Why it matters: Microsoft is building Windows 10X from the ground up to adapt to various PC form factors. While the initial showing of Windows 10X was on the Surface Neo, two intrepid developers managed to install the upcoming OS on a MacBook and Surface Go. If you're feeling adventurous, you can install Windows 10X yourself although it requires a bit of technical knowledge.
Microsoft recently released a Windows 10X SDK for developers to begin adapting their applications for dual-screen computers. However, two developers managed to install the fledgling operating system onto a Surface Go and a MacBook.
Twitter user "imbushuo" posted a video of Windows 10X running on the MacBook relatively smoothly. The OS treats the MacBook like a single screen and allows applications to run on either side of the screen or full screen.
Video pic.twitter.com/Xc4DfXAc14
--- Sunshine Biscuit at scale (@imbushuo) February 13, 2020
Well-known developer Steve Troughton-Smith also managed to get Windows 10X running on a Surface Go. Unfortunately, there were some initial Wi-Fi and touch driver issues. Troughton-Smith posted a complete guide on how to install Windows 10X on different hardware, but it's not for the faint of heart as it requires Powershell scripts, drive partitioning, and driver work.
It's probably best to stick with the emulator if you want to play around with Windows 10X.
It worked! Surface Go successfully flashed with Windows 10X ? Touch driver not installed by default, nor WiFi pic.twitter.com/VftAK5bLdb
--- Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) February 14, 2020
Microsoft introduced Windows 10X running on the upcoming Surface Neo. The operating system is meant to run on dual-screen devices and might possibly be the future of Windows in the long term.
Microsoft has stripped out all of the legacy UI elements and built it from the ground up to be speedy and more efficient. For now, seeing the new operating system running on various hardware platforms seems to confirm the adaptability of Windows 10X, even if it's a little buggy.