To maintain its dominance in the education market, Microsoft will unveil new Windows 10 devices at the Bett education show in London. It will be showing off new Windows 10 and Windows 10 S devices that start from $189.
This can be seen as a response to the growing popularity of Chromebooks in schools.
Windows In Schools
The low prices of Chromebooks have spurred Google's entry into the laptop market. Microsoft will be unveiling the $189 Lenovo 100e laptop that features Intel's Celeron Apollo Lake chips. Another low cost alternative for schools that will be introduced includes the Lenovo 300e, a 2-in-1 laptop with pen support that will cost $279.
Two more low-cost Windows 10 laptops will be released. JP will release a Windows Hello laptop, the Classmate Leap T303 and pen and touch device, Trigono V401 — for $199 and $299 respectively.
To make the devices more attractive for schools, Microsoft says that the devices will be spill resistant, feature 2x2 Wi-Fi, and have a long battery life.
Microsoft will also be releasing a Chemistry Update for Minecraft: Education Edition sometime in the spring. The update will center on experimentation and will teach students to build compounds. Those schools that already bought this version of Minecraft will receive the Chemistry Update for free.
There will also be a Mixed Reality offering available for schools. Microsoft teamed up with Pearson, the world's largest education company, that will establish a new curriculum targeted toward MIcrosoft's HoloLens and Mixed Reality Headsets. To entice schools to buy the HoloLens, Microsoft will be offering a 10 percent discount for the headsets. Windows Mixed Reality headsets will continue to be available at a lower cost.
Microsoft Edge Over Chromebooks
Chromebooks may be increasing its market share at the detriment of Microsoft's Windows powered laptops, but it still has advantages. Chromebooks can only use web apps to run programs. Without an internet connection, Chromebooks are harder to use.
That does create an advantage for those who manage the computers, as it is easier to maintain and control.
Another feature that may prove problematic for Chromebooks is the lack of physical memory. While it is useful for those who use cloud computing, it would be difficult if the computer can't connect to the internet. Having local storage can't help during times when an internet connection may be inaccessible.
Microsoft also offers a wider range of devices that can fit to the situation schools are looking for.
Microsoft is trying to keep up with the low cost of the device that's increasing its popularity in the education market.
