Windows RT is doomed to failure

Computer store news: Las Vegas, this is a stage for people to realize their dreams, but also a heartbreaking place. As Microsoft's first operating system focused on tablets, and the first version of Windows tailored for ARM processors, Windows RT is also here to come to the forefront, and CES 2013 should have tested Microsoft. A great occasion for success or failure.

But Microsoft's gambling has not paid off. At the International Consumer Electronics Show (hereinafter referred to as “CES”) held last week, Microsoft and ARM did not attract much attention. In fact, Windows RT has not become a dazzling "star" in this exhibition, but has been completely submerged in the light of other products.

In fact, Windows RT had a good start at the CES conference: When Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Steve Ballmer appeared on the stage as Qualcomm's opening speaker, he showed two One of the Windows RT tablets, one of which is the Samsung ATIV Tab, Ballmer also named Samsung as one of Microsoft's most important hardware partners.

But just three days later, Samsung was interviewed by CNET, a technology information website, saying that ATIV Tab will not be released in the US because of the weak overall demand for Windows RT tablets. Samsung's senior vice president Mike · Mike Abrary also sarcastically said that consumers can't even tell the difference between Windows RT and Windows 8.

Abrari told the CNET website: "The market positioning of Windows RT itself and the relationship with Windows8 are not clear. We have done a lot of testing and research on how to promote Windows RT devices, and found that we want to Let users fully understand the role of Windows RT, we still need to make great efforts. & rdquo;

Thick and thin

It is fair to say that Samsung does not fully represent the PC industry. Although Samsung has also introduced some pretty good Windows hardware products, it is still a small role in the traditional Windows ecosystem, because this Korean company is completely focused on the platform.

But Samsung is not the only original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to evade Windows RT. Before the launch of Windows RT, HP and Toshiba gave up plans to launch Windows RT tablets, and Acer also announced that it will not release Windows RT tablets before the second quarter of this year. Dell XPS 10, ASUS VivoTab and Lenovo Yoga 11 are the only devices that use the Windows RT operating system in addition to Microsoft's own Surface RT.

Although at this CES show, Win8 devices are everywhere, there is no real Windows RT product. Some PC manufacturers even sprinkle salt on their wounds: Lenovo 11A, the follow-up product of Lenovo Yoga 11, abandoned the use of ARM processors and switched to Intel Core processors. Microsoft itself does not seem to value Windows RT. The company secretly displayed Surface Pro with Intel Core i5 processor, but as far as Surface RT and its roadmap, no information was released.

Even though Microsoft is investing $1.5 billion in advertising budgets to explain the similarities and differences between Windows RT and Windows 8 as it claims, this effort is obviously in vain, frank To say, the performance of Windows RT is really flattering. Some people say, "In addition to not supporting desktop applications, Windows RT is no different from Windows 8. Of course, there aren't any good Windows 8 apps in the Windows Store, let alone killer apps.

Although ARM processors supporting Windows RT tablets cannot support older desktop programs, they are generally more energy efficient and less expensive than Intel and AMD X86 processors. Widely used in Android and Apple tablets.

Advantages no longer

In the tablet market, battery performance and competitive pricing are two of the most important concerns for consumers. However, even these two advantages of the ARM processor now face challenges from the X86 processor, especially the Intel Atom Z2760“Clover Trail”.

In fact, Intel's processor for tablet PCs is very energy efficient. In the battery life test of PCWorld website, the Samsung Ativ Smart PC based on Z2760 processor has an amazing 9 hours and 14 hours. Minutes over ARM-based Windows RT tablets, such as the ASUS VivoTab RT and Microsoft's own Surface RT. Therefore, although the Atom Z2760 processor lags far behind the Intel Core series in terms of performance, it has greatly improved compared to the ARM processor.

In terms of cost, the price of Win8
tablets is generally slightly higher than that of Windows RT tablets, but there are also some affordable options, such as Dell Latitude 10 ($499) and Acer The W510 (priced at $549) uses the Intel Z2760 processor, and although they are priced the same as the Windows RT tablet, they offer a more complete Windows 8 experience.

Even Lenovo's entry-level Yoga 11S (recommended retail price of $799) is the same as the price of the Yoga 11 with Windows RT. In other words, the inherent flaws of Windows on the ARM platform are all present on the Windows RT tablet, and the energy and cost advantages that should have existed are rapidly disappearing.

Even hitting

In addition to Samsung, Windows RT has suffered two consecutive attacks from Intel and AMD at the CES show. AMD presented the “Temash” system on chip (SoC) at this year's show. Thanks to the power of the Radeon display chip, Temash is fully compatible with DirectX 11.1.

Compared to Intel's current generation of flat-panel processor products, "Temash" and "Bay Trail" (the follow-up products of Intel's "Clover Trail" have doubled their performance, they will be this year The second half of the year is widely used in tablet products. Industry insiders said that they expect Intel and AMD's next-generation processors to be further weakened by the advent of ARM, although the goal is still a long way to go.

However, even if the Windows RT tablet ecosystem is a stagnant water, it does not mean that it will sink forever. Ironically, in this desperate game of fighting for survival, Windows RT's closest ally is "Windows 8".

The biggest drawback of Windows RT is that it relies too much on Windows 8 applications, and the current value of the Windows Store is almost as good as Windows RT in the desktop space. But if Microsoft can let a large number of users accept Windows 8, then developers will naturally follow, to develop new applications compatible with the dynamic tile interface. In addition to supporting Windows 8 devices with x86 processors, these applications can run on Windows RT tablets.

Pity with the sick

In other words, in the long run, only Windows 8 will be widely used to help Windows RT. If the Windows Store is finally able to fully realize its potential over time, Windows RT will not be so embarrassing in the desktop space compared to today, and it will also succumb to the wish of this ARM-driven operating system. Become an iPad challenger.

At the same time, the passage of time should also bridge the gap between X86 and ARM processors, as Intel and AMD continue to improve the energy efficiency of their own chips, while ARM is also innovating to find more powerful features. The chip design is just like the Cortex-A15 debuted on Nvidia's next-generation quad-core processor Tegra 4.

However, can Windows 8's promotion of the Windows ecosystem continue for a long time until Windows RT finds a winner? Although the industry is full of concerns about Windows 8 penetration and the overall state of the traditional PC industry, the latest data from market research firm Gartner gives us a clearer picture of this.

A long road ahead

Gartner data shows that sales of laptops and desktops in 2012 were close to 353 million units, although compared to the past few years, PC sales in the Christmas shopping season last year Small landslide. Gartner expects the PC market to continue this trend in 2013, but as users become more familiar with the dynamic tile interface, Windows 8 PCs will still ship hundreds of millions of units a year.

The real problem with the $1.5 billion advertising cost is not how much market share Windows 8 can capture, but once AMD and Intel can continue to develop economical, energy-efficient processors, does Microsoft need ARM? Similarly, consumers have no reason to give up Windows 8 with full-featured desktops and choose a flawed Windows RT. In the long run, the lack of backward compatibility has already predicted what ending Windows RT will end up with.