This is clickbait: these are requirements for OEMs on laptops - basically what you need to have to get the "Runs Windows 11" sticker.

How many new laptops are even available without a webcam? I don't see this making any meaningful impact on the laptop market.

The minimum specs for the webcam are probably the more relevant part. Even incredibly cheap laptops have a webcam, but it's sometimes a 15fps 480p one that isn't actually useful for anything.

I'm speculating but I'd put money on the fact that Microsoft is tired of OEMs/ODMs shipping the cheapest cut rate excuse for a laptop running their OS and making Microsoft look bad.

Ecaclty this. Microsoft is setting the standards that it expects its OS to run on. Might increase the average windows 11 laptop prices but at least will make sure people don't buy those crappy speced laptops that OEMs put out.

I downgraded my machines to windows 10, did the necessary bios changes to prevent Microsoft from trying to force 11 on me, and have not looked back.

They roped me in with the wsl improvements, but everything else was such a massive step backwards that I felt compelled to revert.

Hearing that they're pushing Hello is just eyeroll inducing. Of course they want to harvest more biometric data.

Or rather OEM's won't be able to sell a new laptop with Windows 11 pre-installed without a webcam.

Queue all the conspiracy theories and people ignoring the fact that every MacBook ships with an HD camera.

Could it be that M$ (haven't used that in a while) is tired of manufacturers shipping garbage with Microsoft's latest OS installed?

I remember purchasing a brand new HP Tablet for under $100 that shipped with Microsoft's latest OS (8.1 I believe). I knew it was going to be bad, I was curious just how bad though. I wasn't prepared for HP to look at my incredibly low expectations and say "hold my beer".

When you purchase an Apple product, any Apple product, you know it's going to be at worst a middling experience.

It seems like Microsoft's requirements for Windows 11 are just holding manufacturers to higher expectations.

> I remember purchasing a brand new HP Tablet for under $100

> When you purchase an Apple product, any Apple product, you know it's going to be at worst a middling experience.

Is there an apple tablet that costs less than 100$ so we can compare the two ?

No, because Apple has standards. Which is what Microsoft is trying to establish.

If anything it bugs me to see that the requirements are so low:

> 720p

Ok not too bad

> more than 15fps

I thought this was 2022, anything less than 24 is basically garbage and it’s pointless to even have 720p at that frame rate.

I haven't looked in a minute but 0.3MP (640x480) cameras were quite common just a few years ago on budget laptops. Often webcams can achieve higher FPS at lower resolutions, so specifying 720p @ 15FPS prevents them from shipping a 720p sensor that does say 15FPS but only at 320x240.

Very likely part of a push for Windows Hello (Face ID)

personally I enjoy it enough to buy a webcam for my desktop to be able to unlock with face

> Very likely part of a push for Windows Hello (Face ID)

Very certainly isn't. Windows Hello requires special hardware within the webcam for infrared depth mapping, which isn't common or standard. The linked document[0] doesn't require Windows Hello-supporting cameras now or later.

[0] https://download.microsoft.com/download/7/8/8/788bf5ab-0751-...

Bad idea. A court can't compel you to type a password, but they can compel you to sit in front of a camera (to unlock your device).

https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/26/court-orders-us-capitol-ri...

Same as fingerprints and faceid though.

This requirement is for laptops only. OEM desktops won't require a webcam.

> What this means is that Microsoft is expecting 720p with a resolution of 1280 x 720 and 1:1 aspect ratio.

Looking at the chart below that, some important information was left out that dramatically changes the meaning of that sentence.

Yeah. Pixel aspect ratio isn't aspect ratio

Required for devices that... aren't PCs. So tablets and smartphones.

For the moment: "However, this requirement will become mandatory starting with the 1st of January, 2023, a fact which will most likely force many of the manufacturers to also include a webcam in devices like laptops or tablets."

Anyway, I don't know of any laptop without a webcam, although often it's quite awful.

> often it's quite awful.

That's the cause of this requirement. MS is tired of marketing departments checking off boxes on their spec sheet by picking the cheapest part from the discount bin.

OK. I don't have any issues with that as I don't use Windows 11.

Just one more reason to not update to W11, on my work computer I run W10, but if I had to reinstall system Is probably opt for W7, this year reinstalled backup laptop to W8.1 but no reason to not go even lower.

No, these requirements are for OEM sales, your computer will run just fine with Windows 11.

I am aware it's for OEM, I said one more reason, it doesn't need to affect me directly to be reason to ignore this horrible update with all disadvantages like forcing online account/installation and ridiculous hardware requirements.

Yep, still chugging along with Windows 7 here; it sure is fine by me

I hope you don't really need it because I've always had the webcam burn out on any laptop I've had after a few years.

What laptops are you buying?

Dell

I'm curious, is there a reason you buy Dell given the apparent quality issues?

Usually it is a work machine that was bought for me, sometimes I keep a work machine after I leave or bring home surplus work machines.

My employer either had a contract with Dell already or they were a mac shop but found it easy to buy from Dell.

Black electric tape.

So I won't be able to run Win 11? Their bad :)

cue the null-webcam USB stubs

Microsoft would quickly hear about that from end-users or the press, and pull that OEM's certification or stop selling them OEM Windows 11 licenses.

These are OEM minimums. Per the linked document Windows 11 will happily install on a machine without a camera (e.g. PCs). It is that Microsoft won't certify OEM's machines/sell them discount licenses without checking these boxes.

Agreed, and totally fair. I still think there will be a hacker here or there with an OEM build who just wants to make. it. go.

crazy 1984

Cameras can have physical shutters if needed

It’s only for your protection. /s

I hope they support W10 as long as the hd webcam is a requirement in W11