Your next Windows PC could be in the cloud
- Microsoft is reportedly launching a cloud PC service in June or July.
- You pay a flat monthly fee to access a Windows 10 remote desktop with software like Office.
- It could offer Chromebook-like security, but with access to more powerful apps.
You may not need to buy a new computer to get the latest Windows experience in the future. ZDNet According to sources, Microsoft plans to launch a cloud PC service in June or early July that will offer a Windows 10 remote desktop and remote software like Office.
Nicknamed Project Deschutes, Microsoft’s Cloud PC Initiative gives you a secure, always-updated Windows experience for a flat fee per person. The company already has a vaguely similar offering in the form of Windows Virtual Desktop, but you pay for it based on Azure data usage – not very convenient for most people.
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A 2020 leak suggested that Microsoft may offer different cloud PC plans depending on the processing power, RAM, and storage needs of users.
Microsoft has not confirmed any cloud PC plans apart from hints in a job advertisement. However, this could offer an advantage over Chromebooks, at least in the workplace. You could have a secure, constantly updated, and tightly controlled system without relying on more than one barebone computer. This can be especially useful on Chromebook-like Windows 10X computers that cannot run regular Win32 software.
There’s no mention of home use, but it’s easy to see that the Microsoft Cloud PC platform appeals to people with slow personal systems as well as Linux PCs or Macs. You can run an up-to-date Windows desktop without buying a computer or installing the operating system in a virtual machine. This wouldn’t replace a fast gaming PC or workstation, but it doesn’t have to to appeal to some users.