Tom, ARM is a different architecture. Just like PC is different than Mac. For an app to be "native", it has to be written for the particular architecture. MS tried having ARM based computers able to also run apps for x86 (intel/AMD) already, and it was, to me, a bust. This new iteration seems to be a game changer. The ARM chip and Windows will handle the x86 software through emulation, without taking a huge performance hit. The early tests compare the performance well. Native ARM apps will be faster but for most of us, we won't see anything different as we are all limited by our fingers, displays, drive speed, and as we age, comprehension speed.
From what was disclosed Monday, the new Windows/ARM/CoPilot+ machines should be able to run most current PC apps without any special action (as the current PC computers, all 64 bit, have emulation to run all the 32 bit software still heavily in use).
I should get the new surface the day of or day after public release. I will test my own app and see how it works. Comparing to the state of the art intel core ultra chip. I expect them to be close enough I can use either. The bene of the ARM is heat and power issues are dramatically less. Also the processing speed should be better (when using ARM apps) or at least the same (when using x86 apps).
For the prior ARM emulation, I did not bother even testing it as the reports were not good.
Intel has a new chip in the works which should compete with the ARM, but I have seen nothing mentioning if they can resolve power and heat issues. (For example, there is usually no reason to buy the best intel chip in a laptop, as most laptops cannot provide enough cooling and have to heat limit the processor either on the fly, or via hardware settings.)
Intel got the actual shaft this time. Intel is just barely into their Meteor Lake cycle, which has a NPU (AI) type of processor, but not enough for Copilot+. The Meteor chips are essentially obsolete after only a few months - assuming the ARM emulation is even close to what is being reported. It may take intel a year or more to catch up. Computer manufacturers are rumored to already be abandoning Meteor Lake after just a month or two into their release cycle. (I just got a Meteor Lake computer, and I am happy with it as it is a dual monitor laptop, which is a significant upgrade for me - if I was only after performance, I would not have bought the ML chipped device.)
My Meteor Lake device, I have to keep propped up for air circulation, and it still heat limits from time to time. Not really an issue for my use, but the fans are noticeable when it gets to the heat limit. For the ARM device, I suspect I can stuff it back in the cubby I have and may never hear the fans.
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We are getting close to a time when any laptop can run any app, and no more being stuck in PC intel, PC AMD, PC ARM, and maybe even Mac (assuming Apple steps up and buys one of the emulators which run on Apple and makes x86 - and now likely ARM - emulation internal).
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I just saw one potential hitch, Qualcomm is being or may be sued by ARM for not following their license agreement correctly, but these things usually play out with exchange of cash before consumer's are affected.