Microsoft’s latest win in Windows 10 comes from an unlikely source … Apple

With the launch of the M1 processor and the inclusion of ARM-based silicon in the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, Apple has accomplished more than setting up the Mac for new germination. He has helped Microsoft join him. Surface Pro X saw its processor updated this year, and Windows 10 on ARM can expect to get a significant boost from Apple’s decisions.

First of all, and perhaps the biggest influence on the Pro X’s reputation, is the lack of not only great apps, but the key apps used by many.

Many of the Surface Pro X reviews included a list of apps that the reviewer deemed key that would not run natively on Microsoft’s ARM platform or would only run under emulation with the associated impact on performance and battery life. . And yes, I’m looking at everyone who wanted Photoshop.

Although Adobe was on stage at the Pro X launch in 2019, it took until November 2020 for any of the creative cloud apps to debut as native ARM apps. Many will have noticed that Photoshop appeared in beta for both macOS and Windows 10 ARM platforms just days after the first ARM-based MacBooks were released.

Compared to the rest of Windows 10, the footprint of ARM devices like Surface Pro X is small. Compare that to Apple’s ‘all-inclusive’ move, which will make every new Mac run on the ARM-based family marketed as ‘Apple Silicon’. Working with the first could be seen as an exciting project, working with the second is a must.

And that significant push from Apple, like a domino line, will also be compatible with Windows 10 on ARM.

I’m intrigued to see what Google’s next move will be. Since many of your services depend on Chrome, it is in your best interest to have Chrome available for as many platforms as possible. At this time there are no native ARM builds for macOS or Windows 10… ish.

The basic components of the Chrome browser are available for ARM. Microsoft’s own Edge browser is based on Chromium, the open source software project sponsored by Google. The Chromium browser project also has regular ARM builds that allow you to install the Chromium browser directly (contrary to popular belief, you can install ARM applications from outside the Windows Store).

Chrome for Apple Silicon appeared briefly last week before being retired due to technical issues. Will definitely return. I doubt Google wants to leave Windows 10 on ARM without its own browser while meeting Apple’s ARM ambitions.

It is much harder to ignore two main platforms running on ARM than a smaller subset of one platform. With Apple in the room, Microsoft will get a lot more attention.

And then there is the hardware itself. Consumers may not dedicate themselves to detailed benchmarking or chip specification, but they understand that a laptop will have longer battery life, will be lighter, and will run “faster.” Apple has certainly gotten that message with the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro machines. Leaving Microsoft’s Surface family aside for the moment (even though it may offer an additional two to three hours over the Intel-based Surface Pros) Companies like Dell, Lenovo, and HP are going to be watching the reaction to the new Macs.

While they won’t be able to commit to changing all products the way Apple has, they can certainly introduce ARM variants, or potentially a new line of ARM machines that will deliver the same benefits as Intel machines. Which will create a virtuous circle of more ARM machines.

Microsoft led the way last year in its quiet way. Now Apple, with all its pomp and circumstance behind the new machines, has not only legitimized Mcirosoft’s decision, but created a friendly rivalry that should propel the two ARM platforms forward to reach new highs. After all, these are only the first iterations of the two companies.

Now read more about the killer software released for the Surface Pro X this week …