What is the difference between Windows RT and Windows 8?

Windows 8 will be officially launched on October 26, and Microsoft's own brand tablet Surface will also be available for sale. It includes two versions, Windows RT version and Windows 8 Pro version, of which Windows 8 Pro version will wait another three months or so to go public. The Windows RT version of the Surface tablet has also been pre-sold and will be available for simultaneous release on Windows 8. Ask a question, do you know the difference between Windows 8 and Windows RT system? Do you know the difference between the RT version of Surface and the Pro version of Surface?

It’s not surprising that you can’t say it. According to The Verge, according to the online customer service and Microsoft retail store customer service staff, they found that most Microsoft customer service personnel are not aware of the basic differences between Windows 8 and Windows RT, many people think the two are similar, not knowing Windows RT Unable to run desktop software developed for Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7.

Windows RT is a new member of the Windows family and can also be called Windows on ARM or WOA. This version is not retail and is only pre-installed on PCs and tablets with ARM processors. Windows RT is not compatible with x86 software, with built-in desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote optimized for touch operations.

Windows RT can bring longer battery life to the device, which is its advantage, but it also has the disadvantage that it cannot run existing Windows programs. In other words, if you purchased the Windows RT version of Surface, you can only re-purchase the software from the Windows Store app store.

Although Microsoft compared the difference between Windows RT version Surface and Windows 8 Pro version Surface, but did not focus on their differences in software compatibility, except that the RT version runs the ARM processor, while the Pro version uses Intel. Core i5 processor, I am afraid that only a small number of people saw the phrase in the RT version of the Surface specification description "Only download and install the application in the Windows Store app store".

If Microsoft's customer service staff is not clear about the difference between Windows 8 and Windows RT, how can they help consumers when they buy Windows 8 and Surface? Microsoft also recognized this problem and publicly stated that it is training employees how to help consumers choose Surface or Windows 8 PC. Prior to the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft retail store employees received an average of 15 hours of training per day.