The Surface Laptop SE will be perfect for schools
Microsoft showed off a short video highlighting the features that come with the computer. First and foremost, it’s not going to come with any bells or whistles, as to be expected. It has the basic ports that any student would need: a USB-A port, a USB C port, a headphone jack, and an AC adapter. As for the processor, don’t expect this computer to be a powerhouse. There are two different variants with slightly different specs. On the lower end, we have an Intel Celeron N4010 processor, and this one will most likely come with 4GB of RAM. The other has the Celeron 4120 processor with 8GB of RAM. Storage options are 64GB and 128GB. The screen is an 11.6-inch TFT LCD display with a resolution of 1366 x 768. That’s slightly above 720p, and more than good enough for education apps. This is coupled with a 720p webcam up top. Microsoft claims that users can get up to 16 hours of battery life from these computers on a single charge. This will vary depending on the usage, of course. Since these are for schools, they’ll most likely be plugged in most of the time. One great feature that Microsoft mentioned is that the Surface Laptop will be easy to repair. The computers will use commonly used parts that can be easily swapped out.
Microsoft also unveiled Windows 11 SE
Alongside the Surface Laptop SE, we also got a glimpse of Windows 11 SE. This version of the software is “Cloud-first” as Microsoft puts it. This means that it might be similar to Chrome OS. This could point to a really lightweight operating system with mostly cloud-based applications. Microsoft will be using Office 365 as the primary office suite for these computers. Kids will have access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and applications to handle all of their work. Since this is cloud-based, it might be easier for teachers to monitor their kids’ work. It will also make it easier for kids to turn in assignments. Other software features like coding with STEM, Minecraft Education Edition, Microsoft Teams, and accessibility options so that kids with hearing and vision trouble can also use them. These computers will start at a low $249 for the lower-powered model.
