Skip to main content

Microsoft "emulates" Windows 10 with a new demo site for potential customers

Though Windows 10 is hitting it’s one-year anniversary this July, and is a free upgrade to “genuine” Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers, many consumers still haven’t taken the Windows 10 plunge. Why? The whole Windows 8 Start Screen fiasco may be the culprit, not to mention that Windows 7 is still a darn fine platform.

To help convince consumers to switch, Microsoft has launched a cool online portal that provides the Windows 10 experience without actually installing the software. Visitors can check out the new operating system on an emulated PC, a tablet, and a smartphone. The latter two are definitely important given that Microsoft is pushing to expand the Windows 10 “one platform to rule them all’ experience across multiple form factors.

Recommended Videos

Actually, using the word “emulator” is probably a bit misleading even though Microsoft uses that term in the new site’s URL. The portal actually plays host to recorded demonstrations, so you’re not actually using Windows 10 in an emulated environment. That said, visitors simply click on a topic, sit back, and watch a pre-recorded demonstration (video) of the topic at hand.

In the PC portion, there are eleven topics to choose from. Under the “Work across my devices” topic you’ll find videos showing how users can easily move between devices, open files from any device, play music and movies, and more.

In one demo, “Watch movies and stay connected,” located in the phone section, Microsoft demonstrates how to connect a Windows 10 phone to an HDTV and use it like a miniature computer, complete with full mouse and keyboard support. This is accomplished through Windows 10’s built-in Continuum feature and the Microsoft Display Dock that adds mouse, keyboard, and external monitor connectivity. Thus, while watching a movie on the big screen, users can still send a text or search the web on their (tethered) phone. Pretty cool.

Of course, along with the library of demos, Microsoft offers a “Shop Now” button on the new “emulator” website that takes potential customers to a list of 46 Windows 10 devices spanning tablets, 2-in-1 form factors, laptops, all-in-one devices, gaming PCs (laptops), and phones.

If you have a Windows device and previously hesitated on upgrading to Windows 10, now is a good time to do so. Not only is the update still free, but Microsoft is getting ready to unleash a big “Anniversary” update this summer that adds even more cool features to the new platform – for free! Until then, take a tour of Windows 10 on Microsoft’s new demo site and see why you should take the upgrade plunge today.

Kevin Parrish
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
Microsoft is axing support for its own apps on Windows 10
The Surface Laptop 7 on a table in front of a window.

Microsoft has announced that support for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 will end this year on October 14, as reported by The Verge. This is also the end-of-support date for Windows 10 as a whole, but the move is still a little surprising considering that Microsoft is now offering the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) Program.

Anyone who joins this program for $30 can continue to safely use Windows 10 for a whole extra year -- so you might think that Microsoft would let them continue to use the Office apps too. That said, it's not like the apps will disappear, they just won't receive any more updates. According to Microsoft, this could cause "performance and reliability issues over time" but whether these issues will pop up within the ESU program's duration or not is anyone's guess.

Read more
Windows 11 can now run on unsupported systems, but there’s a catch
A laptop sits on a desk with a Windows 11 wallpaper.

Microsoft is now allowing users to update to Windows 11 on older, unsupported hardware, including systems that don’t meet the operating system’s strict hardware requirements.

While the company initially set these requirements — including the need for a TPM 2.0 chip and specific processor models — to ensure performance, reliability, and security, it has now provided a manual installation option for those who want to use Windows 11 on unsupported machines.

Read more
Microsoft won’t back down on Windows 11’s biggest hurdle
The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

Microsoft has reaffirmed that it will not lower the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11, solidifying the need for a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and a compatible CPU. This decision leaves many older PCs ineligible for the upgrade. Microsoft emphasizes that these standards are vital for improved security and performance.

As per a recent blog post titled “TPM 2.0 – a necessity for a secure and future-proof Windows 11,” Microsoft reaffirmed its decision not to relax Windows 11’s strict hardware requirements. TPM 2.0 is a hardware-based security feature that protects sensitive data and ensures secure boot processes. Microsoft argues that such measures are nonnegotiable as the company continues to address rising cybersecurity threats. The minimum requirements include a list of approved CPUs, starting from AMD Ryzen 2000 and Intel 8th Gen processors, that offer advanced security features and better performance efficiency.

Read more