The cross-border road is overwhelmed by

Microsoft officially released the download link of the Windows 8 system developer preview version. The resource download volume easily exceeded 500,000 within two days. In the next month, the link was clicked again and again. The Win8 preview is downloaded, installed and used by users from all over the world. Some people end up with a mild experience. Some people give simple evaluations. Some people try to figure out what Microsoft is all about. Some people look forward to the industrial structure. Some people start to sketch the future computer form in their minds.

On September 14, 2011, Microsoft officially released the download link of the Windows 8 system developer preview version. The resource download volume easily exceeded 500,000 within two days. In the next month or so, the link was repeated again and again. Click to win, Win8 preview version is downloaded, installed and used by users from all over the world. Some people end up with a mild experience. Some people give simple evaluations. Some people try to figure out what Microsoft is all about. Some people look forward to the industrial structure. Some people start to sketch the future computer form in their minds.

The road to cross-border is overwhelming

<;Windows 8 for all PCs” is the official slogan for Windows 8. Through a major feature of the Win8 system, we can easily express the meaning of this sentence — — Win8 supports both X86 and ARM architecture. This means that Win8 will be able to run on most terminals that are commercially available: traditional desktop terminals such as desktops and laptops, and handheld terminals including tablets and even smartphones.

 Windows8 for all PCs", revealing Microsoft’s ambition to change the industry’s ecology, in the words of Andy Lees, president of Windows Phone, is: “New era of Windows will create a cross-PC, mobile phone , a unified ecosystem of tablets and television. “

<;Supporting both X86 architecture and ARM architecture" Does it mean that the programs between the two systems are compatible? That means we can enjoy those on the ARM tablet with Win8 system. Rich and wonderful traditional X86 desktop PC application? If it can be, the Win8 tablet is undoubtedly exciting. Mark Moerdler, an analyst at Bernstein, a US investment bank, pointed out in a recent investor report: “If an ARM chip tablet can run Windows programs, it might make the future of Windows completely different. Breaking down the comments of short-selling Microsoft stocks. ”

The gap between ideals and reality reappears. The reality is that ARM-based Windows 8 devices can only run Metro programs based on ARM architecture, but cannot be compatible with legacy programs on traditional PCs. .

In fact, the difference between X86 and ARM architecture is very large, the former is based on the CISC instruction set, while the latter is based on the RISC instruction set, the former pursues higher performance, while the latter focuses on lower power consumption. . It is very difficult to implement program compatibility in these two distinct architectural environments.

Technically, X86-based devices with more powerful instructions that can use more complex instructions can run on other architecture programs by using virtual machine emulation, but this method sacrifices some of the performance. . For ARM devices with relatively weak performance and thin instructions, it is obviously not realistic to run X86 programs through virtual machines. In this regard, Intel senior vice president Renee James has said a long time ago: "The next generation of Windows 8 X86 and ARM versions are fundamentally different from each other, Windows that supports X86 will only support Intel, AMD and Other platforms that are compatible with the X86 architecture and maintain compatibility with existing software. As for the ARM version, it is not compatible with existing X86 Windows applications in any way, including virtual machines. In theory, there is only one way to get an X86 program running on an ARM device on a desktop system: recompile the existing X86 program and run it on the ARM chip. But the compilation process A lot of optimization work is involved, and this is a shift from a complex and fast architecture to a slower and simpler architecture, which undoubtedly requires a lot of manpower and material resources. So, Microsoft has not made any statements or promises about whether it will recompile some of the old X86 software to make it compatible with the ARM architecture.

Of course, PC manufacturers can also choose X86 tablets, but its energy consumption ratio is relatively low, and the cost is higher than ARM tablets. From past experience, the higher-priced X86 tablets are not. Accepted by the market, the current flat-panel market is still dominated by ARM devices.

The huge user base on desktop terminals is considered to be Microsoft's biggest competitive advantage. ARM devices are not compatible with traditional PC X86 programs, which means that it is difficult for Win8 to port these user bases to the tablet. Compared with the Android system and iOs, which have been launched for a long time and have their own core advantages, Win8 in the tablet field seems to be a supporting role.

The Metro UI, which emphasizes information interaction and the main touch experience, is one of Win8's main selling points. But on a desktop terminal, such a UI does not make much room. A long time ago, Apple, which has built the best touch experience, has publicly stated that touch screen operation is very unsuitable for desktop terminals. So, we still haven’t seen any of Apple’s touch screens. Desktop and notebook. Desktops are about efficiency and precision, and in this respect, the mouse is clearly superior to the touch screen. In addition, performing a touch operation such as a point or a stroke on a plane perpendicular to the ground requires a larger range of motion, and it is easy to cause fatigue when the time is long. What does Metro mean when you get rid of touch operations? Use the mouse to operate Metro UI? This can only be used as a joke.

In addition to the Metro UI, Win8 is also very "intimate" to provide users with a traditional UI similar to Win7, under the traditional UI, we can use Win8 & mdash like & Windash; — then why Don't use Win7 directly?

In fact, if you leave Metro UI aside, Win8 is the biggest difference compared to Win7. It is nothing more than a new resource manager interface, a new copy-and-paste system, and a new one. Starting the menu, these are a lot of irrelevant small places for many users, and their significance is far less than that of users who have upgraded from WinXP to Win7 (many users skip the Vista that is recognized as a failure). Interface and practical and efficient taskbar. The core function (Metro UI) is not applicable, and other aspects are not much evolution. Coupled with the last upgrade (Win7) but only two years, it is very difficult for users to find a reasonable reason to upgrade their computer to Win8.

It is a supporting role in the field of flat panel, and it is even more difficult in the desktop field. It is difficult for Win8 to obtain optimistic installed capacity in these two fields. In the case that even the most basic installed capacity can not be guaranteed, how can Microsoft create a unified ecosystem across PCs, mobile phones, tablets and TVs? At present, Win8's cross-border road is confusing. .