Windows 8 In Depth

Windows RT Versus Windows 8

At the time this was written, Microsoft has developed two tablet computers of its own, called Microsoft Surface. The Pro version has an Intel processor that executes the same instruction set that’s used on desktop PCs. It runs Windows 8 Pro in its entirety.

The entry-level tablet uses an ARM microprocessor embedded in an NVIDIA system-on-a-chip combination CPU/graphics processor. ARM processors are notable for low power consumption but a high performance/power ratio. The ARM-based tablet runs some core components of Windows 8—but not the whole enchilada—recompiled for the ARM instruction set. This version of the operating system is named Windows RT to distinguish it from Windows 8. Windows RT can run Windows 8–style ...