Windows 10X to reportedly RTM in December, without Win32 app support

Microsoft originally developed Windows 10X to support their dual-screened ambitions, but development difficulties eventually caused Microsoft to abandon that plan, and eventually re-target the OS for cheap single-screened laptop-like devices for front-line workers, to compete with ChromeOS.

One of the reasons Windows 10X struggled was trying to run Win32 apps in containers in the OS, with Microsoft unable to achieve reasonable performance.

Now WindowsLatest reports that Microsoft is finalizing the feature set of Windows 10X in December and that this feature set will not include support for Win32 apps in the VAIL containers.

Instead, the OS will only run PWA and UWP apps, and Microsoft will “pre-install” PWA versions of  Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, Skype, and so on. Enterprise users will still be able to deliver Win32 apps via remote desktop virtualization, however.

According to WindowsLatest, Microsoft is expected to launch devices with the OS in Spring 2021 and will spend the time between December and then with bug fixes and other servicing of the OS. It is unclear if Microsoft will have a public beta test of the OS.

Microsoft has already started redeploying some of the technology developed for Windows 10X, such as the new soft keyboard, to Windows 10, making the work not a complete waste. Microsoft may still release a dual-screen version of the OS in 2022 for the much-delayed Surface Duo.

Are our readers surprised by the course of the Windows 10X development story? Let us know below.