On: The Economist on Intel versus ARM

[DaveMebs]

The next release of Windows will run on ARM. This is a key point in the article.

[cek → DaveMebs]

DaveMebs: My point is that an ARM archtiecture license is not necessary for Microsoft to port Windows to ARM. There are only 3 or 4 ARM architecture licensees in the world. The architecture license allows the licensee to MODIFY the ARM instruction set/architecture and create their own implementations of the ARM architecture.

Microsoft does not need this simply to port Windows to ARM.

Therefore I think it is an interesting question: Why did Microsoft buy an ARM architecture license?

[jser → DaveMebs]

Unfortunately, Economist fails to mention that Windows was once ported to Alpha, MIPS, and PowerPC -- all RISC processors.

[melling → jser]

These were to run Windows. The tablet is a different well-defined market. I'd run a MIPS desktop but most people won't.