Apple Did It … Again (Premium)

Three years ago, I opined that if Windows 10 on ARM worked properly, it would be boring. Well, it still doesn’t work properly. But with the first reviews of the new ARM-based Macs appearing as expected, it’s clear that Apple has pulled off yet another technical feat that has eluded Microsoft for years. And that’s not boring at all, now is it?

As I wrote last week in the wake of Apple’s Mac announcement, Apple was notably vague when describing the performance of its first M1-based Macs. And given our poor experience here on the Windows side of the fence, this was a cause for alarm: Would Apple’s transition to ARM be marred by the same performance and compatibility issues that still dog Windows 10 on ARM today?

Apparently not.

In review after review, the performance of these new Macs is cited as a key improvement when compared to the previous Intel-based versions of the products.

“The M1-powered MacBook Air is a step up from its Intel-powered predecessor,” Business Insider notes. “It offers faster performance for the same price with virtually no compromises even when running apps that are not yet optimized for Apple’s new silicon … the performance gains are most noticeable in photo editing apps and video games.”

“The Rosetta 2 emulation technology automatically installs itself the first time you attempt to install a non-native app,” CNET explains. “The emulated versions worked fine … the emulated version [of Photoshop] felt as robust as the native version on my Core i5 Air.”

“The Mac mini feels wonderfully fast day to day,” the Verge review states. “That said, I’ve noticed the occasional odd hitch: sometimes Spotify takes a noticeable amount of bounces in the dock (up to 10) before it opens after a cold reboot of the system. That’s been pretty rare, and once Intel-optimized apps are open, performance feels indistinguishable from how they run on my fully loaded 16-inch MacBook Pro. I’ve also not run into any glaring app compatibility issues.”

“The M1 and the work Apple has done to make a difficult processor transition seamless is a remarkable success,” the Verge claims in a separate review of the MacBook Pro. “It offers slightly better sustained performance and a little more battery life than the [new] Air.”

You get the idea.

Obviously, we could see issues emerge when actual customers start receiving their new Macs on Friday. And yes, I will at least admit I have some lingering concerns about my industry and its inability to treat Apple critically. But there are literally dozens of reviews available, and I don’t believe any of these people are on the take. It’s pretty clear that Apple has done something remarkable here.

So where does this leave Windows 10 on ARM?

Sadly, it’s in the same sad state it’s always been in. A state in which performance remains terrible, even with the very latest chipsets and after three years of OS updates. A state in which x64 apps still don’t work and will assuredly work horribly whenever that compatibility does arrive. A state in which no x86/x64 drivers of any kind will ever work on this platform. And, most profoundly, a state in which Windows 10 on ARM remains a side project, not just for Microsoft but for Qualcomm, which sells its mobile-focused chipsets in the billions compared to just some number of thousands on the PC.

Put another way, it’s not like Windows 10 on ARM can even benefit from Apple’s successful transition in progress. Apple, unlike Microsoft, is all-in on its ARM platform and is literally moving its entire Mac product line to Apple Silicon. Microsoft won’t do that on Windows because it can’t: Two of its microprocessor partners, Intel and AMD, account for 99 percent of all Windows PCs sold each year, and those PCs all run on the x86-style architecture and not ARM. Neither firm is going to transition to ARM (unless things really go south, that is). Windows is, and will remain, an x86-focused platform.

Given this, the best we can expect is that Windows 10 on ARM will continue to slowly improve, assuming Microsoft and Qualcomm stay at it after years of failures. (Remember when the software giant claimed that Qualcomm would only be the first of multiple WOA chipset suppliers?)

And as for the more mainstream Intel/AMD Windows 10 variants, we are at least starting to see some movement on more mobile-friendly, efficient chipsets. I don’t think this platform will ever truly compete with ARM head-to-head, but it should be good enough for traditional Windows PCs.

Anyway, we should applaud Apple for this success despite any reservations or disappointments we have with Windows 10 on ARM. These kinds of platform transitions are hard. The ease at which Apple seemingly makes them is breathtaking to watch.