebook sales fell 37 percent from a year ago, as students returned to the classroom. For the year, Chromebooks even outsold Macs, according to analyst firm IDC. According to Canalys, Chromebook sales erupted a massive 275 percent year-over-year during the first quarter of 2021, after climbing even higher during 2020.

Chromebook sales soared as kids turned to remote schooling and parents hunted down the technology that they would normally use in the classroom. It should be no surprise that Chromebooks surged during the pandemic, or that Microsoft is making a renewed push into that territory.

Update zoom on chromebook