According to reports, Microsoft is working on building a low-cost laptop designed specifically for students. The expected low-cost Edu laptop is similar to other low-budget student laptops such as the Lenovo 100W or HP Stream series, which is built primarily for education establishments to buy, manage, and distribute in bulk.
Previously in 2021, Microsoft had launched its Surface Go laptop. Its latest laptop, Surface SE, has similar features as the Surface Go. The laptop is codenamed ‘Tenjin’ and is expected to be launched at an event on November 9, 2021. It comes with an 11.6-inch display, with 1366 x 768-pixel resolution, and 8GB of RAM. It will also contain an Intel Celeron N4120. Other specs include a full-sized keyboard and trackpad, a USB-A port, a USB-C port, a headphone jack, and a barrel-style charging port.
Microsoft has used the “SE” moniker for some of the previous versions of Windows, such as Windows 98 SE. However, Windows 11 SE is unlikely to stand for what Windows 98 SE did, which is the second edition. Instead, Windows 11 SE is expected to be more like Windows 10’s S version.
Microsoft’s SE is expected to be priced below the $400 category so as to make it affordable for the students. It is also believed that Microsoft will use Windows 11 SE for these devices like the Surface Laptop SE or if PC brands, such as HP, Dell, and Asus, will have their own versions, just like they have Chromebooks.
Although its details are not entirely available, Microsoft is targeting student-use in a classroom setting and wants it to be as low-cost as possible. Hence, the company is going for a fully plastic exterior. Moreover, the low-budget laptop will reportedly compete against Chromebooks while accelerating education in the market segment. The work from home fiasco and online education norm has compelled tech companies to think out of the box and Microsoft’s Surface SE is therefore targeted for the entry buyer segment.
Also Read: Microsoft leads the way in accessibility with the new Surface Adaptive Kit
