Windows 8 Tablet Conundrum

Windows 8 tablet conundrum is part of the most anticipated updates of a contemporary operating system. This operating system is expected to bring in major changes that are not currently available.

Among them will include drivers that will make it possible for this operating system to be used in mobile devices such as tablets. In 2011, sales of tablets grew dramatically while that of laptops and desktops continued to decline. This is what prompted Microsoft to develop this operating system. Nevertheless, it is not apparent to many people whether the new development will have benefits to consumers or not.

What to Expect From Windows 8 Tablet Conundrum

Windows 8 tablet conundrums has been developed in a way that enables it to run on specific computing processor; and this is the same x86 processor from Intel processors that was used with first IBM computers.

The operating system of these computers was developed by Microsoft. However, there has been expansion of the architecture over the years. Current operating systems have integrated different extensions in the current operating systems.

Processors of these computers have a good performance with the only issue being their efficiencies. On the other hand, tablets are built on the architecture of ARM processor. With this architecture, you can expect high efficiency that is a critical aspect of mobile devices.

Tablet devices in the current market may also not be able to run the existing operating system. Basically, Windows 8 running on ARM is the major development that will challenge tablet devices that are entrenched to primarily run on the iOS or Android operating system.

This project is aimed at ensuring that the system use similar code bases just like the Windows 8. Thus, the experience of tablet version would be similar to that of traditional version.

Although this may sound as an important innovation, it is important to note that similar thing has been done in the past by Apple in 2005. Macintosh computers had IBM processors transitioned to x86 processors.

However, these experienced a challenge when the code of the processors failed to run on different systems. As such, Apple had to look for a way of transitioning people from one type to another without breaking the operating system and the applications. The result of this was to use Rosetta which was a type of emulation software designed to deal with this issue.

Advancement From Previous System

Windows 8 tablet conundrum will not include any type of emulation software between architecture. Its processing power and performance are too high for the x86 which making emulation almost impossible. This implies that Windows tablets based on ARM may not run on the legacy code.

Programs that are written to be used specifically by Windows 8 will be able to run on these platforms. This may sound complicated but it will have different modes of user interface between the architectures.

In addition, this operating system comes with a Metro look. This is a look that was designed for use with mobile phones. It has now been refined so that it can fit in the desktop. Majority of the Microsoft office applications will use a desktop mode in order to retain the feel and look that many people have been accustomed to.

However, the mode will work only for those with Windows 8 version. If you are used to hacking your hardware so that it can run what you want, you will be disappointed with ARM's Windows 8. Drivers of X86 architecture are a bit more universal since chips are complicated.

The designed is licensed to the manufacturers allowing them to make changes which may include graphic engine which can be put in the system of a chip that will be put in the tablet. Thus, the generic installation of Windows 8 tablet conundrum may not be put in old tablets.

See Also...

Return To Top Page

Return From Windows 8 Tablet Conundrum To Custom Build Computers Home Page