Re: Windows-on-ARM Laptop Is A “Frequently-Returned Item” On Amazon

On Sat, 3/22/2025 5:55 PM, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:

It’s clear Windows users have no clue about this Windows-on-ARM thing
that Microsoft keeps trying to push. They just expect their software
to work. But ARM-based Windows machines still require too many
workarounds and suffer too many limitations, and the users are having
great difficulty seeing the point to them.
 
<https://www.tomshardware.com/laptops/snapdragon-x-powered-surface-laptop-7-gets-frequently-returned-item-warning-on-amazon>
 

Microsoft does have a translater, to run Win32 code on ARM.
That's what is on the Snapdragon device.

   "What is Prism?

    Prism is Microsoft's emulation technology that enables x86/x64
    applications to run on Windows PCs with Arm processors, such
    as Surface Pro 11th Edition, Snapdragon processor;
    Surface Pro 9 with 5G, Surface Pro X, and Surface Laptop 7th Edition,
    Snapdragon processor. It seamlessly translates app code to run on
    ARM architecture, optimizing performance, and reducing CPU usage
    to ensure a smooth user experience on devices powered by
    Snapdragon X series chips."

Google is playing up right now, but I gather that isn't working
all that well. Some installers can "detect" they're running on the
wrong platform.

One person using one of those products, experienced good performance
at first (right after the OOBE), but as soon as some updates came
in, the emulator performance cratered.

Summary: "Safer to test the emulator on a Raspberry PI than spend $3K and return it"

   Paul