Microsoft is going small with its newest hardware product, a cloud PC that will connect businesses to the company’s Windows 365 services.Â
Windows 365 Link, which the company is touting as the “First Cloud PC devices for Windows 365” will cost $349 (why not $365?) and will be officially available in April. The PC measures 4.72 by 4.72 inches and is 1.18 inches tall, almost half as short and a little smaller as Apple’s recently revamped Mac Mini computer.Â
Microsoft says the small-form PC has three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, HDMI and DisplayPort connections, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Kensington lock port and an Ethernet jack. It can support two 4K-resolution monitors and includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6E. The device’s cooling doesn’t use fans and the company says the device boots quickly from startup or sleep.
The company didn’t specify what kind of processor or memory the thin-client-like device contains, but it doesn’t have local storage.Â
The device won’t be for sale to the public until April, but Microsoft says businesses can get their hands on the small cloud computer through a preview in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Japan, Australia and New Zealand for now. “Reach out to your Microsoft account team and request to join the preview program by December 15, 2024,” the company said on a page for the product.
Windows 365 with Microsoft Intune and Entra ID are required and it works with 365 Frontline, Enterprise and Business editions. The company listed full requirements on its website for 365. Windows 365 Government is not supported.Â