Microsoft: Windows RT Not Going Anywhere

Recently, an analyst for prominent research firm IDC indicated that Microsoft's decision to introduce two operating systems at the same time -- Windows 8 and Windows RT -- had "resulted in confusion on the consumer side."

That led some insiders to suggest it was time for Microsoft to dump the feature-poor Windows RT and focus exclusively on pushing Windows 8.

However, Microsoft has come out to say definitively that Windows RT is here to stay.

ARM Development Keeps Microsoft Optimistic

In a recent interview, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Windows Planning, Hardware, and PC Ecosystems, Michael Angiulo, said Windows RT still has a lot going for it.

The reason to be optimistic: the development of ARM chips, which go hand-in-hand with the Windows RT platform.

"If you look forward a year or two and you look at the performance output of ARM chips, those are some really capable chips," Angiulo said. "I think [ARM] has a very bright future." (Source: cnet.com)

Angiulo also defended the way Windows RT keeps all programs downloaded via Microsoft Store carefully stowed away in the cloud.

"Let's say you drop that PC in a pool. Well, you get a new one and then you just redownload [the apps]. That's the kind of model people are used to with a phone or tablet today. I can maintain all the apps in the [Microsoft] store and reset with a single switch," Angiulo said.

Microsoft Exec Deflects Questions About Legacy Apps

Angiulo took a moment to remind consumers that ARM-based devices like Microsoft's own Surface RT have longer battery lives.

Not only is that convenient, but it also means that these are the devices that will receive mobile broadband support in the form of 3G and 4G connections.

However, Angiulo refused to get into a long discussion about Windows RT's inability to run full-fledged legacy desktop applications.

"People are talking about legacy desktop software not running ... they don't think about the customer benefit of only running modern apps," Angiulo said. (Source: bgr.com)