History of Windows on ARM
Launched in 2012
At COMPUTEX in 2012, Microsoft released the tablet Surface RT. At that time, there was no WOA (Windows on ARM) application for the main device. Microsoft began to try to launch Windows RT system and run it on Surface products equipped with Amou chips.
Microsoft and Qualcomm contract restrictions
In 2016, Microsoft signed an exclusive agreement with Qualcomm to allow the Windows operating system to run on Arm’s processors, forming the core base of “Windows on Arm” (WoA). But as mentioned earlier, there are many obstacles to early exploration. But 12 years later, with the emergence of AI PC, many devices and new apps have been used on Windows computers WOA (Windows on ARM). The exclusive Windows agreement between Qualcomm and Microsoft expires in 2024.
Qualcomm monopoly for 8 years
This is also the main reason why all the non-x86 Windows PCs you saw on the market in the past used Qualcomm platforms, including Microsoft’s own Surface Windows PCs, such as Microsoft’s latest generation Surface Laptop and All Pro tablets use Qualcomm chips.
Failing so far
But it is obvious that the moat formed by Wintel in the early days was too strong, and products based on new chips lacked sufficient software adaptation and ecological maintenance, and were ultimately regarded as failed attempts.
ARM’s ambition
Seize the artificial intelligence market
On June 3, 2024, Arm CEO Rene Haas stated at the Computex Forum that it is expected that by the end of 2025, 100 billion Arm devices around the world will be ready for artificial intelligence applications.
Cortex-A76 platform
On June 3, 2024, before the opening of Computex Taipei, Arm announced three silicon intellectual property rights for the Cortex-A76 processor, Mali-G76 graphics chip, and Mali-V76 video codec processing. product. Among them, the most concerning one is the Cortex-A76, which is designed for tablets or laptops running Windows operating systems. This shows that ARM can provide better performance processor products for devices under Windows operating systems.
The target is 50% market share
Microsoft executives predict that Arm-based notebook shipments will reach 1 million to 2 million units by the end of this year, accounting for 5% of the Windows camp.
Microsoft’s level of commitment
Copilot+ PC criteria
Microsoft last month announced an ambitious plan to launch Copilot+ PC standard, a new generation PC standard with AI capabilities to compete with Alphabet and Apple, driving demand for the use of Arm technology in PCs.
For details on this part, please see my post “AI PC is changing the PC supply chain and ecosystem“
Software support
Microsoft has made a significant commitment to ensure that ARM’s technology is accepted by consumers as an alternative to AMD and Intel’s x86 technology. Moreover, Microsoft has also developed a set of software development tools to develop programs that can run on Amou chips.
Haas said: “From a software perspective, they (Microsoft) have been very, very invested.” Haas also said that Qualcomm has designed a chip based on Amou technology for consumers and enterprises that can run on top of Windows, and other vendors will follow suit.
For details on this part, please see my post of “AI PC is changing the PC supply chain and ecosystem“.
The first wave of AI PCs using Arm
For the first time, Microsoft has released its own major annual technology update Copilot+ PC standard on a non-x86 platform for the first time. All computers displayed, without exception, use Windows on ARM WOA (Windows on ARM).
In addition to Microsoft’s own Surface series (Snapdragon version), major computer manufacturers such as Asus, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, HP and Samsung have also released their own Windows 11 AI PCs, but all of them are equipped with Snapdragon X Elite /X Plus chip series PC platform, this is the first time that Qualcomm’s PC platform has received support from such a wide range of PC ecosystem partners.
For details on this part, please see my post “Qualcomm PC might bring it back to glory“.
Market feedback
Not good as expected
The first batch of laptops equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips were delivered to consumers in mid-June, allowing consumers to experience the so-called “AI PC” first-hand.
It is worth noting that after the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge equipped with the Snapdragon , Fortnite, League of Legends, EAFC Online and other popular but low-system-requirement games, as well as some Adobe design software and anti-virus software are also included in the incompatibility list, which may affect consumers’ willingness to purchase.
Don’t have too high expectations
In short, unless it is a native program rewritten for ARM WOA (frankly speaking, the number is pitiful), existing Windows software must be executed with an emulator. What is the effect of using an emulator to execute the program? All I can advise you is to set your expectations to a minimum.
Conclusion
It is undeniable that it is a milestone in the field of Arm notebook computers, adding to market competition options.
But as I have repeatedly emphasized, the problem lies in the software! No matter how powerful the hardware is, it is useless; history has proven this time and time again.
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