Windows on ARM goes mainstream

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

If the overhead to run existing W32/W64 apps on ARM is as little as claimed, the new machines announced today will be a game changer for computer users. No more Intel only, and the snapdragon chips are seemingly twice as power efficient. Could also be a real challenger to the Apple laptops as well (unless one is married to an apple only app).

And to top it off, at least for preorder, the new surface with ARM is significantly cheaper than the latest with the core ultra chips.

I really like my new intel laptop, but it does get hot so I have to be aware of keeping the vents clear, and batt life is less than a day for me when using both of the built in screens (but no issue, I have plenty of portable power). The snapdragon chip should use half or less of the power, and with less power also likely means less heat to rid.

I preordered a surface pro with ARM, the base model. Arrives in about three weeks.

[Lee B]

So is this a laptop only issue?

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

Not for long I suspect. I have not used a desktop in years, but it is reasonable to believe there are already ARM desktops, and likely updated ones coming soon. They, prior to today, are not something the average person would get and expect to match a Windows only box. There are already ARM laptops, but performance is not all that great (according to reports) with W32/64 apps because of the overhead. The new snapdragon chips, and the revisions to Windows, are supposed to make the overhead nearly moot.

In my case, since MS is calling their new surface stuff "consumer" versions, and the intel based stuff "business", I have to accommodate ARM for certain. Personally, I am happy about the longer batt life as it should equate to less power needed.

I suppose the basics, If I followed correctly, is for intel chips, the architecture is roughly the same as it was in the 8088 days, with more and more things on chip to handle the faster things we have today. All of that add on sort of processing is expensive in cost, complicity, and power. For the snapdragon, we use them in many phones, so their power needs have been up front from day one. With MS updating the emulation in Windows itself, instead of some sort of hardware solution, we are at or getting closer to where the hardware may no longer be Windows/Mac/Phone, it may be the hardware does fast computing at reasonable cost and power usage, and the operating system handling the rest, whatever OS on whatever machine.

If this all works out, it compares (in my youth days) to being able to buy an engine from wherever, and putting it into any vehicle without having to go to a third party for mounts/adapters/etc. Or in recent days, what the EV makers did by finally agreeing on one plug standard.

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

All of this also ties into what our son is looking forward to as changing the face of doctor/patient medicine.  AI handling of notes. The tech is coming where your practitioner will have something similar to a phone (or maybe an app on their phone, I have no idea) which records the conversation of your visit and makes the visit notes.  No transcribing, no doctor visit with the doc banging away at the keyboard the whole time, no late nights for the doc handling their notes. Or no med student/resident slogging away recording notes instead of seeing patients/studying.

Or in the case of my 1.5 hour drive yesterday, the car navigating, keeping proper speed, lane change, turn, etc., via based interpretation of the conditions and route, without waking granddaughter napping in car seat. (for the curious, AMD Ryzan chip).

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

It has been just over a month. While not using my Arm machine full time, there is nothing I cannot install and use on it, that I am using on a Wintel machine. I found one quirk, in my own software, which I was able to fix via a slight coding change, and/or via changing the emulator settings to the safer option.

As for comparing program speed, once an x86 based app opens, it is tough to see any perceptible difference, at least in what I do (productivity apps, my own apps, program coding, etc.) Load time is probably +20% (relatively insignificant) as the emulator "does its thing". I am comparing apples to apples, a new ARM based machine and a new Intel machine, both t=with the consumer level chips (not the pro level). Of note, the apps I use most often are x86 apps, not x64. Might make a difference, might not.

I suspect the emulator on Macs (usually Parallels) is likely as good, maybe even better than WoA/Prism because of longevity. For certain, I have customers using Mac/Parallels, and a few using WoA/Prism. My own payroll and accounting is now done using my WoA machine.

For me, the different is power use and heat. WoA is less on both fronts. There is talk that Intel has a new chip in the works which will compete on both fronts, but only time will tell. The better news is the silicon is becoming more and more immaterial, since the emulators are getting better, and chip speed makes the emulator overhead barely perceptible for all but gaming.

For a recent 5 day trip, I used my WoA machine, to access my Wintel machine (left at home). I did not have to charge the WoA machine once for the relatively limited time I used it each day. The noticeable heat reduction on my lap was appreciated.

[mcb39]

What is ARM?  I hate to be stupid, but I hate when people use abbreviations that I don't understand.  Sorry, Dennis, I respect your knowledge and I am always wanting to learn new things. TIA (HaHa)

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture_family

A type or processor/CPU. The leading processor for mobile phones, and with this iteration, a real challenger to Intel for computers (because of the power/heat optimization).

In some ways, we are seeing or about to see another BetaMax vs VHS scenario. Intel is BetaMax, and ARM devices are VHS (because ARM can be licensed and made by other CPU manufacturers). This time, BetaMax/Intel will likely survive as having the dominant share at present, but ARM/VHS will likely compete well because of their advantages as well as having not built a very good system to run Intel based software on their processors. The current Intel debacle, with processors failing and needing replacement (and not being actively recalled) will only help ARM more.

I have not used an Apple PC since an Apple II in school, but I have and use one of the new ARM based machine daily. It could work to be my main, except my main is a dual screen ZenBook which is very handy.

At present, you will see these processors marketed in the Windows CoPilot+ machines, like the Surface Pro 11. Other machines will be available shortly, if not already available.

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

Having NOW built… (a good emulator)

[Lee B]

I have used a desktop for so many years that I really have no interest in trying to use a laptop for work.