Dell and Asus have announced new mini PCs specifically for use with Windows 365. These systems won’t run on their own, but will simply allow users to run Windows running in the cloud. Windows 365, as the name suggests, is Microsoft’s cloud PC offering which is of course subscription-based. Essentially, the platform allows users to use virtual Windows PCs hosted in remote data centers, reducing their hardware requirements.
Asus and Dell now appear to have joined the bandwagon, announcing their own mini PC lineups to cater to businesses that prefer the aforementioned cloud-based Windows 365 service over on-premises systems.
Remote eyes for cloud-based Windows
Dell’s offering is called the Dell Pro Desktop for Windows 365, and it has been revealed that it runs on Intel N-series processors. Now, the Alder Lake-N family includes several members, ranging from the dual-core N50 processor to the relatively powerful Core 3-N305 octa-core processor. However, this shouldn’t matter, since the only purpose a desktop computer will serve is basically connecting to Microsoft’s servers.
The Asus NUC 16 for Windows 365, on the other hand, appears to be much more compact, resembling a typical mini PC, at just 0.7 litres. In fact, as the “Liliputing” website pointed out, it appears to have the same design as the “Newk 16 Pro” small personal computer that runs on the “Panther Lake” processor. However, Asus did not mention the microprocessor powering the system, but we can easily expect it to be of a lower class.
Unlike Dell, Asus mentioned a few additional details – the system will have DDR5 memory, HDMI, USB-A, USB-C ports, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet. However, precise details regarding the USB and HDMI ports were not provided.
However, regular consumers who prefer to have a home-grown system should check out something like the GMKtec M6 Ultra, which is currently 33% off on Amazon.
