Windows 10 on ARM (Always Connected PC) was arguably Microsoft’s biggest announcement last year, at least on the Windows front. Announced last year, it brings Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors to Windows laptops. It is a hardware movement that Microsoft hopes will eventually transform mobile, bringing full Windows operability to handsets. In the meantime, Windows 10 on ARM allows laptops to have benefits like excellent battery life. Additionally, the platform allows emulation of Win32 programs. Essentially, Microsoft says ARM devices will perform just as regular Windows laptops. Dell has typically been on board as a first adopter of Microsoft’s new products. However, this time the company is willing to take a backseat on Always Connected PC. Speaking to WindowsArea, company officials said they want to see how the market plays out before investing in another new Windows version.
Cautious Approach
Like many other companies, including Microsoft, Dell has been burned by failed Windows releases. Windows RT, Windows Phone, and to a lesser extent Windows 8 were all backed by Dell and all failed. Interestingly, the US-based PC maker has raised a question mark on Microsoft’s promise for Always Connected PC. However, could the company’s reluctance be more to do with its current corporate situation? We reported last month Dell is considering a sale to VMWare in what would be a huge reverse merger. With that sale still a possibility, maybe the company is not eager to enter a new hardware market.
