Recently, Microsoft revealed its upcoming Windows 8 operating system will be built on the basis of ARM processors, which raised questions whether the Redmond, Washington-based company mulls abandoning ‘traditional’ PCs in favor of new tablet devices. Industry experts speculate that major players in the software industry are planning a crucial shift from larger PCs to smaller and mobile devices like laptops, tablets, and smart phones. The iPad revolutionized the way end-customers use their mobile devices and all future operating systems should have to be optimized for use with mobile gadgets, experts believe.
ARM processors use less power than traditional processors manufactured by AMD and Intel, and most mobile phones take advantage of at least one ARM processor, according to Windows8News. This type of processor is used also in crucial peripherals like hard drives and routers, which forces software makers to take it into consideration when designing applications and, more important, operating systems that run smoothly.
Tablets and smart phones are extremely customizable devices with various applications providing extended functionality for mobile devices for free or at very low cost. Microsoft is known for its policy of never publishing the source code of its applications or parts of the Windows operating system, however, the software giant announced plans to allow developers to create “tailored apps” for Windows 8 to meet the growing demand for custom applications.
It is unclear how Microsoft will monetize this functionality in the soon-to-be-released-maybe Windows 8, but users will experience a very different and, hopefully, better Windows operating system. The main difference will be that applications will be allowed to run in full-screen mode, replacing the Windows screen, creating the feeling of a totally different software environment.
On the other hand, it is hard to believe that Microsoft is to abandon PCs in the near future, as some industry experts predict. Can you imagine Microsoft abandoning huge markets like China or India, for example, to focus only on fast developing but limited North American market for tablets and smart phones. Tablets are still an expensive, and largely not widely used device in most parts of the world outside the United States and Europe, and one should not forget that these parts of the globe together represent a larger part of the entire global computer market.
