Lightweight Windows build gets Copilot
Copilot, Microsoft’s take on AI assistants, has been gradually becoming an integral part of the Windows ecosystem. First introduced by GitHub, a Microsoft-owned company, on June 29, 2021, this tool, which combines the power of LLM (large language models) with the wealth of user data at the disposal of the company, has been added to Windows 11, then Windows 10. And now, fan-made Windows 11 Tiny harnesses Copilot, too.
What is Windows 11 Tiny?
Windows 11 Tiny is a lightweight build of the OS made by NTDEV, an independent developer. This means that Tiny is neither associated with Microsoft nor supported by the company. The primary purpose of Windows 11 Tiny is to bring the power of the newest operating system to older PCs, the hardware of which simply cannot support the requirements of the fully fledged version.
“Lightweight” in this particular case basically means stripped-down: it is devoid of apps, features, and services that are not essential to the barebones functionality of Microsoft’s operating system. Which, in this particular case, is a good thing for many users who don’t code, design, edit, compose, etc. on their PCs.
Mind you, Windows 11 Tiny is not a competing product, you still need a Windows license to install and run it.
Windows 11 Tiny minimum requirements
NTDEV, developer of Windows 11 Tiny. Snapshot from the build's introductory video
“Tiny” in the name of this lightweight OS refers to the space it requires on the hard drive, in the first place. Compared to 20GB an instance of regular Windows 11 wants, NTDEV’s build agrees to live with 8GB only. As for RAM, the former is said to run with 4GB thereof, while the latter is satisfied with 2GB.
The latest update, Tiny11 2311, is claimed to be even smaller and faster, while delivering the features Microsoft packed its 23H2 update with.
Copilot in Windows 11 Tiny
So, given the circumstances, will Copilot work in Windows 11 Tiny at all? Chances are good that it will, and properly, for that matter, because:
– all that computing and processing isn’t done on user’s hardware but “outsourced” to Microsoft’s servers;
– the minimum requirements of this lightweight Windows build suggest a modest PC, not an obsolete one;
– in view of the above, it’s more about available bandwidth and moderation with the number of programs and browser tabs launched simultaneously;
– NTDEV, the maker of Windows 11 Tiny, surely know what they are doing.
Thus, if you are looking for an OS for your old laptop that recently got a new SSD but otherwise remained a 4 GB RAM Celeron-powered computer (quite a common case), and don’t want to reshape your habits with Ubuntu, Windows 11 Tiny is a good option, especially now, when it comes wielding Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant.
