Microsoft has been working solely with x86 over the last 20 years for its PC operating systems. Even if Windows Mobile and other special version of Windows support other types of code, Microsoft has made AMD and especially Intel the Godzillas of the retail PC market. The ARM architecture have become all the more interesting and processors that have been mainly found in mobile phones and PDAs are starting to appear in netbooks and alike.
So far ARM has to rely on Linux operating systems, which does offer a price advantage. But lately there have been indications of ARM support with future versions of Windows and perhaps Windows 7 is the first major one.
There is no question that ARM would gain a lot from Windows support since it would open up new markets, big big markets. But there are also explanations as to why Microsoft would seriously consider supporting ARM with Windows.
Netbooks are selling like crazy and is doing so thanks to the low prices. An ARM-based netbook has an even lower base cost and since the ARM architecture is only supported by Linux, Microsoft would be left out from any market shares ARM would claim in the near future.
Windows 7 RC
Microsoft hasn’t commented on the information, and semiconductor giant Intel is hardly thrilled over such a decision, ARM support with Windows 7, since the Atom platform is dominating the netbook market. At the same time it would give NVIDIA new opportunities to screw around with Intel since it has an ARM-based SoC processor with Tegra, which has earlier been shown to run Windows CE on a netbook just fine.
