From a certain point of view, Apple’s recent launch of the 2024 Mac Mini seemed like somewhat of a challenge to rival manufacturers, which almost seems to say “this is how you do compact premium computing hardware.” Of course Apple isn’t the first company to do compact computing hardware (and it certainly won’t be the last), but as far as the product segment goes there’s not a lot of products from the usual mainstream brands.
CHECK OUT: Apple Drops the 2024 Mac Mini: New Look, New Chip, and More!
What is it Exactly?
With that in mind, Microsoft’s new “Windows 365 Link” (that’s quite a name) brings to mind all the hallmark traits of a compact computer, such as a rather portable design, all the essential ports and connectivity options, and of course support for a variety of hardware peripherals. Unlike the Mac Mini however, Microsoft says that the 365 Link is more of a cloud-based computing solution for business and enterprise users.
As per its name, the 365 Link is designed to connect to Windows 365 online, allowing businesses to setup “hot desks” for employees to log in with their details, from anywhere at anytime. It’s a cloud-based approach, as we mentioned earlier. As such, it’s not exactly something you’d get for more “mainstream” use such as gaming and content creation, for example. There is a bit of computing power, although it’s mostly used for video decoding and encoding for video calls.
Hardware and Software
The 365 Link can support up to two 4K monitors (with HDMI and DisplayPort connections), and users can go online via the built-in gigabit Ethernet port, or wirelessly with Wi-Fi 6E. For external hardware and peripherals, Microsoft has included four USB ports consisting of three USB-A 3.2 and a single USB-C 3.2 port. For audio, there are options for wired audio with a 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as Bluetooth 5.3. As for its design, the 365 Link relies on passive cooling, so there are no fans inside; the chassis is made from a combination of recycled aluminium,
Being that this is a device that’s meant for business and enterprise solutions, the 365 Link’s operating system is mostly locked down – this means that there are no locally-installed apps or user accounts, no locally-stored data and files, leaving everything to the cloud. Microsoft wasn’t kidding when it said that this was an online-only device, and it’s explicitly designed the 365 Link to work exactly as such.
This now brings us to security – the computer comes with support for user authentication with Microsoft Entra ID, the Microsoft Authenticator app, QR code-based passkeys and even FIDO USB security keys. There’s no need for passwords, which reduces the likelihood of the device being compromised.
Pricing and Availability
The Windows 365 Link will be available via preview by December 15th, 2024, with wider availability planned for the first half of 2025. It will initially launch in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan in April 2025. Priced at $350, the Windows 365 Link will require a Windows 365 Enterprise, Frontline, or Business subscription.
