The end of Wintel? Windows 8 ARM will not run x86 apps

#1

Post by mrsebastian » Mon, Sep 19, 2011, 7:27 PM UTC

The end of Wintel? Windows 8 ARM will not run x86 apps
extremetech.com

Re: The end of Wintel? Windows 8 ARM will not run x86 apps

#2

Post by proles » Mon, Sep 19, 2011, 7:47 PM UTC

This is a step in the right direction for Microsoft when it comes to addressing the basic needs the majority(?) of their install base. Getting enterprise users to follow right along might not be as straightforward, but the creation of a curated environment for app distribution and an ecosystem that is center around the common user is certainly welcome.

All the items described in this article are the reason why I love my suite of Apple products, specially iOS devices. Glad to see Microsoft headed that way.

Re: The end of Wintel? Windows 8 ARM will not run x86 apps

#3

Post by digikata » Mon, Sep 19, 2011, 7:55 PM UTC

The article talks about Win 8 as if you'll be compiling straight to ARM. I haven't been following the Win8/Metro info very closely, but wouldn't one be essentially targeting a .Net/Metro VM with implementations on ARM for mobile devices and x86 for desktops? So of course you're not going to back translate native x86 apps to ARM. Even if the instruction set/API translation were perfect, the computing power wouldn't map over very well.

I've been wondering if Google would make a similar strategic move - i.e. provide a desktop environment that can run Android apps targeted to users on multiple OS's (A polish step beyond simulators/emulators for devs...). That way you can access a much larger installed base of users and make the mobile app themselves more portable.

Of course there's the argument that mobile-to-desktop protability would result and all that much usability. However, it's something that I suspect that Apple would have a harder time offering because they don't have a VM strongly involved.

Re: The end of Wintel? Windows 8 ARM will not run x86 apps

#4

Post by macavity23 » Tue, Sep 20, 2011, 10:52 AM UTC

This sudden epiphany from MS that the market is going mobile/ARM recalls for me their about-face regarding the Internet with Win95/98. MS has always done their best stuff when their back is against the wall.

As the article says, Win8/Metro is going to be a BIG change in the way the user interface works, so MS is losing their historically biggest advantage, that of all the bazillions of legacy apps out there.

Can MS win a straight up software-quality battle with iOS and Android, when they have a two, maybe three year deficit to make up? The early signs from Windows Phone 7 are not promising...