Google's surging Chromebooks will test Microsoft's new Windows 10 S PCs

From PC World: Microsoft for years has been trying to tackle the growing threat of Google’s Chrome OS, which is siphoning PC market share away from Windows.

The company’s new Windows 10 S operating system, announced on Tuesday, will be Microsoft’s latest attempt to tackle Google’s surging Chrome OS. The OS is targeted at the education market, which in the U.S. is dominated by Chromebooks.

Even with the new Windows OS, worldwide Chromebook shipments are expected to grow by double digits this year, analysts from IDC and Gartner said. The market share of Chromebooks has been growing up consistently since 2015.

The new Windows OS is built like Chrome OS. PCs with Windows 10 S will be able to download apps only from the Windows App store. The OS is more like a “container” that will run apps secured and verified by Microsoft. A version of Microsoft’s Office Suite will also come to Windows 10 S.

Similarly, Chromebooks run apps secured and verified by Google. Newer Chromebooks with touchscreens are also getting support for Android mobile phone apps, adding versatility to the devices. Google has positioned Chromebooks as an alternative to Windows PCs, though the devices have limited offline functionality and work best with an internet connection.

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