
The graphics performance is twice that of the eighth-generation Intel Core processor from two years ago or of last year's Qualcomm 850 smartphone chip, Qualcomm said. Now read more on Microsoft’s announcements from today’s launch.The companies didn't share many performance specifics, though. There was no big moment of change today, just an affirmation that the Pro X paired with Windows 11 will be one of the key products from Redmond in 2022. The Surface Pro X remains one of Microsoft’s cutting edge devices designed to showcase hardware and software. Windows 11 has considered touch from its inception and that changes the experience on the Surface Pro 2 in 1s immensely. Windows 10 is a touch-enabled environment, but even with Tablet Mode touch is a layer on top of a design targeted at keyboard and mouse. Windows 11 also focuses on the tablet experience, and creating a better and more comfortable environment around touch. Now the ARM version of Photoshop is directly mentioned, and of course the 圆4 version will also be available. To take one example, there’s no doubting the totemic power of Photoshop, which many reviewers noted would not run on the original Pro X (being 圆4) and lacking an ARM version. And as more machines run Windows on ARM, the larger audience will make developing ARM64 apps more attractive for developers. This unlocks the Windows back catalogue and will significantly increase the potential of the machine.

Windows 11 finally brings support for 圆4 emulation, alongside the existing x86 and native ARM64. Many apps have been ported to ARM to run natively and those that do show the power of Windows on ARM - Microsoft’s own Edge browser being a cornerstone of the machine. Support for the 32-bitx86 applications was available through emulation, but 64-bit 圆4 applications would not run, presenting little more than an error message. Windows 10 on ARM naturally changed the architecture and that stopped x86 and 圆4 apps running natively on the hardware. This stands in star contrast to Apple, who have ruthlessly forced developers to stay up to date with the latest version of macOS and iOS by depreciating functions and support, reducing the scope of the Rosetta 2 emulation for macOS’ move to ARM.

Because of this, offering backwards compatibility is a ‘big thing’ for the company and each iteration of Windows. Microsoft continues to support legacy software, in some cases going back decades.

Since the launch of the Surface Pro X in 2019, the Achilles Heel has always been the software.
