Windows 10 users could soon have to PAY to unlock all features, rumour claims
MICROSOFT purportedly plans to introduce a new ’S Mode’ as the default baseline mode in all of its operating system skews, replacing Windows 10 S.
Microsoft is purportedly planning an all-new mode for its Windows 10 desktop operating system.
Dubbed ’S Mode’, the new feature looks set to replace the dedicated Windows 10 S operating system Microsoft launched last year alongside its Surface Laptop.
Windows 10 S was a stripped back version of the full operating system targeted primarily at the education market to compete with ChromeOS.
In Windows 10 S, users are only allowed to install software from the Windows 10 Store.
Microsoft argues this makes its operating system more secure, since everything in the official Store has been vetted by the company.
Windows 10 S also improved battery life on some hardware, like the Surface Laptop.
These same restrictions will be bundled with the all-new S Mode feature, renown Microsoft pundit Paul Thurott claims.
However, Microsoft purportedly wants to impose S Mode are the default baseline mode for future installs of the operating system.
The feature was unearthed in an early beta of the next major Windows 10 update, codenamed Redstone 4, by technology blog Neowin.
Microsoft is widely-tipped to roll-out S Mode to Windows 10 users from May 1st.
Microsoft is reportedly planning to allow Windows 10 Home users to disable the S Mode for free.
However, those running Windows 10 Pro with S Mode enabled on their computer will be forced to pay $49, some £35 converted, to enable access to a full version of Windows 10 Pro.
This is exactly what the dedicated Windows 10 S operating system was built to do, however, it appears the same functionality will now be built into every version of Windows — rather than exist as a separate operating system.
Whether users are willing to pay to unlock the additional functionality in Windows 10 Pro, like BitLocker and Remote Desktop, remains to be seen.
Users already running Windows 10 will purportedly be unaffected by the changes.
Instead, Microsoft will push S Mode as the default mode on new hardware that ships with Windows 10.
