Who needs Boot Camp when you can stream Windows to your Mac? Microsoft’s newly announced Windows 365 feature allows you to use Windows 10 and 11 on almost any device — including Mac and iPad.
With a Cloud PC, you get an instant-on experience and access to all your data, software, and settings anywhere. And you’ll be able to configure your setup to suit your needs. The service launches on August 2, 2021.
Microsoft is already streaming the latest Xbox games to Mac, iPhone and iPad so that you can enjoy them anytime, anywhere. But what if you don’t have time for play and you need to get real work done on the move?
With Windows 365, you’ll have access to a powerful PC in the cloud that lets you run even the most demanding Windows software on almost any device. And Microsoft takes care of all the hardware for you.
Stream Windows to Mac and iPad with a Cloud PC
“The Cloud PC draws on the power of the cloud and the capabilities of the device to provide a powerful, simple, and secure full Windows 10 or Windows 11 experience that you can use to empower your workforce, regardless of location or device,” Microsoft explains.
“Windows 365 provides an instant-on boot experience that enables users to stream all their personalized applications, tools, data, and settings from the cloud across any device including your Mac, iPad, Linux device, and Android.”
Photo: Microsoft
So, using Windows 10 or 11 on a Mac or iPad will no longer require Boot Camp or expensive virtualization tools. You’ll simply need to log into your Cloud PC via a web browser to enjoy the full Windows desktop experience with all the computing power you need.
A scalable experience
Unlike the Xbox cloud gaming service, which uses real Xbox hardware and offers the same experience to all, Windows 365 will be scalable to suit your needs. You’ll be able to choose how much RAM, storage, and processing power you want to handle your Windows software.
Once your Cloud PC is set up, you’ll enjoy an instant-on experience that’s the same across all devices. Whether you log in from a Mac, iPad, or Linux machine, your data, software, and settings will be the same, and you’ll be able to pick up from where you left off at any time.
“You can get the same work done on a laptop in a hotel room, a tablet from their car between appointments, or your desktop while you’re in the office,” Microsoft adds.
Windows 365 launches August 2
Windows 365 is aimed primarily at enterprise users, so it’s probably not an ideal solution for a quick game of Solitaire or Minesweeper. But if you need to run Windows-only software anywhere, on any device, it may well be a dream come true.
Microsoft hasn’t yet confirmed how much a Cloud PC will cost, but we’ll find out more when the service makes its debut on August 2, 2021.
