Wednesday, April 25th 2018

Windows 10 Lean SKU Spotted in Latest Redstone 5 Preview Build

Microsoft is secretly working on a stripped-down version of their Windows 10 operating system. The new 'Windows 10 Lean' SKU is specifically designed for devices where storage space is a luxury. Compared to the Home and Pro SKUs, this 'Lean' version is 2 GB smaller when fully installed. Microsoft didn't achieve this by an act of magic though. They had to eliminate many features and tools like the desktop wallpapers, Registry Editor, Microsoft Management Console, Internet Explorer, and many more. Windows 10 Lean is currently in the development phase. And since Microsoft hasn't officially announced it, there's a good chance that it might not be released.
Source: Windows Central
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24 Comments on Windows 10 Lean SKU Spotted in Latest Redstone 5 Preview Build

#1
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
If Lean doesn't have hardware limits or other stupid things like Windows 7 Starter did, it could be a smash hit with enthusiasts.
Posted on Reply
#2
BadFrog
Everything else can be taken away but no MMC or registry editor... not sure if I like that idea.
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#3
GoldenX
Why the registry editor? Remove the telemetry engine and you save a lot more than the poor registry editor.
Or use LTSB.
Posted on Reply
#4
Th3pwn3r
BadFrogEverything else can be taken away but no MMC or registry editor... not sure if I like that idea.
Exactly what I thought. Seems like a terrible idea not having Regedit.
Posted on Reply
#5
FYFI13
btarunrit could be a smash hit with enthusiasts.
And that's why they got rid of registry editor and WMC. I can bet they will make it least popular SKU, probably for cheap netbooks with extremely limited storage. It's Microsoft after all :)
Posted on Reply
#6
Shihab
"It's like a Windows 10 with even less control!"
FYFI13And that's why they got rid of registry editor and WMC. I can bet they will make it least popular SKU, probably for cheap netbooks with extremely limited storage. It's Microsoft after all :)
Netbooks are still a thing?
Back then harddrives and low end Atoms were the best the tech could give for the provided constraints, but today, even mediocre phones are Flash equipped with decent processors and heckuva hardware acceleration capabilities to cover the deficit.
Today, Windows does run well on tablets, so hardware requirements aren't the issue here. And while any improvement to the storage/processing efficiency is welcomed, going as extreme as to nix such powerful (and not that much of a space hog) sings less "we want to accommodate your crappy PC," more "we don't want you to tinker with this one."
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#7
natr0n
LTSB is pretty lean.
Posted on Reply
#8
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
This build is pointless without console/regedit. LTSB is the best option for everyone less you use pointless bloat.
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#9
evernessince
Regedit and the management console doesn't take much space. If Microsoft wanted to save more space they would remove hibernation, the shadow volume service, and the plethora of other services that wouldn't be useful for a vast majority of people. Stop installing bloatware automatically as well.
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#10
DeathtoGnomes
There are so many other features where they could trim the bloat, not useful features mention in the OP.
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#11
HimymCZe
They could at least give it to INSIDERs...
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#12
Caring1
Could it be a replacement for embedded use only?
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#13
TheGuruStud
So still 25GB? Lol. They need to get a clue.
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#14
Parn
Exactly how much disk space can you save by eliminating the regedit.exe? 500KB is a worth saving?
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#15
Manoa
lol microsoft what a noobs 2 GB, I can give you 18 GB smaller windows 7
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#16
Vayra86
ParnExactly how much disk space can you save by eliminating the regedit.exe? 500KB is a worth saving?
They just go about it 'Mazda Style' - a gram off every Kg - I suppose :)

It also amazes me how there are new 'versions' of the same OS popping up everywhere when Microsoft sold us W10 with the promise of a single version that's here to stay. Could this get any more ironical... its almost getting easier to pick the right Linux distro :laugh:
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#17
Keullo-e
S.T.A.R.S.
What is MMC? Never (at least knowing that) used that.
Manoalol microsoft what a noobs 2 GB, I can give you 18 GB smaller windows 7
What's an obsolete OS has to do with W10 Lean?
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#18
GoldenX
Obsolete? W10 is the same OS as 7, but with telemetry on top of it.
Internally, Windows is rolling release.
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#19
DeathtoGnomes
Chloe PriceWhat is MMC? Never (at least knowing that) used that.


What's an obsolete OS has to do with W10 Lean?
MMC = Microbloatwaresoft Management Console

Why do you call win 7 obsolete? just because m$ doesnt update it? LOL :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#20
trparky
Because in two years it will be.
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#21
Keullo-e
S.T.A.R.S.
DeathtoGnomesMMC = Microbloatwaresoft Management Console

Why do you call win 7 obsolete? just because m$ doesnt update it? LOL :laugh:
And what is that Management Console? Like I said, I've never used that, at least I think so. At least I don't think I've used that.

7 is like XP few years ago, there were many newer OS:s, but people just kept going on with that ancient OS. Come on, it's over 8½ years old already and won't even support new hardware without tweaking, and getting high-end hardware without support for DX12.. meh, just meh. Hell, even my good old GTX 980 runs DX12 fine.
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#22
Shihab
Vayra86It also amazes me how there are new 'versions' of the same OS popping up everywhere when Microsoft sold us W10 with the promise of a single version that's here to stay. Could this get any more ironical... its almost getting easier to pick the right Linux distro :laugh:
I've lost faith in Microsoft's ability to stick to a single strategy when they stopped investing on mobile after buying a mobile brand and shoving mobile-oriented OS down the throats of other platform users...

But honestly, it could be argued that this is more on the level of having different tiers of the same platform. The backend is the same in all (API capabilities, etc), but the front end is simply tiered to give you access the said back end depending on how much you cough up. Very SAAS-esque, if you thought about it.
Chloe Price7 is like XP few years ago, there were many newer OS:s, but people just kept going on with that ancient OS. Come on, it's over 8½ years old already and won't even support new hardware without tweaking, and getting high-end hardware without support for DX12.. meh, just meh. Hell, even my good old GTX 980 runs DX12 fine.
A tool's age is a problem only when the cost of maintaining/using it exceeds the gains. And so far, maintaining a functional, productive Windows 7/8.1 machine isn't much of an issue (except for those who require post-skylake processors/platforms).
And how far has d3d12's market share gone these days? 20-something titles with 5 being exclusives?
Posted on Reply
#23
biffzinker
Chloe PriceAnd what is that Management Console? Like I said, I've never used that, at least I think so. At least I don't think I've used that.
Device Manager or Event Viewer, have you used either one at some point?
Posted on Reply
#24
Keullo-e
S.T.A.R.S.
biffzinkerDevice Manager or Event Viewer, have you used either one at some point?
In fact, nope. :D

EDIT: Ah, device manager, hell yeah, since Windows 95.
ShihabyoooA tool's age is a problem only when the cost of maintaining/using it exceeds the gains. And so far, maintaining a functional, productive Windows 7/8.1 machine isn't much of an issue (except for those who require post-skylake processors/platforms).
And how far has d3d12's market share gone these days? 20-something titles with 5 being exclusives?
But why stick with some old crap since it doesn't support the new tehnologies? I upgraded my 8.1 Pro to 10 Pro the same day when 10 was launched and I don't have any bad to say about this.

Still, Windows 2000 Pro was and is the best ever (then on that hardware, now on retro hardware). ;)
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