Traditional Windows Desktop to Take Backseat to Windows RT
June 28, 2012 No CommentsSOURCE: PC Magazine
The upcoming launch of Windows RT for ARM-based mobile devices could signal the beginning of the end for the traditional Windows desktop, according to new data from Gartner.
Though most users will continue to run Windows desktop apps for the next 10 years, Microsoft will position Windows RT as the platform for new development, Gartner predicted. “Windows 8 is the start of Microsoft’s effort to respond to market demands and competitors, as it provides a common interface and programming API set from phones to servers. It is also the beginning of the end of Win32 applications on the desktop,” said Michael Silver, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. “Microsoft will continue to support Win32, but it will encourage developers to write more manageable and engaging applications using WinRT.”
Windows 8, which is expected to launch in the fall, will include the traditional Windows desktop but also a new Metro-style interface inspired by Redmond’s Windows Phone design. That Metro style will also be featured on Windows RT-based devices, including the recently unveiled Microsoft Surface tablet.