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Microsoft Cancels x64 Emulation on Windows 10 on Arm to Boost Windows 11

posted by chromas on Friday November 19 2021, @08:02PM   Printer-friendly
from the the-last-windii dept.

takyon writes:

Microsoft is no longer bringing x64 emulation to Windows 10 on ARM

Last December, Microsoft announced that it would bring x64 emulation to Windows 10 on ARM, a feature missing from the fledgling OS. Windows 10 on ARM already supported x86 emulation but making sure you have a 32-bit installer is not ideal. Initially, Microsoft brought x64 emulation to the Windows Insider Program, although you need a preview version of the Qualcomm Adreno graphics driver for some ARM machines that supported Windows 10 ARM.

Since then, Microsoft has released Windows 11, including an ARM version. For some reason, the company has now decided to quietly drop any intentions of integrating x64 emulation within Windows 10 on ARM. Inexplicably, it only confirmed this change in a Windows Blogs post where most people would miss it.

Windows Insider blog. Also at The Verge.

Previously: Microsoft Document Details Windows 10 on ARM Limitations

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by SomeGuy on Friday November 19 2021, @10:41PM (3 children)

    by SomeGuy (5632) on Friday November 19 2021, @10:41PM (#1197914)

    Yep, a 64-bit RISC platform that ran a port of Windows NT 4 and almost got Windows 2000 before Microsoft pulled the plug. Mainly because it simply "was not x86", and even with a translation program (FX32), it just didn't do what Windows users wanted - run common Windows software.

    I'm still a bit surprised that they even bothered with a generalized ARM port. They have had "mobile" versions, but those were never expected to run anything other than pre-installed toy software.

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  • (Score: 2) by Immerman on Saturday November 20 2021, @01:46AM (2 children)

    by Immerman (3985) on Saturday November 20 2021, @01:46AM (#1197958)

    And those "mobile" versions did horribly in the market as soon as word got around they couldn't actually run "real" Windows software.

    I'm not at all surprised at a "real" ARM version though. ARM is fast catching up with x64 in raw performance, and is already the clear winner in performance-per-watt, which is hugely important for servers and laptops.

    Basically, the writing is on the wall: Unlike Alpha, ARM doesn't NEED Microsoft or "real" computers to thrive - it was born in, enabled, and completely dominated the mobile devices niche. But it's growing up and beginning to compete head-to-head with desktop CPUs. Microsoft can either get on board, or surrender the market to Linux. And given the fact that servers and laptops are now the bulk of the market for "real" computers... that probably wouldn't end well for Microsoft.