If you decide to buy Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop for $999, but would prefer to have Windows 10 Pro on it, rather than the slightly crippled Windows 10 S, the good news is you can upgrade to that version.

The not so good news is it will cost you $49 to do so. Well, it will cost some buyers anyway, others will get the upgrade for free, if they act quickly.

Continue reading →

Microsoft is trying to shake things up in the education market with the new Windows 10 S and Surface Laptop. And it's approaching things from two different directions. While the former is a lighter, less complex and easier to manage version of Windows 10 that's meant to compete with Chrome OS, the first Surface laptop, which it's using to showcase this operating system, is not actually a Chromebook competitor.

The Surface Laptop is a device aimed at college students and other prospective buyers looking for a Surface-branded laptop. So it features a high-end build, speedy internals, and, like you would expect, it has the price to match its premium aspirations too, kicking off at $999. In a sense, it's closer to the Apple MacBook Air than your typical Chromebook -- yet it runs a "lesser" version of Windows 10. Interesting, isn't it?

Continue reading →

Windows 10 is a great operating system. Despite some vocal detractors, many people enjoy it every day for home, school and work. It is for this reason that Microsoft's overall Windows marketshare is the majority by far -- macOS and Linux-based operating systems are largely insignificant.

In the education segment, however, Google has been having some success with its Linux-based Chromebooks. Microsoft seems unhappy with the search giant taking some of its share of the pie. Today, in response to Google's Chrome OS, Microsoft launches a new operating system -- Windows 10 S. The mantra for this OS, as per Microsoft, is "simplify to magnify."

Continue reading →

Today is a big day for Microsoft. At an event in New York City, the company promises we’ll "Learn what’s next" for Microsoft and education, even though thanks to leaks we already have a pretty good idea of what to expect.

The software giant is set to take on Google in the educational market with a new Surface laptop, and a new version of Windows 10 that only runs apps from the Windows Store, called Windows 10 S.

Continue reading →

Tomorrow in New York City, Microsoft will be holding an event that seems to be geared towards education -- the Windows-maker has been sharing the #MicrosoftEDU hashtag. With Chromebooks gaining in popularity, especially in the school segment, it has been rumored that the company will be revealing a new version of Windows 10 that only runs apps from the Windows Store -- similar to the much-maligned Windows RT. This would, in theory, remove many malware threats, making it a safer platform -- similar to the benefit of Chrome OS.

On the eve of this event, a Twitter user named WalkingCat, using the handle @h0x0d, has leaked some images and details regarding what he/she alleges is the upcoming Surface Laptop that will be revealed tomorrow. The leaker alleges that the laptop will be 14.47mm at its thickest in the rear, and it will taper down to 9.9mm towards the front. It will reportedly be quite light at a mere 2.76 pounds. The 13.5 inch display will have 3.4 million pixels. Oh, and that new version of the operating system? It will be called Windows 10 S and not "Cloud."

Continue reading →

It was supposed to have died a long time ago, but, for a near-cadaver, the password has managed to hold onto its last breath for over two decades. Bill Gates declared passwords passé way back in 2004, but it was only late in April that the company he founded introduced a replacement for the outmoded authentication system.

For years, organizations have sought to educate employees about the importance of secure passwords and of resisting phishing attacks -- and both efforts have failed. A Verizon report indicates that 63 percent of confirmed data breaches involved leveraging weak/default/stolen passwords in 2016. Meanwhile, a new report from Proofpoint says that phishing and similar attacks using e-mail were up 45 percent in the last quarter of that year. Clearly, the constant haranguing by security teams of employees to change their passwords and make them more complicated, as well as their pleas not to click on suspicious links/attachments, are falling on deaf ears.

Continue reading →

When you think of Dubai, it’s likely several things spring to mind -- it’s home to the world’s tallest building (Burj Khalifa), and the amazing Palm Jumeirah artificial archipelago. It also has a less than stellar record when it comes to human rights.

You probably don’t give too much thought to the typefaces used there, but Dubai is hoping to change that as it has worked with Microsoft to create a unique font especially for the city.

Continue reading →

Windows 10 usage share has been suffering lately. According to NetMarketShare, in February, the new operating system lost share, and in March its gains were minimal.

With Windows 10 Creators Update rolling out in April -- even if Microsoft warns users against manually updating to it -- we were always likely to see the OS returning to growth, as users spend more time on it, finding out what’s new.

Continue reading →

Microsoft intended to include its new My People sharing and communication app in the Windows 10 Creators Update, but had to postpone it because it simply stood no chance of being ready in time.

The revised plan is to include it in the next major Windows 10 update, codenamed Redstone 3, and if you want to take it for a spin, the good news is it is now possible to do so as it makes an appearance in the latest Windows Insider release, Build 16184.

Continue reading →

Windows 10 Creators Update began to roll out to compatible PCs and tablets two weeks ago, and Microsoft announced its arrival with plenty of blog posts and new videos.

Today, the Creators Update for Windows 10 Mobile formally begins its roll out, with that announcement made in a simple tweet. It comes as no surprise that the arrival of such a noteworthy update should receive so little fanfare, seeing as Windows 10 Mobile doesn't have much of a market share as it is, and the Creators Update only works on 13 phones.

Continue reading →

As someone who lives in New York, I have access to many quality delicatessens. This means I have the ability to buy extremely good sandwiches. The problem? They can be expensive, easily exceeding $10. It is for this reason that I still go to Subway on occasion. With that said, some of the company's sandwiches are pretty tasty -- I do not go only to save money.

You know what's better than an inexpensive sandwich? A free one! You see, Microsoft is giving away free meals from Subway -- a sandwich, drink, and either cookie or chips. The offer is not for individuals, however. The Windows-maker will cater your event as long as it has at least one Microsoft related topic and meets the other criteria.

Continue reading →

Before Microsoft began the Windows 10 Creators Update rollout two weeks ago, I wrote about why users shouldn’t rush to install it.

Today, in a post on the Windows blog, John Cable, Director of Program Management, Windows Servicing and Delivery, says much the same thing, and recommends that users don’t manually install the Creators Update, but rather wait until it’s automatically offered. But why? Because the update is causing problems for users.

Continue reading →

If you want to free up disk space in Windows 10, you can use the Disk Cleanup tool, or a third-party program like CCleaner.

However, the Windows 10 Creators Update offers a third choice, which is to go through the Settings app. You can free up space, and also have the operating system automatically remove junk for you.

Continue reading →

Graduation is almost here for many high school and college students. With that comes both fun and scary aspects. The enjoyable part is finally achieving the diploma and having a party with friends and family. The scary part? Being thrust into the real world. It can be a good scary, however, as it means the world is a blank canvas -- full of possibilities.

If you need to buy a gift for a graduate in your life, you can always give them cash, but that is so impersonal. If you want to set them up for success, a Windows 10 PC is a wise choice -- especially when paired with an Office 365 subscription. If you want to go that route, and save some money, the Microsoft Store has you covered. The store is offering up to $200 in savings during a limited-time special gradation sale.

Continue reading →

When searching for a job nowadays, you will find that Microsoft's LinkedIn has largely disrupted the process. Long gone are the days of emailing or faxing a resume -- you can both find and apply for a job directly through the service. Even if you are not actively searching for a new career, LinkedIn is a great place to network and meet other professionals.

To show just how popular LinkedIn has become, the service today makes an impressive announcement -- it has achieved more than 500 million users in 200 countries. With a half a billion users, maybe Microsoft's $26.2 billion purchase price wasn't so crazy after all!

Continue reading →