Mobile Computing
Windows 11 SE Education Devices Launch
Devices running on the all-new Windows 11 SE for education began
shipping Tuesday. These include a new Surface SE device from
Microsoft itself, as well as Intel- and AMD-based devices from Acer,
ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and others.
Windows 11 SE, introduced back in November, is a cloud-focused
operating system purpose-built for education. It offers cloud
management through Intune for Education, improved accessibility,
simplified user experience and foreground application boost. The
significant differentiators
between Windows 11 SE and Windows 11/Windows 11 Pro for Education
are: Windows 11 is upgradable from Windows 10 while Windows 11 SE is
not; Windows 11 runs all Windows applications, while Windows 11 SE
does not; and Windows 11 supports devices with greater than 8 GB RAM
and 128 GB storage, whereas Windows 11 SE does not.
As part of the new device rollout, Microsoft announced its own
Windows 11 SE-based device, the Surface Laptop SE, a 2.45-pound,
11.6-inch laptop running on an Intel Celeron processor (N4020 or
N4120). It offers 4 GB or 8 GB RAM, 64 GB or 128 GB embedded MMC card
for storage, Intel UHC Graphics 600, USB-A and USB-C, a 1 megapixel
front-facing camera, 2W speakers, mic, Bluetooth 5.0 SE and 2x2
802.11ac for WiFi. It starts at $249.
Several of Microsoft's partners have also launched new devices
today.
Acer unveiled the TravelMate
Spin B3, which offers support for Wi-Fi 6. It will be available
in April for $329.99.
ASUS is offering the BR1100F
with Windows 11 SE, which supports Wi-Fi 6 and 4G LTE in some
configurations.
HP
has launched a new line of education laptops called Fortis. The
Fortis lineup comprises both Chromebooks and Windows 11/Windows 11 SE
devices. The Windows 11 SE devices include the HP ProBook Fortis 14"
G9 and ProBook Fortis 11" G9. They will come pre-configured with
Windows 11 SE starting in April, according to information published
by HP. The 14-inch model without Windows 11 SE is available now
starting at $369; the 11-inch model currently starts at $399 without
Windows SE. HP said pricing will be updated closer to ship time for
the Windows 11 SE models.
HP's other new education devices in the Fortis line include the
ProBook Fortis 11" G10 and 14" G10. Both of those will be
available in April, with pricing to be announced later.
HP's 14-inch Fortis 14" G10 Chromebook is available now for
$349. An 11-inch G9 Chromebook will ship in June.
Lenovo has launched two new models for education, the 10w Tablet
and 10w Yoga. Both support Windows 11 and Windows 11 SE. The Lenovo
14w, 100w, 300w and 500w laptops are also now available with Windows
11 SE, according to information released today by Lenovo.
According to Microsoft, Dell will offer Windows 11 SE on the
Latitude
3120 and 3120 2-in-1, although as of this writing, that is not a
configuration option.
Microsoft also indicated that Dynabook is launching a Windows 11
SE version of the E10-S,
which, as of this writing, comes configured with Windows 10.
Microsoft indicated that Fujitsu, Positivo and JP.IK are releasing
Windows 11 SE devices as well.
Further
information can be found on Microsoft's education blog.
About the Author
David Nagel is editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Technology Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal and STEAM Universe. A 29-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.
He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at or follow him on Twitter at @THEDavidNagel (K-12) or @CampusTechDave (higher education).