Windows on ARM officially called Windows RT
Oh, look! Here's some more information about Windows 8. Well, actually, it's news about Windows on ARM, which won't be called Windows 8 anymore.
Microsoft officially unveiled the lineup of SKUs for the next iteration of Windows. Among them are Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise, and Windows RT. Any version of Windows with the '8' after it indicates that it's for x86 systems, while the 'RT' variant is for ARM processors.
Of course, like we knew already, enthusiasts will only be able to purchase an installable copy of Windows 8 from the stores: Windows RT will be pre-installed on new ARM-powered devices with no option to purchase a license and install it on existing ARM hardware.
Microsoft says that all versions "offer a no-compromise experience," but there are a few differences between each version. For starters, Windows 8 Pro will not come with Microsoft's Media Center software – instead, it will be a downloadable addition. The Pro version will also offer virtualization, encryption, domain connectivity, and PC management. All Windows 8 SKUs also lack free Office software, something that RT devices will have from the time you first boot up the device.
I'm sure Microsoft was planning to keep the two versions of Windows separate from the beginning, but the question now is, will Microsoft eventually break 8 (and its successors) away from RT, keeping them technically seperate operating systems?
[Windows Blog]
