Microsoft is always confident though.
So I know ARM is different from x86 but what makes it worth switching over to?
Primarily, the main advantage that ARM tends to have over x86 is WAY better power efficiency.
Apple’s implementation is also comparably powerful to x86 in most meaningful benchmarks, and they’ve also married their CPUs with extensive vertical integration in both hardware and software, which imo is where Apple finds a lot of their performance and efficiency benefits.
Microsoft and Qualcomm and whatever system integrator builds whatever laptop you’re buying simply aren’t going to have that level of integration… so I’m pressing X to doubt.
I’ve heard the power efficiency is less “unique to ARM” and more due to different performance priorities of current x86 designs. The Apple M-series targets a different power/performance tradeoff than Intel and AMD.
Recent Ryzens, for example, often can be set in an “Eco mode” for, say, 80% of the performance at 50% of the energy usage, just by tweaking clocks and voltages. A full-out efficient design x86 could probab;y do even better.
ARM is a system on a chip. It’s significantly more energy efficient, but the different nature of the architecture requires persuading developers. It’s not for gaming yet, but it’s great for common tasks. ARM Macs have been doing really well, with the Rosetta translation software running Intel apps near-flawlessly, but Windows has been… bad. Just bad.
Long story short, power efficiency. But also less horrible arch. See also: RISC V.
It doesn’t run today’s Windows applications 👍
This is the best summary I could come up with:
After years of failed promises from Qualcomm, Microsoft believes the upcoming Snapdragon X Elite processors will finally offer the performance it has been looking for to push Windows on Arm much more aggressively.
Microsoft is so confident in these new Qualcomm chips that it’s planning a number of demos that will show how these processors will be faster than an M3 MacBook Air for CPU tasks, AI acceleration, and even app emulation.
This new class of PCs will get access to new AI-powered Windows features first, including an AI Explorer app that lets you “retrieve anything you’ve ever seen or done on your device.”
I’m told Microsoft is also looking to improve video streaming on Arm-powered Windows devices with a new AI-powered feature that will ship on these “next-gen” AI PCs.
Microsoft’s big AI PC reveal will take place on May 20th, just a day before the company’s annual Build developers conference.
Expect to see a round of new Windows on Arm devices in June, just a month after Microsoft details its AI PC plans.
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Just like how the Windows Phone could beat the iPhone!
Mac user. Excited for the competition. Everyone wins.
Everyone except for the end user because both companies suck so much shit and don’t give a damn about the end user.
I am confident in not giving a damn about Winpoop or iFruit and will stick to Linux instead!
