Windows 365 Link Review: Fast, Simple, and Surprisingly Impressive
We Plugged in the Microsoft Windows 365 Link - and It Just Worked (Seriously)
As an MSP, we’ve seen our fair share of “simple” devices that come with 47 steps, a firmware update, and a prayer.
We’ve also been following the unusually low-hype talk about the Microsoft Link device since around the beginning of the year. We placed an order for it the first time it was available to mere mortals like us. So yesterday, when I finally received it? Christmas in July, Baby! Now, it’s a new device from Microsoft. So, when I unboxed the new Microsoft Windows 365 Link, I braced for the usual dance. But guess what? This thing actually lived up to the hype.
Setup So Easy, It Felt Like Cheating.
We plugged it in. It turned on. We signed in. Done. No imaging. No drivers. No “please wait while we update everything you’ve ever loved.” Just a clean, fast boot straight into a Cloud PC. If you’re already using Microsoft Intune and Entra ID, it’s even smoother - like butter on a hot biscuit.
Why We’re Kinda in Love With It. Let’s be real: most thin clients are about as exciting as a beige filing cabinet. But the Windows 365 Link? It’s got some swagger:
Zero local data = zero headaches when someone inevitably spills coffee on it.
Instant-on = no more “go grab a coffee while it boots” moments.
Dual 4K monitor support = because your clients deserve to see every pixel of their spreadsheets.
Modern ports galore = USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of endpoints.
Secure sign-in = QR codes, FIDO keys, and no passwords to forget (or stick on a Post-it).
MSP Bonus Round. From a management perspective, this thing is a dream. It’s secure by design, low-maintenance, and scales like a champ. Whether you're deploying to 5 users or 500, it’s the kind of device that makes you look good without breaking a sweat.
Is It Perfect? Keep in mind, this is a 1.0 device from Microsoft. That only works with Microsoft. Without an internet connection? For all purposes it’s a brick. And a user logging on needs to have a Windows 365 Cloud PC license. It can be Business or Enterprise. Because this is a thin client device, but one that is directly connecting to a 365 Cloud PC license. Which means no Azure Virtual Desktop or Microsoft Dev box. And it’s not portable in the sense of a tablet or laptop device.
And the name? Microsoft 365…Link? Yeah, that’s not going to create any confusion, especially when it comes to looking up anything about it. Microsoft naming conventions…gotta love ‘em.
Final Verdict: It Just Works (And We’re Not Even Mad About It)
The Microsoft Windows 365 Link is what happens when someone at Microsoft finally said, “Hey, what if we made a device that didn’t suck to set up?” And then actually did it.
At the end of the day, this device may significantly eliminate a lot of the cost, both capex and operational, for organizations already using cloud resources. Instead of purchasing (and monitoring, managing, protecting and supporting) both a physical and cloud PC, we have a solution which, in some cases, cut that responsibility and cost in half.
And the price? Under $350 (plus monitors, keyboard, mouse), plus the MS 365 licensing.
If you’re an MSP looking to simplify deployments, reduce support tickets, and maybe even impress a client or two, this little box is worth a serious look.
Are we going to start moving all our clients to this little box? Nope. But we are going to play with it, keep it in mind, and keep an eye out for the next Microsoft devices in this space. ‘Cuz you know they’re coming.
Still have questions or need assistance? Schedule a call with us or visit our Learning Center for more information. We're here to help!
