Windows 8 x86 in Q4-2012, Windows 8 ARM in Q2-2013?

[btarunr]

Even as there's quite some buzz around Microsoft's next major version of Windows, there are reports such as one from Bright Side of News citing "multiple sources close to Microsoft, or inside [it]," revealing the tentative launch schedule of the two main branches of Windows: for x86 platforms (client and enterprise), and ARM (for tablets and compact computing devices). Windows 8 for clients and enterprise (x86 architecture), will get up to 5 months' head-start over the much hyped ARM version for tablets. It is expected to be launched some time in Q4 2012, while the ARM version, some time in Q2 2013.

Intel and AMD can rub their hands as they both have extremely compact x86 processors fit for the tablet form-factor planned, and can woo tablet designers to opt for their solutions and get Windows 8 tablets instead of waiting for the ARM version of the operating system. Tablet vendors with mature ARM-based designs can always opt for Google's Android operating system, which will see no major competition for the greater part of this year.



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[FordGT90Concept]

Shouldn't that be Q4-2012 in the title?

 

[erocker]

Why wouldn't Windows 8 ARM be released before the hollidays? Unless they're shooting for next year and it takes about two quarters to get everything set after release.

 

[Prima.Vera]

I wonder, will the x32 bit Windows still exists??

 

[borden5]

x86 is 32 bit, x64 is 64 bit

 

[btarunr]

x86 is 32 bit, x64 is 64 bit

x64 is a quick way of writing x86-64.

 

[Jaffakeik]

I wonder if windows 8 will be superior over win7, or its more based for touchscreens?

 

[btarunr]

I wonder if windows 8 will be superior over win7, or its more based for touchscreens?

It does have a desktop. Only a few changes here and there...such as no Start menu.

 

[chaotic_uk]

so windows 8 in mainly aimed at tablets etc ?

 

[trickson]

It does have a desktop. Only a few changes here and there...such as no Start menu.

What? No Start Menu? Well I do not want that then. Looks to like this is going to be geared towards the tablets etc. Nothing seems like it would be an improvement over windows7. Still not going to touch windows 8.

 

[cheesy999]

sounds like a decent idea actually, gives companies time to get x86 Tablets on the market, imagine a tablet PC that can actually run desktop programs, would be nice to have a full internet browser with adobe flash support.

if the performance is at least level with an AMD E series you could probably play some decent games on the move

 

[insane 360]

i think windows 8 will be good. look at how long people stuck with XP, people don't like big changes...

i for one welcome this to my HTPC and will try out the consumer part of it

i'll probably even load it on my laptop for work and see how i like it there as well

 

[Norton]

Launch date looks look it's positioned for Back to School PC's..... wouldn't be surprised if the buy "Windows 7 now/upgrade to 8 for free later" pops up in the Fall sales ads if the launch isn't early enough in the sales season.....

 

[FordGT90Concept]

x64 is a quick way of writing x86-64.

It was launched under x86-64, Microsoft called it Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, and the instruction set was officially renamed to AMD64 in 2003. Microsft now refers to it as 64-bit when talking causually and AMD64 in code (envrionmental variable PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE). Intel's EM64T/Intel 64 processors running Windows 64-bit also return AMD64.

 

[faramir]

"Intel and AMD can rub their hands as they both have extremely compact x86 processors fit for the tablet form-factor planned, and can woo tablet designers to opt for their solutions and get Windows 8 tablets instead of waiting for the ARM version of the operating system. Tablet vendors with mature ARM-based designs can always opt for Google's Android operating system, which will see no major competition for the greater part of this year. "

Um ... Android runs on x86 as well. If AMD's and Intel's low power offerings are good enough then manufacturers can dump ARM altogether and if they aren't, late release of Windows on ARM won't make any difference.

It's up to both x86 CPU manufacturers to conquer the market, not up to Micro$oft to do it for them.

 

[qwerty_lesh]

"Intel and AMD can rub their hands as they both have extremely compact x86 processors fit for the tablet form-factor planned, and can woo tablet designers to opt for their solutions and get Windows 8 tablets instead of waiting for the ARM version of the operating system. Tablet vendors with mature ARM-based designs can always opt for Google's Android operating system, which will see no major competition for the greater part of this year. "

Um ... Android runs on x86 as well. If AMD's and Intel's low power offerings are good enough then manufacturers can dump ARM altogether and if they aren't, late release of Windows on ARM won't make any difference.

It's up to both x86 CPU manufacturers to conquer the market, not up to Micro$oft to do it for them.

i totally agree,
more so it comes down to price and performance as to why ARM do better in this market then x86.. no $1000+ slow x86 junk is going to "woo" a consumer, but a snappy quadcore a9 or better for under 500usd sure as heck will ;D

if they want to beat the market then theyll have to seriously compete for once and i dont see it happening this year or the next.

(sent from my tf-201 transformer prime)

 

[johnspack]

I really hope they release a desktop version that is 64bit only, and no weird gui. I already have to do so much work to fix win7s gui....

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I'm pretty sure they're keeping 32-bit around for tablets and ultrabooks--devices that really don't benefit from more than 4 GiB of RAM.

 

[Octavean]

According to all the info I have read on the "consumer preview" of Windows 8, it should be released in late February. Therefore Microsoft has until the remainder of today and tomorrow to release the latest build to the general public,….

Whenever it is released, I just hope all the people complaining about the changes and swearing up and down that they wont touch it wont clog up the serves downloading it,…….

Maybe this time it will be an easy and fast download as in the past all the servers were being hammered.

 

[newtekie1]

What? No Start Menu? Well I do not want that then. Looks to like this is going to be geared towards the tablets etc. Nothing seems like it would be an improvement over windows7. Still not going to touch windows 8.

The start menu is replaced with Metro, if you disable Metro you get the start menu back.

I'm pretty sure they're keeping 32-bit around for tablets and ultrabooks--devices that really don't benefit from more than 4 GiB of RAM.

That really isn't a good reason, even if you less than 4GB of RAM, using the 64-bit version is the same as using the 32-bit version. The only reason to keep 32-bit around is to support processors that aren't 64-bit, like a lot of netbooks. And I think they said Win8 would be the last version to have a 32-bit version.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

It does have a desktop. Only a few changes here and there...such as no Start menu.

Only a few changes? They reworked everything. There's never been a more aggressively optimized Windows release. For once I won't have to run through the list of services and disable what I don't need on a netbook install. It takes care of that for you.

This is going to be like sandybridge. Most are totally blah on the changes because they haven't been paying attention. Once they see everybody running it, particularly without metro, adoption rate will take off.

 

[TRWOV]

Disable Metro and you get the start menu. Have been using it since the DP.

 

[trickson]

Disable Metro and you get the start menu. Have been using it since the DP.

Okay what improvements will windows 8 offer up (REAL improvements) over the current windows7 64 home premium offering?

 

[erocker]

Okay what improvements will windows 8 offer up (REAL improvements) over the current windows7 64 home premium offering?

I don't think we'll know until it is released and thoroughly reviewed.

Question: Where can you get the latest release candidate for Windows 8?

 

[trickson]

I don't think we'll know until it is released and thoroughly reviewed.

Question: Where can you get the latest release candidate for Windows 8?

Fair enough.