Last fall, Microsoft announced Windows 11 SE, a version of Windows 11 streamlined for the education market. At that time, the company also debuted the $250 Surface Laptop SE, its first device with Windows 11 SE preloaded. Today, Jan. 18, a number of PC makers also went public with their own Windows 11 SE devices, starting as low as $219.
Among the new Windows 11 SE devices announced:
Acer TravelMate Spin B3 laptop: An 11.6-inch device for K-12 students that includes durability enhancements like shock-absorbent bumpers and keys designed to protect against moderate spills. This laptop comes with a choice of Pentium Silver or Celeron, Intel Wi-Fi 6, and reported 10-hour battery life. (There's also a Windows 11 SE-based Acer TravelMate B3.)
Asus BR100F: A laptop meant for "students of all ages" that's been built to be resistant to drops, knocks, and spills. It includes a touchscreen display and pen, a 360-degree hinge, Wi-Fi 6, as well as optional 4G LTE.
Dell Latitude 3120 and 3120 2-in-1 for Education: These PCs come with 11-inch displays, Intel Celeron Quad-Core and Pentium Quad-Core processors, fast charging, Wi-Fi-6, and scratch-resistant glass (on the 2-in-1). There's also an optional pen.
Dynabook E10-S: From Dynabook (formerly Toshiba PC): This 11.6-inch model is "backpack-safe" with a reinforced chassis and bumpers, 18-degree hinges, and a spill-resistant keyboard. It comes with a number of ports, including USB-C. (Dynabook also has a Satellite Pro E105 that's powered by Windows 11 SE.)
HP ProBook Fortis 14-inch G9 Notebook: 14-inch display, Wi-Fi 6, a starting weight of 3.7 pounds, textured surface for easier gripping, spill-resistant keyboard and molded rubber trim for absorbing shocks, plus reinforced hinges. (HP also has the Pro x360 Fortis 11-inch G9 Notebook that's powered by Windows 11 SE.)
JP.IK Leap T304: Starting at $219, this device is ruggedized; includes an anti-glare display, and is made from sustainably cultivated and recyclable plastic. (There's also the JP.IK Turn T303, starting at $269, that runs Windows 11 SE.)
Lenovo 100W, 300w, 500w, and 14w laptops powered by Windows 11 SE.
ZDNet Recommends: HP Elite Dragonfly G2 -- Windows 11 Laptop
$1,839 at HP
Microsoft officials said there will be more Windows 11 SE devices coming later this year, including models from Fujitsu and Positivo.
Windows 11 SE is a simplified version of Windows 11, customized for the K-12 education market, and is designed to help Microsoft and its partners try to better compete with Chromebooks.
Windows 11 SE is not the same as Windows 10 in S Mode. However, the types of apps Windows 11 SE users can install and run natively will be limited to six categories: Content-filtering apps, test-taking apps, accessibility apps, classroom communication apps, diagnostics/management/connectivity, and supportability apps and browsers. Students won't be able to download things like games, YouTube, etc., on Windows 11 SE by design. It's supposed to be a platform for running a set of apps curated by school IT/admins.
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