Microsoft's Windows-on-ARM approach for private users damages the reputation of the Surface devices

[Redaktion]

The new Intel version of the Surface Pro convertible is not really interesting for private users due to the high price, but this problem is artificially created by Microsoft. This will damage the reputation of its own products and the company will eventually lose customers.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Microsoft-s-Windows-on-ARM-approach-for-private-users-damages-the-reputation-of-the-Surface-devices.1001974.0.html

[GeorgeS]

Interesting editorial on MS and their surface line. :)

IMHO: Most all the "surface" devices have historically been overpriced for what you get, it is Microsoft trying the 'Apple' pricing on their own devices.

As far as pricing on ARM vs x86 versions are concerned, MS can't undercut the ARM version with x86 models AND since other OEM's are NOT reducing the prices of their ARM offerings to reflect the reduced functionality they are forced to price the x86 versions higher.

Frankly IDK where 'reputation' may or not come in on ANY product or who exactly would even care.

[Papacaprio]

It is Microsoft trying the 'Apple' pricing on their own devices.

Microsoft already lost it due to this. People are getting Mac which is way better than a windows on ARM.

Microsoft and Android they both can't compete with Apple if they only try to compete in price category but not in efficient optimised performance.

[Actionable Dave]

This has to be an Intel puff piece because I have had a snapdragon based windows laptop seven for six months and it's so far has run every single application. I've needed it to run except games. I don't play games with my laptop. I have an Xbox series X and there's no point to play the games on this machine but it's a great machine for work. It's light fast and quiet, With great battery life.

Intel needs to figure out its power situation or it's gonna get swallowed up by ARM.

[The Werewolf]

First.. THANK YOU for not being on the "ARM is the future" bandwagon many tech bloggers seem to be on. ARM and Intel/AMD (why does everyone seem to forget that AMD exists when they're already ahead of Intel in most areas) have different strengths - so the ideas that there should be just one choice is bizarre.

And yes, I completely agree. I do not want an ARM processor based Surface Pro. I have performance requirements for software that will never be ported to ARM. So being forced to pay more for a Surface Pro that in every other way is identical to the Surface Pro 8, or forced to by ARM, is just nuts.

And yes, Microsoft wants to pretend they're Apple where they can tell the customers to do (see Win 11) except they aren't Apple and we have choices. There's nothing wrong with offering an ARM version - but this "ARM for consumers and Intel for businesses" split is totally arbitrary.

My last Surface was a Pro 8. Unless they stop this stupidity, it will indeed be my last Surface. Other hardware OEMs are making better and more innovative tablet/convertibles at lower prices with higher specs.

It feels like Microsoft learned nothing from the Surface Duo debacle.

[The Werewolf]

This has to be an Intel puff piece because I have had a snapdragon based windows laptop seven for six months and it's so far has run every single application. I've needed it to run except games. I don't play games with my laptop. I have an Xbox series X and there's no point to play the games on this machine but it's a great machine for work. It's light fast and quiet, With great battery life.

Intel needs to figure out its power situation or it's gonna get swallowed up by ARM.

You've kind of missed the entire point in your need to justify your preferences.

No one is staying "Microsoft should abandon ARM", they're saying "Microsoft shouldn't abandon X68." Moreover, by essentially abandoning Intel in the consumer market, and making Intel more expensive on the business side, a lot of people WILL abandon the Surface line because they can get equal (or better) quality from other OEMs.

And just because you personally have no problems with an ARM device doesn't really mean much. You're one sample out of 1.2 billion PC users. The reason Microsoft is forced to offer Intel versions for business is because a lot of LOB (line of business) software goes back to the 90s (or even earlier) and will never be updated, let alone ported to ARM, but needs to be very performant or has special drivers.

Finally, "long battery life" for a lot of people really just isn't a big issue. They leave their laptops and tablets plugged or in a dock most of the day. You may have missed this, but most Starbucks actually have seats with outlets so you can keep you laptop plugged in. There's a reason for this.

Most people want long standby times so they can turn on their laptop, even off power and have it work long enough to get the occasional task done where between charging.

You maybe one of the exceptional people who need to be off power 24/7, and that's cool - but that doesn't make this a "must have" feature for everyone.

[Andrew in LA]

Intel puff piece!!!

Our company has deployed many Surface Pro and Surface laptops with ARM processors.

We have had zero issues and the users are loving the great battery life and snappy performance.

This article just wrong on many levels!

[Dan Ridenhour]

As a software developer I'm not your typical user.  I want an ARM device around for compatibility testing but I require intel for my daily carry.  I have a Surface Pro 9, but today I no longer even consider the surface line as a choice to replace it. I have no desire to develop on ARM with Intel tools and introduce one more layer of possible issues in my development workflow and their move to push arm at consumer pricing while increasing the price for their intel products has priced them out of the market for me.  The intel products haven't seen significant redesign or anything to justify the cost since the last regularly priced Intel model so its purely about pushing arm while saying... if you still need intel we will sell it to you but its gonna cost me because we want you to buy arm.

So today when I need Intel I carry my old surface pro 9 and the rest of the time I carry a iPad Pro 13 which has lead to me playing with swift.   So all they have encouraged me to do is consider apple development more often.  I don't think that was their goal.

[Zane B]

I do not agree at all with this article. I own a snap dragon surface laptop 7. I LOVE it. The only people complaining are the people who bought it and don't do their homework. It is the customers job to make sure there is no compatibility issues, like looking up the software to see if it can run properly. ARM64 is NOT NEWm it's been around for YEARS. The programs I use run flawlessly on the new snapdragon. And I don't see Microsoft losing their reputation because they are implementing better processing. Intel has been struggling for years to keep up. They have hadtime to make better processor that don't eat up battery and don't run hot. Intel has failed, and now it seems that snapdragon made them realize it with their new evo series that still runs HOT!

[John Heithaus]

The arm and lunar lake surface products should be the same price. Explain the different products and give your customers options. The fact that people are paying 800 more for the same device just to have x86, shows how crazy the strategy is. The fact that Amazon has to put a warning on their store due to high ARM returns also shows how crazy it is. EXPLAIN + PRICE REASONABLY. The current strategy is internal corporate political insanity at its worst. I can only guess someone in AI wants to kill the MSFT hard product team.....As for the earlier comments extolling ARM. This is besides the point. Even if ARM is a good product, x86 should be priced sanely.

[RobertJasiek]

ARM notebooks have been priced high related to CPU speed. Even if Lunar Lake CPUs have a relatively high price, the price level in the region of ARM notebooks with similar speeds would be reasonable. Everything beyond that is Microsoft's pure greed.