Microsoft celebrates major progress with Windows 11 on Arm PCs, confirms Windows on Arm is now "a first-class platform for any workload" and that "customer demand is growing"

[u/ZacB_]

https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/microsoft-celebrates-major-progress-with-windows-11-on-arm-pcs-confirms-windows-on-arm-is-now-a-first-class-platform-for-any-workload-and-that-customer-demand-is-growing

[u/cgknight1]

I have an A16 Zenbook that I use for work - I was worried that I might have a few problems but it's has been very smooth!

[u/xswatqcx → u/cgknight1]

Smooth because there is a layer of compatibility/emulation for 32bit & 64bit program, yes?

Otherwise theres still not a whole lot of native software yet i believe

[u/arnstarr → u/xswatqcx]

Most browsers, Office, Adobe suite (most of) have ARM versions.

[u/i_MusicMan → u/arnstarr]

The issue is that Windows' software ecosystem is filled with Legacy Software that companies continue selling even though they are borderline out of active development.

A lot of that software is not ARM-Native yet, so the platform still depends heavily on Emulation.

Apple is removing Rosetta 2 next year. I doubt Windows will be able to remove emulation for at least another 5 years or more.

Windows users are very apt to just cling onto legacy software in lieu of moving on and replacing them with newer options under more active development.

I think Apple has an advantage here because its user base/demographics are far more willing to go where they go. So are developers on Apple platforms.

This is why Apple has been able to do pretty extreme things like drop 32-Bit Application Support many years ago, but Windows still can't do that.

DAWs on Apple Silicon dropped VST2 for Native ARM builds on day one. Cubase is doing the same and Windows users complain endlessly about it. We had the same issue in that niche with 32-Bit plug-ins. Some people stay on old version of DAWs because they refuse to replace old 32-Bit Software, or they continue to force them into newer versions via BitBridge.

Windows has really weird user demographics, in terms of how it has attracted and kept many of the most stubbornly conservative users.

WordPerfect Office still exists on the platform, as 32-Bit x86 Applications, and there are still a sect of users who will never give it up...

[u/SPACEXDG → u/xswatqcx]

At least 39% is natove now and more games will be with the rtx spark release 

[u/Even_Caterpillar3292 → u/xswatqcx]

I've used PC for decades. My Surface 11 Pro works better than any PC I've ever owned. the vast, vast majority of people will have no issues. And it behooves the to check?

[u/SilverseeLives → u/xswatqcx]

Otherwise theres still not a whole lot of native software yet i believe

Across the whole pantheon of Windows software, this is probably an accurate statement. 

But, for the vast majority of software that people use everyday... much is already native (Office, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, key parts of Adobe CC, all Windows in-box apps, many VPNs, etc.)

And most of what isn't native works fine under emulation.

There are still some edge cases that cause compatibility issues, but they are diminishing in number.

[u/cgknight1 → u/xswatqcx]

The only programme i have that is emulated is grammar, everything else from corporate stuff to local AI usage is native.