Windows 10 ARM teased running unofficially on a Nintendo Switch

DSpider · Mar 4, 2019

x86 programs - which is 99.99% of Windows programs (and games) do not run on ARM. If you were hoping for a browser on Windows 10 ARM, just go with Linux. The Switch is closer to an Nvidia Shield and at least you'll get more driver support that way.

NoNAND · Mar 4, 2019

Finally something that isn't Linux!
looking forward to this one.

Idaho · Mar 4, 2019

Memoir said:
If only it were. That'd be great. Give me one objective reason this will prove useful to any end user.

It has the same potential of being useful as Android or Linux, it just needs proper driver support and for now, none of these ports do, it's a shame, especially for Linux as it'd be my OS of choice if it were usable without hassles (lack of many drivers including audio make it unattractive to me and a lot of other people). Linux is still probably the most advanced but I have more faith in the Android switch port as there is more popular demand on this one than on all the others...

DaveLister · Mar 4, 2019

Would be nice to see one switch on Kali one on win 10 . Script wars, watch as one switch slays the other .

Bladexdsl · Mar 4, 2019

great now you'll be able to get windows malware installed on your switch. better come up with an adblockplus for switch boyz

Minox · Mar 4, 2019

DSpider said:
x86 programs - which is 99.99% of Windows programs (and games) do not run on ARM. If you were hoping for a browser on Windows 10 ARM, just go with Linux. The Switch is closer to an Nvidia Shield and at least you'll get more driver support that way.

I think you're missing something about Windows 10 on ARM. It's specifically built to be native Windows running on an ARM architecture with an x86 emulator layer allowing for normal Windows applications to run as well. Since it's emulation it's not going to be fast, but they do run.

Seriel · Mar 4, 2019

DSpider said:
x86 programs - which is 99.99% of Windows programs (and games) do not run on ARM. If you were hoping for a browser on Windows 10 ARM, just go with Linux. The Switch is closer to an Nvidia Shield and at least you'll get more driver support that way.

But they do? x86 applications (NOT x86_64 ones) run on Windows 10 ARM with moderate degrees of success. Anything graphically intensive probably won't work so don't expect Steam or Firefox/Chrome, but anything else should work without too many problems. Also Windows 10 ARM is pretty new at the moment, given time I'm sure most of these issues will be resolved (Probably when ARM Windows laptops hit mainstream more than they already have and third-parties start supporting them with ARM builds. As an example, Chrome on Windows ARM is already under development.)
Also, Microsoft Edge is a browser. Which supports ARM. So there is a browser, just maybe not one you agree with (But still a browser!).

None of this justifies any reasonable use for a functioning Windows on ARM, but why should that matter in the first place. Most of these ports are just developers having fun, leave them to it and use whatever results of that which you want to use.

Tomobobo · Mar 4, 2019

People confuse Windows 10 ARM with Windows Mobile and get all snarky.

DinohScene · Mar 4, 2019

Oh, this might be an excuse for me to take me switch out of its plastic wrapper!

Brayton · Mar 4, 2019

Can I run microsoft bob on arm? hahaha

Idaho · Mar 4, 2019

Brayton said:
Can I run microsoft bob on arm? hahaha

Afaik Microsoft BOB works on Windows 95 and you can easily create a VM to run it from Linux, so you can theorically have it on your Switch, it should run properly :rofl2:

Brayton · Mar 4, 2019

Idaho said:
Afaik Microsoft BOB works on Windows 95 and you can easily create a VM to run it from Linux, so you can theorically have it on your Switch, it should run properly

Eh, too much work.

huntertron1 · Mar 4, 2019

interesting...

gamesquest1 · Mar 4, 2019

what, windows running on something that isn't windows 95 running on dosbox on a gba emulator running on a psp emulator, running on an android emulator at 1 frame per hour

Silent_Gunner · Mar 4, 2019

emmanu888 said:
Android would make more sense as an alt OS for the Switch over Windows.

You know since Android already has support for the X1 SoC

At this point, I have more hope for Android getting stable support for emulation and staying in homebrew with as few headaches as possible, so I hope that Android Q port gets to where we can download Retroarch and Reicast from the Play Store and skip all of the hassle and headache of waiting for ports developed for Horizon and jumping through its hoops to get the best performance out of homebrew when Android has more apps made for it than a proprietary OS.

Forgotten_Email · Mar 4, 2019

Cool for a proof-of-concept thing but you'll get more use out of linux as linux devs tend to include ARM versions of their software. I'll pass on this but still impressive though

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

BlueFox gui said:
switch is for games son
i already have windows on PC
stop
please

no one's gonna use this, it's more for seeing what random crap we can shove on the thing

If anyone uses this beyond seeing how good it is or messing around, you're pretty dumb just use the linux port dammit

moonblood666 · Mar 4, 2019

How big is the impact on the performance due to emulating x86? I wonder if much less hardware consuming games like visual novels would run. I have a fairly weak and cheap Win 10 tablet, bought 3 1/2 years ago for 50€ and can run basically every VN I throw at it. But it would be nice if the Switch could do it as well.

Tom Bombadildo · Mar 4, 2019

moonblood666 said:
How big is the impact on the performance due to emulating x86? I wonder if much less hardware consuming games like visual novels would run. I have a fairly weak and cheap Win 10 tablet, bought 3 1/2 years ago for 50€ and can run basically every VN I throw at it. But it would be nice if the Switch could do it as well.

It's not great, CPU-based tasks are incredibly slow on a Snapdragon 835 which is basically the Qualcomm equivalent of a Tegra X1 (CPU wise anyways). You'll still need native GPU drivers, too, to take advantage of the X1's GPU, which probably won't happen all too soon.

Deleted User · Mar 4, 2019

Now we have Windows 10 on ARM on the Nintendo Switch (yay i guess).
It may be not usefull because Windows and ARM are not really going together. But it is impressive that the switch can run so many Operating Systems already! The switch seems to be the best homebrew system ever in exsistence!

CaptainHIT · Mar 5, 2019

I'd like to try that!

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