It goes without saying that the ARM version of Windows 8 is a few leagues behind its x86 counterpart, but the CEO of the ARM believes that the Windows RT platform will only get better with time.
Warren East, the chief executive of ARM, talking to PCWorld admitted that the consumer demand for Windows RT tablets is low, but the company will learn from their mistakes and work with Microsoft to improve the platform. He gave the interview at Mobile World Congress:
“I’m well aware there is a perceived wisdom that RT hasn’t been as successful as lots of people thought it was going be. Quite certainly I’m sanguine about it.”
One of the issues the ARM head (don’t laugh) brought up was the fact that ARM processors currently are only 32-bit, while a significant number of x86 products make use of 64-bit capabilities.
“Companies like Microsoft, everybody in the technology space, when they look at … ARM in the future are thinking about 64-bit”.
This is set to change next year as the company will debut processors featuring the 64-bit ARM architecture. East further said that Microsoft understands this divide, and Redmond is already planning for the future.
Obviously, when you consider how late Microsoft was in the ARM game (in fact, both Windows 8 and RT were a few innings behind) there is a lot to learn for the software giant. But one thing where it has faltered here is the price factor.
Perhaps the biggest advantage that ARM processors offers to devices is significant cost savings, as solutions from the company are tend to cost low.
However, this has not translated onto Windows RT devices, and most tend to cost almost as much as devices powered by Intel or AMD processors.
So far, not many products running Windows RT have made to the market, and Surface RT so far remains the torch bearer for the platform and will be until spring. Things will change later in the year as more companies (including Acer) bring out Windows RT products.
