Windows 365 Archives

Winsage

July 22, 2025

Forrester study reveals Windows 365 Link enhances productivity and security, projects ROI up to 195%

Shared PCs have challenges in security, compliance, and IT support due to the lack of individual logins. Windows 365 Link, launched in April 2025, aims to address these issues by providing a secure, cloud-powered Windows experience for shared environments. A Forrester study commissioned by Microsoft indicates that implementing Windows 365 Link can yield a return on investment of up to 195% over six years for organizations with 2,000 employees and 500 contractors. The projected financial benefits include: - End-user productivity gains: 22%-30% of unproductive time saved, translating to .4 million – .3 million. - Strengthened security: Savings of .5 million – .7 million from devices without local data and passwordless authentication. - Reduced hardware costs: Savings of .8 million – .2 million over six years by transitioning from traditional desktops. - IT time savings: Up to 90% savings on provisioning and decommissioning tasks, amounting to .9 million – .5 million. - Accelerated onboarding: Savings of ,000 – ,000 from faster onboarding of new desk-based workers. Users reported significant improvements in productivity, security, and cost-effectiveness with Windows 365 Link, citing reduced setup times and enhanced operational efficiency. The device is managed via Microsoft Intune, enhancing security by eliminating local administrators. Windows 365 Link is expected to be more cost-effective than traditional laptops or desktops, with an extended lifecycle. Availability is expanding to new markets, including Denmark, France, India, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland later this year.

Winsage

July 11, 2025

Can’t upgrade your Windows 10 PC? You have 5 options and 3 months to act

The end-of-support date for Windows 10 is October 14, 2025, after which Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, security, or reliability fixes. Users can continue using Windows 10 without updates at their own risk, buy new PCs or rent virtual PCs through Windows 365, switch to a Linux distribution or ChromeOS Flex, sign up for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for continued security updates, or attempt to upgrade incompatible hardware to Windows 11 through specific methods.

Winsage

July 8, 2025

Windows 11 Hits 50 Percent Market Share … Almost Four Years After It’s Release

Windows 11 has achieved a market share of 50.24%, while Windows 10's market share has declined to 46.84%. The end-of-life date for Windows 10 is October 14, prompting many corporate clients to transition to Windows 11 or Windows 365, which offers complimentary access to extended security updates. Companies are weighing the costs of extended security updates against upgrading hardware. Retail vendors are facing challenges with an oversupply of computers, as consumers are hesitant to invest in new AI-enhanced models.

Winsage

July 4, 2025

Windows 11 finally overtakes Windows 10

Windows 11 has surpassed Windows 10 in market share, reaching 50.24 percent compared to Windows 10's 46.84 percent as of July, according to StatCounter. A year ago, Windows 10 held a 66.04 percent share while Windows 11 had 29.75 percent. The end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, is prompting businesses to upgrade, with many preparing for the transition to Windows 11. Daniel Bowker from Phoenix noted that they are 80 percent prepared for the transition, with the remaining 20 percent needing investment in Extended Security Updates or alternative solutions like Windows 365. Canalys indicated that the increase in Windows 11 adoption is driven by enterprise activity rather than consumer demand, as IT administrators upgrade systems rather than consumers purchasing new hardware.

Winsage

July 1, 2025

Microsoft’s free updates for Windows 10 draw criticism

Microsoft's initiatives to transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 have faced criticism from privacy advocates regarding the environmental impact of obsolete PCs. The company announced that the first year of Extended Security Updates (ESU) would be free for individual consumers, but users must either sync their settings to the cloud or redeem Microsoft Rewards points to qualify. Lucas Rockett Gutterman from PIRG criticized the limited options, noting that many Windows 10 PCs cannot upgrade to Windows 11. While Microsoft has made some concessions, such as affordable pricing for schools, it has not committed to extending support for Windows 10 or easing hardware requirements for Windows 11. In 2023, PIRG petitioned Microsoft to extend Windows 10's life, as support for many editions ends in October 2025. Commercial customers will still incur fees for ESU, which are expected to increase in subsequent years. ControlUp's Windows 11 Readiness Report indicates that 50 percent of enterprise Windows endpoints have not migrated to Windows 11, a decrease from over 82 percent the previous year. Migration rates vary by sector, with healthcare lagging behind.

