Windows 8 ARM tablets to drop the desktop, only have Metro UI?

In an interesting change of strategy, Microsoft will bedumping the desktop version of Windows 8 for installations on ARM tablets. Microsofthad previously said that all versions of Windows 8 would have both the Metroand traditional desktop UIs, allowing them to be “all things to all people”.

In a way this change makes sense. "Legacy" software writtenfor the x86 version of Windows wasn’t going to run on ARM chipsets anywaysunless they were rewritten. Subsequent announcements had provided furtherseparation between ARM tablets and other Windows 8 devices. In September Microsoft announced that only the desktop version of Windows 8 would support Flash, and that Windows 8 tablets wouldn’t even load the desktop environment unless itwas specifically launched by the user, essentially relegating the legacydesktop to nothing more than another app on Windows 8 tablets. They simply won't be supporting the desktop UI "app".

This means that if you were hoping to run Photoshop CS7 or play World of Warcraft on your tablet you will have to shop for an x86 version. On the otherhand, we’ve already seen touch-based versions of Photoshop and otherproductivity software ship, and you can bet that Microsoft will have and OfficeSuite ready to go from day one. This also may make the ARM/Metro UI tablets abetter competitor against the iPad and Android tablets; analysts feel thatMicrosoft will be late enough to the tablet party that they’ll have to reallyhit a home run to start regaining market share.

Does this impact anyone’s decision on a Windows 8 tablet? Doyou prefer to just have Metro on a tablet, or will you be looking for an x86version to run your existing software? Let us know below.

source: ZDNet via The Verge