Microsoft ditches Windows 10 S in favour of a new S Mode

[Noobie]

Hiku said:
Does that mean you won't be able to use Steam?

I'm glad I stuck with Windows 7 btw.

You can use Steam by paying $49 extra, if you are using Windows Pro.

Source

Random_Matt said:
Just a rumour, do not see it happening.

its almost confirmed. You can deny but they have given the dates when this will become applicable. 

Source

Cyran said:
I read the article differently then the OP. The way I read it is they going to stop selling Windows 10 S and instead offer it as a mode in there none S windows 10. Even if they set Windows S as the default mode it would be a simple setting change, to change the mode to something else.

I really don't see how this affect anyone in a negative way. Nothing I read made it sound like they getting rid of windows 10 in favor of windows 10 S but rather the reverse, they getting rid of windows S and offering it as a optional mode in windows 10.

You are ignoring the power of default mode. Its not the optional mode. its the default mode and you need to pay extra to use other stores. 

Zkuq said:

Ryuu96 said:

Slightly inaccurate title, the article doesn't mention anywhere that 'S Mode' will be the new default mode, just that it's replacing 'Windows 10 S'.

OEM's still have the option of shipping in Pro, Pro S, Home, Home S etc. (Confirmed by Brad in the comments) and in a separate article Microsoft says how they prefer OEMs to ship, which would be impossible if S Mode was default as it includes Win32 apps.

For device configuration in 2018, the company is pushing its partners to set Edge as the default browser, installing the LinkedIn UWP app, pre-install Office, and limiting app pinning to 1 legacy win 32 app on the desktop, 1 legacy app on the taskbar and for the Start menu, 25% Win32/75% Microsoft Store.

Updated the title.

This makes the whole situation really baffling. Almost no one's going to use S mode if it's not the default - why would anyone? It offers almost no benefit over regular mode. There's got to be more to this. For example, maybe shipping PCs with S mode enabled is cheaper for OEMs?

Or its the way to restrict users like Internet Explorer did. Let see if they are successful again

From the Verge article

This S Mode will essentially lock down any copy of Windows 10 so it can only run apps from the Microsoft Store, and does exactly what the dedicated Windows 10 S operating system was built to do.

Microsoft is reportedly planning to allow Windows 10 Home users to disable the S Mode free of charge, but Windows 10 Pro customers with S Mode enabled on their device will be forced to pay $49 to get access to a full version of Windows 10 Pro.