Updated: May 31, 2023 (December 7, 2021)

Windows 11 SE: Education-Only OS and Devices

Michael analyzed and wrote about Microsoft's operating systems, including the Windows client OS, as well as compliance and governance. Michael... more

The Surface Laptop SE has Windows 11 SE preinstalled, making it a low-cost device recommended for students from kindergarten up to the eighth grade. Only primary education organizations, such as school boards, should attempt to deploy or use Windows 11 SE or devices sold with Windows 11 SE preinstalled.

Although the hardware meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11, including supporting a processor capable of virtualization and Trusted Platform Module, these devices and the Windows 11 SE OS are not suited for businesses for the following reasons:

The Windows 11 SE OS is designed to run a limited number of applications, primarily in the Edge browser, that are curated for education, and configuration and management are performed using Intune for Education
Although Windows 11 SE can be wiped from a device such as the Surface Laptop SE (shown) and a full version of Windows 11 installed, the hardware is too underpowered to run business applications locally
There are no Windows 11

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