Comments on: Microsoft to unveil Windows 8 for ARM at CES?

By: Eric Finseth

Eric Finseth — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 21:39:00 +0000

Every single ARM SoC chunk (graphics, audio, 3d acceleration, USB, I2C, etc, etc) requires a software driver. The hardware support exists in the chip, but it still needs software to configure it, and each subsystem needs to interface with software. I would say that ARM SoC support is much more difficult than x86 because x86 has been standardized for so long. With ARM – TI, Freescale, Marvel, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and others each have their own hardware implementation of a USB stack, their own hardware implementation of a graphics subsystem, etc.

By: Marvell CEO talks about ARM Powered Windows – ARMdevices.net

Marvell CEO talks about ARM Powered Windows – ARMdevices.net — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 23:14:30 +0000

[…] Microsoft to unveil Windows 8 for ARM at CES? (armdevices.net) […]

By: attila_toth

attila_toth — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 09:18:00 +0000

In reply to Anonymous.

I don’t think so. Windows Embedded is primarily for devices that need real-time capabilities. Windows Phone 7 is – obviously – for mobile phones. For all other devices (from high-end desktops to netbooks and 10″ tablets) MS needs a modular, scalable OS that can provide consistent user experience in the whole range. On all popular platforms, x86 _and_ ARM.

By: attila_toth

attila_toth — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 09:10:00 +0000

According to rumors it’s not just about porting Windows to ARM platform, but also making it modular to be able to run wide range of devices. With this it’s indeed a reasonable direction for windows OS development.

By: Charbax

Charbax — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:06:00 +0000

In reply to Wbblair3. "A Microsoft spokesman declined to comment" to me this still qualifies this as rumor.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:03:00 +0000

Windows Embedded Compact 7. Nothing to see here.

By: Wbblair3

Wbblair3 — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:35:00 +0000

No longer just a rumor:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704851204576034051605593000.html

By: Darkseider

Darkseider — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:46:00 +0000

Here’s hoping that it is a full on Windows 8 and not some lite crap or application platform. I would love to finally see the x86 go to where it should have been many years ago… the trash heap. Multi-core or for that matter multiple multi-core ARM systems can perform just as good if not better on the desktop using a smaller footprint and far less power. Granted the x86 will still have its’ niche but it is time for it to go so computing in general can advance. The PPC, DEC Alpha and MIPS platforms have all died away due to lack of support from Microsoft. Here’s hoping that this truly is the support that is needed to propel ARM to the top of the food chain where it belongs.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:56:00 +0000

Häh? All the functionality is buried in non standardized ARM based low level hardware. Why on earth should that be a problem for the mainstream Windows development group who has developed for standardized i386 hardware since decades, still needs a BIOS & VGA to boot and has outsourced any further driver development to hardware manufactures.