Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows
Home > Windows > Windows 8 > Microsoft Finally Explains Windows 8 on ARM: Desktop and Office 15 Applications Will Be Included

Microsoft Finally Explains Windows 8 on ARM: Desktop and Office 15 Applications Will Be Included

Feb. 9, 2012 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

win8_arm_01
Finally: Windows 8 on ARM


Over a year after vaguely announcing that it would provide versions of Windows 8 on the ARM platform, Microsoft today provided detailed information about its plans. The post answers lingering questions about Windows 8 on ARM, including whether users will be able to access the legacy Explorer desktop.

 

The only major remaining question, really, is what took so long?

 

"With Windows 8, we have reimagined Windows from the chipset to the experience, and bringing this reimagined Windows to the ARM processor architecture is a significant part of this innovation," Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky writes in what is arguably the most important post yet to the Building Windows 8 Blog. "Expanding the view of the PC to cover a much wider range of form factors and designs than some think of today is an important part of these efforts. Windows on ARM enables creativity in PC design that, in combination with newly architected features of the Windows OS, will bring to customers new, no-compromise PCs."

 

Key points in the post (in Mr. Sinofsky's words)  include:

 

Windows on ARM, or WOA, is a new member of the Windows family, much like Windows Server, Windows Embedded, or Windows Phone.

 

Using WOA “out of the box” will feel just like using Windows 8 on x86/64. You will sign in the same way. You will start and launch apps the same way. You will use the new Windows Store the same way. You will have access to the intrinsic capabilities of Windows, from the new Start screen and Metro style apps and Internet Explorer, to peripherals, and if you wish, the Windows desktop with tools like Windows File Explorer and desktop Internet Explorer. It will have the same fast and fluid experience.

win8_arm_02
Desktop running on Windows 8 ARM

 

WOA PCs are still under development and our collective goal is for PC makers to ship them the same time as PCs designed for Windows 8 on x86/64.

 

Metro style apps in the Windows Store can support both WOA and Windows 8 on x86/64. (We already knew this. --Paul)

 

WOA does not support running, emulating, or porting existing x86/64 desktop apps.  (We already knew this as well. --Paul)

 

Consumers obtain all software, including device drivers, through the Windows Store and Microsoft Update or Windows Update.

 

WOA includes desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote in Office 15. (This is HUGE. --Paul)

 

win8_arm_office15_01
Office 15!!


Around the next milestone release of Windows 8 on x86/64, a limited number of test PCs will be made available to developers and hardware partners in a closed, invitation-only program.

 

The Windows Consumer Preview, the beta of Windows 8 on x86/64, will be available for download by the end of February. This next milestone of Windows 8 will be available in several languages and is open for anyone to download. (We already knew this too, but it's worth repeating. --Paul)

 

There's more, but I think that's the majors news. I'll keep reading....

