Microsoft publishes then removes document detailing “necessary limitations” for Windows 10 on ARM

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Published onFebruary 19, 2018

published onFebruary 19, 2018

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Back in December, thefirst Windows 10 on ARM laptops from Asus and HPwere revealed during Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Technology summit, and both machines are expected to be released later this year. Together, Qualcomm, Microsoft and PC OEMs will try to shake the PC market with “Always Connected PCs,” which are ultrathin machines with instant-on capabilities, integrated LTE and great battery life.

For the first time ever, we’ll soon see full Windows 10 running on an ARM processor (the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835), and Windows 10 on ARM seems to be exactly what Windows RT should have been back in 2012. Microsoft previously explained that Windows 10 on ARM shouldsupport legacy Win32 apps through emulation, but the OS will still have some limitations compared to the same Windows 10 running on an x86 processor.

Last week, Microsoft published a document detailing the limitations of Windows 10 on ARM (viaThurrott.com). The information has since been removed from the Windows Dev Center website, but here are the highlights:

Some of these limitations will probably be a dealbreaker for power users, and Microsoft and its partners will have a lot of work to do to educate consumers about the differences with x86 PCs. Yes, Windows 10 on ARM should pretty much work like “full” Windows 10, but it’s almost guaranteed that some early-adopters will complain about peripherals and apps that don’t work properly. The performance of emulated Win32 apps also remains a big question, and we won’t really have the answer until Asus and HP ship their first Windows 10 on ARM PCs later this year.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

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Radu Tyrsina

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Microsoft publishes then removes document detailing “necessary limitations” for Windows 10 on ARM