Recently Microsoft released the link 365 which is basically a thin client for Azure. You can't run anything locally nor is there any local files. It literally just connects you to a desktop elsewhere.
Do you think this is what Windows 12 might look like? I feel like this idea is not practical for average consumers. Maybe they will make something that's like Chrome OS?
That'd be a Chromecast TV stick, just with Azure?! How much is the hardware? I'd say this sells if it's priced right. Let's say $20 for the box plus $120 anually for a base subscription including Office 365. With optional extras like gaming that'd be on top. Plus extra storage fees and a bit of upselling, it'd be a viable business model, in my eyes.
Edit: It's $349 plus a currently unknown subscription: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/11/microsoft-builds-a-349-mini-desktop-but-only-for-accessing-windows-in-the-cloud/
$350 gets you a pretty decent PC. That's a ridiculous price for a thin client that requires a subscription to use.
It is pennies for a company or consumer who has never looked a older hardware.
That's really steep for what you're getting, I think. As a "PC Replacement" at home I can see there being a place for this. If you don't need local compute, why not stream it. Steam Link was $50 and has the same basic concept, except for games.
Yeah, I think $349 is too much. You can get a MiniPC on Amazon for like $250 and that'd include a recent (low-power) CPU, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD. So way more for $100 less, and you don't even need additional cloud subscriptions.