Microsoft already has friends with whom to build Windows 10 laptops with ARM hardware and LTE connectivity: ASUS, HP and Lenovo
Although it became official late last year, ARM and Windows 10 will work together will not be something really interesting until we can buy and evaluate, as there are many questions about the actual performance that can have the hardware. We want to know what can be done with a computer with a Snapdragon inside.
To reach that interesting point we will have to wait at the end of the year, when Microsoft says it will have the system running on laptops, which is the ideal place to start operations in the ARM world. So that the wait did not become infinite, in the past BUILD were teaching us things, on video.
What we saw is that today is possible, Windows 10 runs on ARM hardware, while confirming that existing x86 applications will work in this configuration. But that was a prototype team, nothing that can be considered a final product, without marks and logos.
ARM debuts on notebooks
This is not going to change with our news today, but we can advance that to this “ARM computers with Windows 10” many important people are pointed out: it has been reported in Computex 2017 that ASUS, HP and Lenovo will be partners.
As usual, Microsoft is not lacking friends in their new adventures, another thing is that then throw the rest. These partners may not like it, but I think the best option would be for the Redmond people to assemble their own product, a kind of Surface ARM.
What does seem clear is that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 will be the brain of the computers that make these marks. Someone might think that at the end of the year it is time to play with a new Snapdragon, but it seems that the development kits and everything they have advanced are doing with the 835.
We have to point out that Microsoft is the one who wants to have something tangible ready by the end of the year, but this does not mean that ASUS, HP or Lenovo have their products prepared. Realistically, someone is sure to leave next year.
LTE devices
This is something of Qualcomm and priority for Microsoft. Taking advantage of the facilities of the Snapdragon platform, the computers will use Qualcomm’s X16 modem, which offers gigabit LTE connectivity.
Not everything is ARM, according to the people of Verge, Microsoft is especially interested in that portable computers with Windows 10 have the best wireless connectivity. We do not know how it will fit all this to Intel, let’s hope it is well put into the matter.
Microsoft works side-by-side on LTE support with AT & T, T-Mobile, Vodafone, EE, Three, and BT operators. And with manufacturers HP, Asus, VAIO, Dell, Xiaomi, Lenovo, and Huawei.
