Qualcomm is preparing to expand the Snapdragon 835 processor into the mobile PC market by the end of the year. These new ARM based laptops and tablets will be known under the cellular PC moniker, and will take design cues from smartphones.
This won’t be the first time that Microsoft has explored the idea of putting Windows on an ARM powered device. However, Windows RT did not exactly receive a warm welcome; and was practically doomed from the very start.
Microsoft is expected to have learnt its lesson by now. The company has been working closely with Qualcomm for Windows 10 Mobile (as the OS will only run on an ARM device). Qualcomm itself has promised that all x86 applications will be able to run on the ARM powered device. Microsoft is said to have shown a prototype running Photoshop during a recent Qualcomm earnings call.
It is very likely that Microsoft will be emulating the functions necessary to run these applications; which could pose some problems. Emulation is not perfect and could end up slowing down more demanding processes.
That said, a Snapdragon 835 powered cellular PC is not expected to be a powerhouse. The mobile processor will likely be aimed at the productivity and lifestyle markets; seeing that it will at least be able to accomplish the basic functions of a laptop.
No manufacturers have been named thus far, but it is said that both Dell and HP have expressed interest in the idea. Qualcomm, for the most part, has said that it is looking to test the market before making any big decisions.
[Source: CIO]
