Dubbed Windows 365 Link, the $349 device enables users to connect to the cloud and stream a version of Windows 11.
The Link device is designed to be compact, fanless, and user-friendly and aims to play nicely with Vole’s Windows 365 service. This service allows businesses to transition employees to virtual machines in the cloud, which can be securely streamed to multiple devices.
Microsoft’s head of Windows and Surface, Pavan Davuluri, said the big idea was to make accessing a cloud PC as simple and efficient as possible.
“Our goal is for the device to be as transparent as possible, so we minimise the steps for you from setup to login to handoffs and transitions.”
The Windows 365 Link device uses Vole’s experience locking down Windows and the Xbox console to protect against hackers. It runs only a lightweight OS designed to quickly and securely access a Windows 365 cloud PC.
Vole’s security VEP David Weston said that it is a super-hardened version of Windows.
“Think Xbox or phone, it’s a less is more. Because we don’t have to support win32, it’s super streamlined and super hardened so that everything that runs is signed by Microsoft and it’s isolated in sandboxes.”
It has a fast boot time, instant wake from sleep, and dedicated chips for processing video for Microsoft Teams or Webex by Cisco. While Microsoft has not disclosed the full specifications, it is known that the device will be powered by an undisclosed Intel processor, with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
Connectivity options include two USB-A 3.2 ports, one USB-C 3.2 port, a DisplayPort, HDMI port, ethernet connectivity at the rear, and another USB-A 3.2 port at the front. Additionally, the device supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless connectivity.
Microsoft believes its Windows 365 Link offers a more compelling alternative to similar thin client PCs from HP, Dell, and Lenovo.
“Our focus with the product's pricing is to set it at a price point that makes sense for commercial customers, who have a set of scenarios and workloads that they’re using today where we think this is a more compelling alternative,” Davuluri stated.
The Windows 365 Link device will also join the Copilot Plus lineup, a previously reserved brand for laptops. “We are on the journey of bringing Copilot Plus capabilities and the features that defined Copilot Plus PC to Windows 365 instances in the cloud,” Davuluri added.
The Windows 365 Link device, scheduled for preview and priced at $349, is expected to be available in select markets by April 2025.
