In many ways, the decision comes down to need. A Windows RT device—like a tablet—will generally provide better battery life than an equivalent Intel-compatible device and come in a thinner and lighter form factor. Both can be turned into “full PCs” using a docking station and attached keyboard, mouse, screen, and other peripherals. Both can run virtually all Metro-style apps, but only the Intel-compatible machine will be capable of running legacy software designed for Windows.
Perhaps the best way to decide from a form factor/architecture perspective is to ask yourself a few simple questions, the first few of which will be aimed at seeing whether you can remove ARM/Windows RT from the equation.
Are you upgrading from Windows 7?
If yes, then you simply cannot choose Windows RT. You’ll need to upgrade to either Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro (depending on which version of Windows 7 you’re currently using.)
Do you need compatibility with legacy, desktop-based third-party applications like Photoshop?
If yes, then you simply cannot choose Windows RT. You’ll need to choose from the many Intel-compatible Windows 8 PCs and devices.
Do you need to sign in to an Active Directory–based domain for work purposes?
If yes, then you simply cannot choose Windows RT. You’ll need to choose from the many Intel-compatible Windows 8 PCs.
Do you need Windows Media Center, perhaps for a living room–based DVR (digital video recorder) solution?
If yes, then you simply cannot choose Windows RT. You’ll need to choose from the many Intel-compatible Windows 8 PCs. In fact, you’ll need to use Windows 8 Pro.
Those are the four biggest Windows RT blockers. If you are still a candidate for a Windows RT-based device, your choice is now a heck of a lot less clear, unfortunately. And that’s because it’s just really hard to know whether to choose Intel (Windows 8) or ARM (Windows RT).
Consider this quandary. You’ve decided on a Windows RT tablet because it’s super thin and light and it runs for days on a charge. (We’re fantasizing here; stick with us.) So you make the purchase, discover a bunch of fun and useful Metro-style apps and go happily on your way. You are able to connect it to a docking station and take advantage of the large, widescreen display, external keyboard, and mouse you keep in your home office. All is well.
But then you receive an attachment for work that includes a file type that’s not supported by any Metro- style app, perhaps an Adobe Photoshop file or WordPerfect document. If this were a traditional Windows 8 PC, you’d be able to install software to open this file. But on Windows RT, you’re kind of stuck until a Metro-style alternative appears.
There are a hundred scenarios like this where the lack of real Windows compatibility can hurt: browser alternatives, browser add-ins, games, and more.
As a rule, the decision will often come down to the very general difference between the Metro-style environment that will be your primary interface on Windows RT devices and the Windows desktop, which will be far more powerful and usable on Intel-compatible PCs (and will certainly be the primary interface as well, especially on traditional desktop PCs and laptops). And that difference is this: Metro is (largely) for consuming content and the desktop is (largely) for productivity. When you want to browse the web, check Facebook, perform simple e-mail activities, enjoy music or a movie, and perform other consumption-style activities, Metro is the place to be. And if this is all you’re doing with the PC or device, or almost all you’re doing, an ARM-based Windows RT device should be ideal. You need a device, not a PC.
If you need to do anything creative or productive—regularly create word processing documents, edit spreadsheets, or make presentations, and so on—you need a Windows 8-based PC running on an Intel-compatible chipset. You need a PC, not a device.
What’s confusing is that the lines are blurring between the two types of products. That is, there are Intel- compatible tablets, and there are ARM-based laptops. The adoption of the ARM platform gives Windows users a choice. But it also provides a new bit of confusion.
Speaking of which, let’s talk device types.
Picking a PC or Device Type
With a few exceptions, the PC world has consisted of two major device types to date: the venerable desktop PC and the laptop. Sure, there were exceptions, like the poorly-selling Tablet PCs that barely made a blip in the marketplace in the early 2000s, the successful but short-lived and inexpensive netbooks, and so on. But for the past 20 years or more, we’ve pretty much had two choices: desktops and laptops.
With Windows 8, that’s changing. On the desktop side, all-in-one computers modeled on Apple’s successful iMac are becoming more and more popular, and out-selling traditional tower PCs with detached monitors.
But portable computers, overall, are far more successful than any desktops, and with Windows 8 (and RT), an estimated 80 percent of new computers sold will be portable PCs and devices. And in addition to traditional laptops and the thin and light Ultrabooks, we’re seeing interesting new hybrid PCs—laptops where the screen can flip around to turn the device into a tablet—as well as slate-like tablet devices similar to Apple’s iPad.
Here’s a rundown of PC and device types to consider.
For those who prefer or need the ultimate in expandability, PC makers still offer traditional desktop computers, which typically come in some form of tower configuration in which the guts of the computer—or what some erroneously describe as the CPU—are separated from the display, keyboard, mouse, and other external peripherals, including speakers, microphone and web camera, external drives, and more.
The advantage of a desktop computer is manifold, but the primary advantage is expandability: You can install multiple internal hard drives inside the PC’s case, as well as external expansion cards for USB, video capture, and the video card, among others. Desktop computers also tend to have more ports—especially of the USB variety —and can be easily expanded to accommodate more.
Desktop computers will remain the machine of choice for power users of all kinds, as well as those with high-end needs, including graphic designers, CAD designers, hard-core gamers, and others. Some desktop PCs are referred to as workstations, though that name is quickly losing favor. That said, PCs that utilize server-class CPUs can be considered workstations.
A typical desktop PC is shown in Figure 1-4.
Figure 1-4: Traditional desktop PCs are less popular than they were 10 years ago, but they’re not going anywhere.
The vast majority of traditional desktop PCs are Intel-compatible machines, not ARM-based PCs. One exception is ultra-small form factor PCs, which can be found in both configurations.
Thanks to Apple’s iMac, there’s been a resurgence in all-in-one computers, a special form of desktop PC in which almost all of the components—including the CPU and “guts,” the screen, the speakers, the microphone and web camera, and all of the ports—are found in a single, generally slim and attractive form factor. All that’s found separately from the box are the keyboard and mouse, and of course any additional external peripherals.
All-in-one computers, like the one shown in Figure 1-5, are typically very attractive, with a sleek and modern design.
Figure 1-5: All-in-one PCs utilize laptop parts but offer much more on-screen real estate.
While both Intel-compatible and ARM-based all-in-ones are available, most are Intel-compatible