Discuss this Article 13

jodyfanning
on Feb 9, 2012
So, Office on ARM desktop, but nothing about third-party applications that I saw. Obviously then they haven't dumped Win32/Win64 API either since Office is there. I had thought they might have only WinRT on ARM. That would at least make it possible for third-parties to write ARM desktop apps. But given that the App Store only allows downloading Metro apps that would seem to say that MS won't allow any other desktop apps than Office. I wonder if there will be complaints about that?
JeffinLondon
on Feb 9, 2012
Paul .... my guess is that they didn't really know for sure they could make desktop and Office work on ARM, so they didn't announce until now. Anyone who has tried to port 10 million lines of code from one CPY / instruction set ro another knows how bloody difficult risky it is. If I was MS, I wouldn't have announced this until I was sure it worked.
Waethorn
on Feb 9, 2012
Just FYI: Sinofsky calls it just "Windows on ARM", but differentiates "Windows 8" as being the x86 versions. Is it possible that there will only be one edition for ARM (aside from the different ARM architecture versions)? Is this any indication of what might happen with the x86 version?
amlorusso
on Feb 9, 2012
"WOA includes desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote in Office 15." Does this mean that WOA will this for free, or that they will be available to purchase (via the store) on WOA? I read the relevant parts of original document and although the language as written (at least to me) means you get those for free with WOA, I am reluctant to believe that they are giving that stuff away for free with WOA. "WOA does not support running, emulating, or porting existing x86/64 desktop apps. Code that uses only system or OS services from WinRT can be used within an app and distributed through the Windows Store for both WOA and x86/64. Consumers obtain all software, including device drivers, through the Windows Store and Microsoft Update or Windows Update." Does this mean that not only will Microsoft not support x86 emulation, but will not permit third party tools to do emulation? Although I would agree with Microsoft, if you need x86/64, get x86/64 hardware. At least until you don't, and then think about ARM if its cheaper/better than the x86 alternatives. Which will probably be true at least until Intel comes up with an equal to ARM.
yoshipod (not verified)
on Feb 9, 2012
Since the ARM versions of Office are for the desktop, does this mean there won't be a Metro version for a while then?
gkeramidas
on Feb 9, 2012
The only major remaining question, really, is what took so long? probably took them a few months to compose the post.
guruguru
on Feb 9, 2012
"windows isn't done until lotus won't run". mission acomplished. lotus won't run. ....chrome won't run...firefox won't run....open office won't run....why call it the desktop then. call it the microsoft hub.
JayZeee74
on Feb 9, 2012
I don't know. This seems to me like it is going to be one massive mess. It's a half cocked attempt to react to Apple, fraught with poor communications, poorly thought out road map, and frankly a god awful UI. This may be the straw that broke the camels back. I think more and more enterprises are going to take a serious look at Macs after this mess becomes more widely known. You have to wonder, with all their resources, talented engineers, and smart people, this is the best they can do? Honestly, does this inspire anyone here?
Ron H
on Feb 9, 2012
If Windows on Intel is WIntel, why have WOA and not WARM?
Waethorn
on Feb 9, 2012
@Antonio: Versions of Windows CE and Windows Mobile (and now Windows Phone) all included some form of Office document editing before. Basically what I see here is a piece of computing electronics that is a "consumer solution". If you work in the industry, you know that a "business solution" is an all-encompassing hardware+software combination. Having Office included makes sense. Since desktop apps will probably be rare for WOA, bundling Office just simplifies the purchase experience for consumers, and OEM's also have a platform advantage over a typical PC that will help push the platform. You have to figure that although these will be cheaper than x86 tablets, they will look more expensive than low-end Android tablets, so this is a big value-add. Also, people wondering why Office isn't all Metro forget pretty easily that this next version has to be compatible with older, still-supported Windows versions that don't include WinRT. You know, those Windows versions that luddites say they will never upgrade to Windows 8 from. Yes, just like Windows, this is the "pizza for everyone" Office version too. Pizza can be a serving of vegetables - so long as it has real veggies on it - and meat, and bread, and dairy. It's a mix of all things. Windows 8 and Office 15 is like that thin crust, whole wheat pizza that's full of flavor and light on the afternoon-nap-inducing carbs. Ok, I'm hungry now....
Waethorn
on Feb 9, 2012
@Paul: Something to ask Sinofsky the next time you're talking to him *wink wink*: Why no activity hubs in Windows 8? To date, I don't think anyone has ever brought this point up. It'll be interesting to see if WP8 also dispenses with them.
NevilleBagnall
on Feb 10, 2012
Look closely at those screenshots for whats missing. No title bar, no QuickAccess bar, no minimise/restore/close buttons. If it wasn't for the Taskbar at the bottom (or if the Taskbar was in AutoHide or a new Always Hidden mode) would you be able to distinguish the Office 15 UI from Metro?
gorath
on Feb 10, 2012
@Ron: WARM - haha, love it. You should definitely be put in their marketing team!

Please or Register to post comments.

Related Articles

IT/Dev Connections

Las Vegas
September 30th - October 4th

Paul ThurottYou'll have the opportunity to experience:
• 120 Technical
Sessions
• Networking with Peers
• Expert Speakers


Come See Paul Thurrott & Mary Jo Foley in Person!

Register Now

Office 365 InfoCenter

Get the latest insight and info from Paul

Read Now!

What I Use
Apr. 18, 2013
Article

What I Use: On the Road 21

Every so often, I publish an updated version of my “What I Use” document, which details the technology products and services I actually use day-to-day. Since I’m currently on my third business trip in five weeks, this is perhaps an ideal time to discuss the technology products I rely on when I travel and a few related points....More
Mar. 6, 2013
Article

What I Use: March 2013 33

Lots of changes since November, including a new PC-based home server running Windows 8, several new smart phones, new PCs and tablets, new cloud backup, Office 365 Home Premium and a nice doubling of my Internet speeds courtesy of Verizon FIOS....More
WinSuperSite.com
Related Penton Sites
Copyright © 2013 Penton Media, Inc