Windows 8 on ARM is a great move for ultrabooks

Windows 8 on ARM - Microsoft's bold move

-By Prad B.

The WinTel move, a bold move in the world of processors, going forward will drive high end PCs, desktops and laptops with speeds we never saw before. Until now Intel X86 was the major processing backbone for all PCs including the Macs. Since 2006, Apple is using the Intel processing engine on all their Desktops/Laptops. ARM which was only running to serve mobile devices has now collaborated with Microsoft to be the next rival in processor world. Windows 8 on RT will be run on ARM processors. And, Windows 8 indeed adopts ARM brilliantly - a great achievement or maybe pitfall (Time will tell) for the software giant, and not to mention that their share on the mobile phones, tablets and computers is increasing exponentially. And does Windows 8 on ARM (The WinTel Move) really mean a lot to the Ultra Book Market?

ARM, an add-on flavor of Windows 8 referred to as ‘Windows on ARM’, is being launched with the revolutionary new Microsoft Windows 8 commonly known to us as ‘Windows RT’. Well, we can only say that there is only few things that differ it from the regular flavor.

Yes, both the regular flavor and the ARM share a lot in common though Windows RT, the base engine that runs and drives the Metro style apps has some limits. Despite acquiring the hardware, it is limited to the Metro interface only (few exceptions) which means previous Windows PCs were just a thing of the past - locked off, for ARM users (though doubtless a route around this will be figured out in time). This is a great move - Metro is vastly different to Explorer, and those familiar with the older interface may find themselves a little nonplussed by the differences in a touch screen digital world.

Quite more differences? Yes ! While users of the standard Windows 8 (Intel x86 processors) will have to shell out of Microsoft’s Office 2013 software bundle, purchasers of ARM based tablets and ultra books will get a copy of Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote without any cost. It’s a much more logically out connected user experience; this is where Microsoft is looking to challenge Apple. The Cupertino Apple Inc. is well known for its hardware.

Althought Microsoft Office will be supplied by default, Windows 8 RT will not include the latest Media Player. Isn't that a surprise? Assuredly there will be a different environment for accessing media and songs, perhaps more deeply compatible with the OS itself.

The other huge difference, going forward increasing the ‘Appley-ness’ of this new RT affair that the apps and software directly downloaded from Microsoft App Store will be allowed to run on the devices. Incorporating this method, Microsoft is providing a fully-coherent ecosystem not dissimilar from Apple’s App Store. Microsoft's Windows 8 RT System will only be available for purchase if you are a device manufacturer - Microsoft is not directly and completely giving away the new Metro Operating System to end users establishing a new era of OS control and as with the Cupertino competitor Apple, it’s something you can always opt in to OR opt out of looking at your own Windows needs.

Up until now for decades Intel X86 processors, was leading the processing behind all PCs, Desktops and Laptops. Now, ARM that used to drive/process most mobile cell phones has improved on speeds that could easily handle/process today's high end Tablets/PCs. Microsoft and ARM - the WinTel move has made possible for ARM to enter the world of Desktops and PCs and will be running Windows 8 on upcoming Windows RT Laptops and Desktops.