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Microsoft Puts Windows 8 on a Diet to Reduce Cost, Increase Efficiency

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In order for tablets running Windows 8 to be able to compete effectively with slates running mobile operating systems such as iOS and Android, Microsoft is making its Windows OS slimmer. According to Microsoft, Windows 8 will run fine on an Intel Atom processor and as little as 1 GB RAM, and Windows head Steven Sinosky said that the modest hardware requirements of Windows 8 would allow it to run on the now three-year-old Lenovo S10 netbook better than Windows 7 would.

So why the conservative specs? For one, Windows 8 would be the first time that Microsoft is allowing its Windows OS to run outside of the x86 architecture dominated by Intel and AMD. The operating system will also be allowed to run on ARM processors, and NVIDIA is looking to make Windows 8 work on its quad-core Kal-el chip in the future.

Secondly, by reducing the minimum hardware specs required, Microsoft can help its hardware partners lower price. Less RAM and lower CPU requirements would mean a cheaper tablet at the entry level price point, which would help Windows 8 tablet compete against $300-$400 entry-level 10-inch Android slates from Acer and Asus. Considering that 3G and 4G built-in embedded mobile broadband connectivity would add to the price tag–Microsoft gave developers at its Build conference a prototype Samsung tablet with embedded AT&T 3G–the company wants to keep cost as low as possible to help increase consumer adoption.

According to ZDNet, here’s how much RAM is consumed on a fresh build of Windows 8 compared with Windows 7:

Windows 7 Preview Release

  • RAM usage: 540MB
  • 34 processes

Windows 7 SP1

  • RAM usage – 404MB
  • 32 processes

Windows 8 Preview

  • RAM usage – 281MB
  • 29 processes
2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Perry

    09/14/2011 at 11:54 am

    “Windows 8 would be the first time that Microsoft is allowing its Windows OS to run outside of the x86 architecture dominated by Intel and AMD.”

    Of course Windows has run on architectures other than x86!  Just not recently…  Windows NT ran on Itanium, PowerPC, MIPS, IA-32, Alpha, and yes, ARM.

  2. Perry

    09/14/2011 at 11:54 am

    “Windows 8 would be the first time that Microsoft is allowing its Windows OS to run outside of the x86 architecture dominated by Intel and AMD.”

    Of course Windows has run on architectures other than x86!  Just not recently…  Windows NT ran on Itanium, PowerPC, MIPS, IA-32, Alpha, and yes, ARM.

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