Ask Paul: February 14 (Premium)

Happy Valentine’s Day, and Happy Friday! Here’s a predictably Windows 10X-heavy installment of Ask Paul to wrap up the week.
Windows 10X vs. Windows 10
Dan1986ist asks:

Could we see the changes in Windows 10X come to other versions of Windows 10, if they don't already exist in those versions in some form?

I feel like this can only go one of two ways: Windows 10X matures and replaces Windows 10 over time, or Windows 10 adopts Windows 10X’s container architecture and user interface, perhaps both as options, and the two continue forward together.

(I hesitate to contemplate the third option, where Windows 10X and/or that container architecture simply fail and we’re left with Windows 10 as-is.)

There’s a lot we don’t know, of course, so speculation is going to be fast and fluid for now. For example, Microsoft showed off a new Intel chipset family with ARM-like cores (two large, two small). Are is that chipset required for Windows 10X or optional? Will it be used for “normal” PCs running Windows 10?

We’ll see. For now, all I can do is repeat the broad strokes of my initial impression, which is that Microsoft intends for Windows 10X to eventually replace Windows 10, just as NT once replaced DOS/Windows. There’s a lot that needs to be happen first. And a lot we don’t know that needs to be communicated. But I feel better about this now than I did last year. It seems like a solid approach to modernizing Windows. Again, given what we know so far.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
wolters asks:

So Paul...are you "Thinking About The Galaxy S20 Ultra?" And are you cautiously optimistic about the camera as I am? I always end up being disappointed with their cameras (Even if the Note 10+ was ALMOST awesome.) I'm worried all of their specs may not live up to the hype.

Yes. And I’m paying attention to what early hands-on reports say about the camera quality. A couple of points…

As you probably know, camera quality is pretty much Job One for me on a phone, so if this thing is materially better than what I already have, I’ll make the switch. That’s a high bar, but it’s certainly possible. There’s a lot to like about Samsung’s phones in general.

And Samsung does offer more than reasonable trade-in value for its previous-generation phones. I probably spent about $1000 on the Note 10+, and they will offer me $700 on trade. So that makes the starting price a lot more palatable.

Google Fi is an issue. But I’ve been considering a switch to Mint Mobile, and just using Google Fi on international trips. It wouldn’t be as convenient. But I’d save hundreds of dollars each year, and it would make it easier to use different phones.
Apple + Panos
Finley asks:

Harping back on now old news which the Panos/Apple rumours. But it would be interesting if it was Apple who approached Panos. Maybe to discuss leading their hardware team as Apple trys to merge macOS/iOS. Maybe to take the iPad Pro line to another...

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