On Tuesday Microsoft launched Windows 10 S, a brand new version of its ubiquitous operating system that will come with many new PCs in the near future. But what is it, how much does it cost and how is it different to Windows 10 Home or Pro?

What is it?

Windows 10 S is a fully-fledged version of Windows 10 designed for low-cost computers as well as education-oriented PCs and even some premium computers, such as the new Microsoft Surface Laptop.

What does the ‘S’ stand for?

The Windows 10 S home screen. Photograph: Microsoft

According to Microsoft the “S” doesn’t stand for anything in particular, but the company says Windows 10 S is streamlined for simplicity, security and speed. Windows 10 S will boot 15 seconds faster than a comparable machine running Windows 10 Pro with the same profile and apps installed, and it will run as fast on day 1,000 as it does on day one, Microsoft says.

How is it different from Windows 10 Home or Pro?

The big difference between Windows 10 S and any other version of Windows 10 is that 10 S can only run applications downloaded from the Windows Store. Every other version of Windows 10 has the option to install applications from third-party sites and stores, as has the majority of versions of Windows before it.

Windows 10 S will also come with Microsoft’s BitLocker encryption system for securing your files in case of theft, which some versions of Windows 10 Home do not have available. It will also receive the same updates at the same time as other versions of Windows 10.

Which apps will run on Windows 10 S?

Anything downloaded from the Microsoft Windows Store will run on Windows 10 S. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Anything downloaded from the Microsoft Windows Store will run on Windows 10 S, which has thousands of applications available, including free, paid and trial versions of software. That will soon include the full Microsoft Office suite and Spotify, while Slack, Evernote, Netflix, Facebook, Adobe Photoshop Elements and many others are already available.

Which apps won’t Windows 10 S be able to run?

Any apps that are not currently available in the Windows Store will not be able to be installed or run. That includes Apple’s iTunes, Google’s Chrome browser and the full versions of Adobe’s Acrobat, Photoshop and the rest of the Creative Suite – or anything else that’s installed via the traditional Windows 7 or earlier way.

Can I play games on Windows 10 S?

Yes and no. You can play any game that can be installed from the Windows Store, which includes both mobile games and AAA games – mainly from Microsoft’s game studios – such as Forza Horizon 3 and Gears of War 4, plus Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.

You will not be able install Valve’s Steam store, EA’s Origin, Blizzard’s Battlenet or any game distributed on disc or download from outside the Windows Store, however, which will severely limit the selection of games available for Windows 10 S.

Which browser will it run?

Windows 10 S runs Microsoft’s Edge browser Photograph: Microsoft

Windows 10 S will be limited to Microsoft’s Edge browser until other browser makers, including Firefox, Opera and Google make their browsers available through the Windows Store. While Microsoft says it will not stop them adding their web browsers to the Windows Store, it is not known if or when Google and others will do so.

How do I get it?

Windows 10 S will only be available on new machines for the foreseeable future, and won’t be available as a separate version of Windows users can upgrade with or install as with Windows 10 Pro.

When can I get it?

One of the first PCs to ship with Windows 10 S installed will be the new Microsoft Surface Laptop, which will ship to customers in the US on 15 June. Windows 10 S will see wider availability this summer.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop. Photograph: Microsoft

How much will a Windows 10 S PC cost?

Machines running Windows 10 S will be available from a variety of Microsoft’s PC-making partners, with Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Samsung and Toshiba all producing machines, starting at $189 in the US.

What if I have Windows 10 S and need to run apps outside of the Windows Store?

Any Windows 10 S machine can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro for a one-time fee of $49. Some machines, such as Microsoft’s Surface Laptop, will also come with a free upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for a limited period.

Once upgraded to Windows 10 Pro, it is not possible to revert back to Windows 10 S.

How does it compare to Google’s Chromebooks?

Windows 10 S is Microsoft’s answer to the success of Google’s Chromebooks in the education sector. Chromebooks are affordable laptops that run Google’s Chrome OS, which is an operating system built around the search company’s Chrome browser and is limited to web apps and some Android apps.

Minecraft being used in a classroom. Microsoft is looking to tap into the education market with Windows 10 S. Photograph: Microsoft

Windows 10 S, while aimed at the same market, is a fully-fledged version of Windows that is limited to apps from the Windows Store, but can accept and use any peripherals or other devices that any other Windows computer can. That should make Windows 10 S much more capable than Chrome OS, but it remains to be seen how well Windows 10 S runs on the cheapest of machines – something at which Chrome OS excels.

How is it different from Windows RT?

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has attempted to make a version of Windows that is locked down to just apps from the Windows Store. Windows RT launched in 2012 as a version of Windows 8 that could only run apps from the Windows Store and came on the first Microsoft Surface tablet.

Windows RT was limited to Windows Store apps because it ran on ARM-based processors, similar to those found in most smartphones, not x86 processors such as those found in most desktop and laptop computers. It was phased out within a couple of years.

Windows 10 S is locked down not for hardware reasons but for security, speed and efficiency, which Microsoft hopes will help it succeed in the key education market.