Winsage

June 29, 2025

Don’t be fooled: Microsoft’s claim that Windows 11 PCs are 2.3x faster than Windows 10 ones is based on hardware, not software

Microsoft is encouraging users to transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11, highlighting that Windows 11 PCs can be up to 2.3 times faster than Windows 10 PCs. This claim is based on testing with Geekbench 6 Multi-Core benchmarks, comparing older Windows 10 PCs with older Intel Core processors to newer Windows 11 systems with the latest Intel Core generations. The performance boost is primarily attributed to advancements in hardware rather than the operating system itself. Microsoft notes that performance will vary significantly by device and other factors.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

Windows Blue screen of death axed after 40 years, but BSOD still remains — will be replaced by new black Windows 11 ‘unexpected restart screen’

Microsoft has introduced a new black variant of the "blue screen of death" (BSOD) for Windows, which will provide essential information like stop codes and fault system drivers. This update is part of the "Windows Resiliency Initiative" aimed at improving product robustness. The sad emoticon face will be retired, and the new BSOD is scheduled for release in Windows 11 later this summer, featuring a user interface update and a Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature. Other upcoming features include Connected Cache, Universal Print, Hotpatch Update, and Windows 365 Reserve. Users on older Windows 10 systems will still see the traditional BSOD with the frowning face emoji.

Winsage

June 26, 2025

The Windows Resiliency Initiative: Building resilience for a future-ready enterprise

Resilience is now a strategic necessity for organizations, prompting Microsoft to launch the Windows Resiliency Initiative (WRI) to integrate resilience and security into the Windows platform. In September 2024, Microsoft held the Windows Endpoint Security Ecosystem Summit (WESES) with endpoint security vendors and government representatives to discuss enhancing resilience. Following the summit, collaboration with Microsoft Virus Initiative (MVI) partners has increased, focusing on improving Windows security and reliability through rigorous testing and safe deployment practices. Next month, Microsoft will begin a private preview of a new Windows endpoint security platform for select MVI partners, allowing security solutions to operate outside the Windows kernel for better reliability. Microsoft has released the Windows Resiliency Initiative e-book to guide organizations in building resilience. Innovative products introduced under the WRI include: - Quick machine recovery (QMR) for faster recovery from unexpected restarts, reducing downtime to approximately two seconds. - Microsoft Connected Cache to enhance bandwidth efficiency during updates by caching content locally. - Universal Print anywhere for secure printing from any location. - Hotpatch updates for critical security updates without requiring a restart. - Windows 365 Reserve for secure access to a temporary Cloud PC during device disruptions.

Winsage

June 25, 2025

Microsoft opens a free tier for Windows 10 extended updates

Microsoft is introducing new enrollment options for its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program as Windows 10 approaches its end of life. Users can enroll by utilizing Windows Backup to sync settings to the cloud at no cost, redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or paying a fee with local pricing variations. The Windows Backup app stores data on Microsoft OneDrive, which offers limited free storage, necessitating the purchase of additional storage for larger files. Users can subscribe to Microsoft 365 for extra OneDrive space and updates. Businesses can subscribe to ESU for a fee per device, covering security updates for one year, renewable annually for up to three years. Windows 10 devices accessing Windows 11 Cloud PCs through Windows 365 or Virtual Machines will receive ESU at no additional cost.

Winsage

June 25, 2025

How to get Windows 10 extended security updates for free: 2 options

Microsoft has introduced new "free enrollment options" for its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10, aimed at assisting consumers who are not ready to transition to new devices. Users can enroll without incurring costs by utilizing Windows Backup to sync settings to the cloud, redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or paying a fee. The ESU coverage for personal devices will extend from October 15, 2025, to October 13, 2026. The enrollment wizard will be accessible via Notifications and Settings on Windows 10 PCs, starting in July with broader availability expected by mid-August. This offer is strictly for personal use, and complications may arise from syncing personal data to OneDrive.