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Comment by WiseWeasel | Hacker News Reader

Windows RT = Windows for the ARM processor, i.e. for the non-Pro version of the Surface tablet. All apps must be compiled specifically for Windows RT, and so legacy x86 software will not run. There is a desktop in Windows RT, just like regular Windows, though there likely won't ever be much non-Metro desktop software for the platform, besides Office, since the platform is geared towards tablets with touch as the primary input.

Re, grandparent post: Windows RT looked very rough in the last public demo, with units crashing on stage. I'd consider it a developer preview platform at this point. The only people to whom I would recommend purchasing a Windows RT device are software developers who want to get their apps ready. For everyone else, I'd wait for the Intel-based Surface Pro three months later, or wait a year for the bugs to be ironed out and software to be available for the platform.

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My point wasn't that I want more info on Windows RT, my point was that I want the tech blogs to show they understand the difference. Read over Ars' recent review/preview and tell me if he was reviewing from the mindset of Windows 8 or Windows RT. He himself seemed confused.

Peter Bright certainly does know what Windows RT is; the guy is known for in-depth technical reviews of all things Microsoft and Windows. The last page of this particular review includes the following:

"the ARM version of Windows, Windows RT, will bundle Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, all of which are desktop applications"

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/07/does-w...

The review was done with the x86 version of Windows 8. I assume a separate Windows RT review will be available once the Surface ships in October.

I usually love Peter's articles, but the thing that stood out to me in this review is his instance on spending a whole page complaining that the desktop buttons were too hard to hit with a touchscreen. This is why I say he doesn't seem to know the difference. Windows 8, especially the desktop, begs for a mouse and keyboard. Windows 8 desktop is essentially Windows 7, which wasn't good with touch either.

By complaining that it's bad for touch, he's asking Microsoft to make it better for touch. They did! It's called Windows RT. Windows RT is the Windows desktop but designed for touch. It's like complaining that Apple doesn't make a phone based off Mac software but designed for a small form factor and with a touch screen. They do! You're just looking for it in the wrong place.

Windows RT is no better or worse for touch than Windows 8, they are identical interface-wise. The only differences are that you can't install new desktop software on Windows RT (but you can use the preinstalled desktop software) and it comes with (desktop) Office bundled/preinstalled.

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