Reviews - Microsoft Surface 3 to be its first 'non-Pro' tablet with Intel inside

[HEXUS]

Running full Windows 8.1 thanks to its Intel Atom or Core M processor configuration.

Read more.

[crossy]

Can someone explain to me why* Windows 10 will run on a Raspberry Pi 2 (ARM powered, limited memory and storage), but WindowsRT devices (ARM powered, limited memory and storage) are excluded from the party?

(* apart from sheer bloody-mindedness)

Just seems like a missed opportunity to bring the WindowsRT-toting tablets into the Windows10 fold and silence (to an extent) all those critics who said that Windows doesn't run on anything else than Intel. Worst still because folks I know who've got RT devices (Surface's and Nokia 1520's) seem pretty happy with them, but are less so if their "precious" is going to be downgraded to "paperweight".

[Dooms]

Can someone explain to me why* Windows 10 will run on a Raspberry Pi 2 (ARM powered, limited memory and storage), but WindowsRT devices (ARM powered, limited memory and storage) are excluded from the party?

(* apart from sheer bloody-mindedness)

Just seems like a missed opportunity to bring the WindowsRT-toting tablets into the Windows10 fold and silence (to an extent) all those critics who said that Windows doesn't run on anything else than Intel. Worst still because folks I know who've got RT devices (Surface's and Nokia 1520's) seem pretty happy with them, but are less so if their "precious" is going to be downgraded to "paperweight".

I was under the impression that "Windows 10" on PI was basically going to be a GUI-less powershell thing

[edzieba]

Can someone explain to me why* Windows 10 will run on a Raspberry Pi 2 (ARM powered, limited memory and storage), but WindowsRT devices (ARM powered, limited memory and storage) are excluded from the party?

Windows 10 EMBEDDED, runs in the Pi 2, not full desktop Windows 10.

[CK_1985]

So I guess the real question is how is this going to be differentiated from the Pro version?

Obviously lower powered processors, I'm guessing a RAM trim and smaller/slower storage options... Trouble is, most people probably wouldn't notice those differences day-to-day, so the worry would be that in order to avoid cannibalising Pro sales, they might do something drastic to hamstring the non-Pro version. Hope not though!

[LSG501]

So I guess the real question is how is this going to be differentiated from the Pro version?

Assuming core-m... I'd go 10inch 1080p 16:9 display like surface 2 (although 1440p 3:2 might be a differentiator over oem's), stylus, 4GB ram and max of say 128GB ssd... all in a slightly smaller/thinner surface 2 chassis

10inch would allow inclusion of 'freemium' office without offending oems, stylus because that's a selling point for windows devices and the rest wouldn't cut into the 'pro' specs of the surface pro

[DanceswithUnix]

Assuming core-m...

Ideally they would use Core-M on the pro version, and Carrizo-L on the non-Pro. That should mirror quite well the split of usage between powerpoint presentations and Angry Flappy Candy Farm or whatever the latest tablet game is. I presume AMD won't be able to compete with Atoms being given away though.

[LSG501]

Ideally they would use Core-M on the pro version, and Carrizo-L on the non-Pro. That should mirror quite well the split of usage between powerpoint presentations and Angry Flappy Candy Farm or whatever the latest tablet game is. I presume AMD won't be able to compete with Atoms being given away though.

core-m is considerably slower performing than haswell/broadwell i3/i5/i7 in most respects, it isn't 'pro' performance (broadwell with iris would be perfect in my opinion - hint hint ms). I can understand the idea of using an amd cpu/gpu but it won't happen, intel will win on 'price' not to mention simplifying drivers etc for MS.

[gagaga]

So I guess the real question is how is this going to be differentiated from the Pro version?

Assuming core-m... I'd go 10inch 1080p 16:9 display like surface 2 (although 1440p 3:2 might be a differentiator over oem's), stylus, 4GB ram and max of say 128GB ssd... all in a slightly smaller/thinner surface 2 chassis

10inch would allow inclusion of 'freemium' office without offending oems, stylus because that's a selling point for windows devices and the rest wouldn't cut into the 'pro' specs of the surface pro

Plus they keep rolling out remote management stuff to the pro that they don't need to bundle with this.

3:2 around 8-9" 1080p with a clip on keyboard, Core M and about 128GB would be bloody marvellous.

[LSG501]

Plus they keep rolling out remote management stuff to the pro that they don't need to bundle with this.

3:2 around 8-9" 1080p with a clip on keyboard, Core M and about 128GB would be bloody marvellous.

and a stylus... got to have a stylus

[crossy]

I was under the impression that "Windows 10" on PI was basically going to be a GUI-less powershell thing

Windows 10 EMBEDDED, runs in the Pi 2, not full desktop Windows 10.

I thought Microsoft were really scornful of systems that ran without GUI's, at least those destined for end-user (even hobbyist) use. Thanks for the replies though.

[DanceswithUnix]

I thought Microsoft were really scornful of systems that ran without GUI's, at least those destined for end-user (even hobbyist) use. Thanks for the replies though.

It is using the Internet of Things build of Windows: http://dev.windows.com/en-us/feature...errypi2support

So in that context you don't expect IoT devices to have a GUI, but that does seem to be selling the platform woefully short of what it is capable of.

My Pi2 has a PiGlow LED board plugged in the top, and a script running that checks one of the kid's Minecraft servers every second and lights as many LEDs as there are people logged into the server. I guess that is a Thing that is on the Internet and makes me their target audience. The cool part for me was that I developed the script sat in front of the Pi, using the browser on the Pi to find out how to do Minecraft server status requests (use a Python module from DinnerBone apparently), and an editor on the Pi to mess with the script between test runs.

In fact when we had a power cut recently, I went straight to the Pi2 when power came back as it allowed me to check the home Internet connection, server etc had come back up OK without having to power up a full blown PC.

The point here is that the machine is *so* capable of being used locally, I think Microsoft will be crazy not to enable some sort of desktop.