Dell sceptical about Windows 10 on ARM, sitting out first generation

Last year Microsoft launched their Always Connected PC platform, headlined by a number of devices running Windows 10 on ARM, which offers more than 20 hours of battery life and always-on WLAN internet connectivity.

In a few months, we are expecting devices from HP, Asus and Lenovo, but one tier-one Windows OEM is conspicuously missing from the list.

Dell has not yet expressed support for the platform, and according to an interview with WindowsArea.de, this is because they are rather sceptical about the potential of the platform.

Speaking at the German premiere of the new Dell XPS 13 and Dell XPS 15, representatives of the company told WindowsArea that Dell is taking a wait and see attitude, and will join the push when consumers demonstrate real demand.

They noted that this was not Microsoft’s first attempt to run Windows on ARM, and that Windows RT fizzled out in the end. The failure of Windows Phone was also mentioned.

While, unlike Windows RT, Windows 10 on ARM will offer the ability to run x86 apps, Dell noted that the impact this may have on performance and battery life is still unclear, offering at best the performance of an Intel Core i3-6006U.

Dell was planning instead to release Intel PCs with always-on LTE connectivity and long battery life, and so will be competing with Microsoft’s Always-Connected PC initiative with a more familiar offering.

From the interview, it is clear that Microsoft has lost more than the confidence of Windows fans, with Microsoft’s reputation for cancelling flagging projects set to become a self-fulfilling prophesy as both vendors and users become increasingly reluctant to take a bet on Microsoft’s latest shiny toy.

Do our readers think Dell is right to sit out the first Windows 10 on ARM round? Let us know below.

Via WindowsLatest