14 DAY TRIAL // Rumor has it that Microsoft is working on a stripped-down version of Windows 10 called “Lean” that could launch with the Redstone 5 update in the fall and come without programs like the Registry Editor.
A screenshot that surfaced a few days ago indicated that Windows 10 Lean is already in testing stage and it is 2GB smaller in size as compared to the full version of the operating system, all by dropping code that regular users don’t need.
Microsoft’s plan appears to be tackling devices with low specifications, and a report from WindowsCentral indicates Windows 10 Lean would be particularly aimed at machines that come with only 16GB storage.
This means Windows 10 Lean will indeed be installed on affordable systems like tablets and entry-level notebooks, and Microsoft intends that despite the lower specs, no compromise in terms of functionality to be made.
Internet Explorer could also go away
The report adds that features like the Registry Editor and even Internet Explorer might be missing from Windows 10 Lean in an attempt to make the new OS version as slim as possible.
With Windows 10 Lean, Microsoft is also trying to keep these low-end devices up-to-date, especially as OS feature updates typically grow in size and eat more space on the hard drives. By reducing the footprint of the original install and removing the same components from Windows 10 Lean updates, these systems could continue getting updates normally, as storage would technically not be a problem.
Windows 10 Lean could see daylight with the Redstone 5 update in the fall, though it goes without saying that a lot could change by the time this happens. Redstone 5 is still in its early days right now, and Microsoft is only shipping preview builds as part of the Skip Ahead ring, of everything could change overnight if the company thinks such an SKU no longer makes sense for its plans.