Microsoft’s Chrome OS competitor, Windows 11 SE, is making its method onto a handful of laptops. After detailing Windows 11 SE in November, Microsoft’s OEM companions at the moment are beginning to make units accessible globally for faculties and college students. Acer, Asus, Dell, Dynabook, Lenovo, HP, and JP.IK have all created Windows 11 SE laptops, with units from Fujitsu and Positivo arriving later this yr.

Windows 11 SE will solely be accessible on new low-cost units and just for faculties and schooling clients. It’s designed to actually tackle Chromebooks in schooling, and is optimized for Microsoft Edge, Office, and Microsoft’s cloud-based companies. Windows 11 SE isn’t restricted to only Microsoft apps although, with each Zoom and Chrome a part of a licensed collection of apps that IT admins can set up. Microsoft has additionally simplified Windows 11 SE so apps all the time run fullscreen, multitasking utilizing Snap Layouts has been diminished to side-by-side solely, and the Widgets part has been eliminated.

Image: Microsoft

In phrases of {hardware}, quite a lot of laptops will likely be accessible within the coming weeks. Most OEMs appear to be repurposing present low-cost units to ship with Windows 11 SE preinstalled. Acer is updating its present TravelMate Spin B3 laptop computer with Windows 11 SE. The 11.6-inch gadget consists of shock-absorbent bumpers to guard towards drops and even drainage practically the keyboard for spillages. Intel Pentium Silver or Celeron processors will energy the TravelMate Spin B3, that are pretty widespread processor selections amongst Windows 11 SE laptops.

Asus has its personal splendidly named BR1100F laptop computer that features a 360-degree hinge, a touchscreen show with stylus help, and a rubber bumper and spill-resistant keyboard. Dell has opted for an 11-inch show on its Latitude 3120 laptops, with a fast charging function that lets homeowners get round 80 % cost in an hour. That’s helpful in faculties the place making an attempt to maintain units charged is half the wrestle with laptops.

Dynabook (recognized beforehand as Toshiba) is delivery Windows 11 SE on its present E10 laptop series, with an 11.6-inch HD show, Intel Celeron processors, and strong stage storage. The keyboard is spill-resistant and this compact laptop computer is designed to simply match inside backpacks.

Image: Microsoft

HP’s new ProE-book Fortis 14-inch G9 Notebook is likely one of the solely Windows 11 SE laptops with a bigger show. The 14-inch gadget consists of an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB RAM, and 128GB SSD. HP additionally has a smaller 11-inch Pro x360 mannequin that’s powered by Windows 11 SE.

JP IK’s Windows 11 SE laptop computer begins at simply $219. The Leap T304 has an 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) show, 4GB of RAM, 128GB SSD, and even a rotatable 2-megapixel webcam. Lenovo can be repurposing its existing 100w, 300w, 500w, and 14w laptops with Windows 11 SE.

“Our partners are building a broad portfolio of Windows 11 SE devices that are now starting to become available globally,” says Nicole Dezen, company vp of gadget associate gross sales at Microsoft. “There are many more Windows 11 SE devices coming this year, including releases from Fujitsu and Positivo.”

Microsoft has additionally created its personal $249 Surface Laptop SE, the corporate’s first true Chromebook competitor. The Surface Laptop SE will likely be bought completely to varsities and college students when it’s accessible early this yr.