Windows RT isn’t going anywhere, says sources ‘close to Microsoft’

Just yesterday we reported on the rumor that Windows RT could be killed off in the near future, with Microsoft focusing future attention on x86 tablets running Windows Blue. Later that day, I wrote a piece about why I thought that this rumor was absolutely nothing but gossip.

Apparently I’m not the only one that thinks the idea of Microsoft giving up Windows RT is a silly. According to CNET, sources familar with Microsoft’s plans say that Surface RT is part of a long-term strategy for Microsoft and that they aren’t giving up on ARM-based hardware anytime soon.

The CNET article also points out that the source was DigiTimes, which as I said in my post debunking the idea of RT being killed, that site has a pretty mixed track record.

CNET’s source also pointed out what Michael Angiulo had said not too long ago in an interview with CNET about Windows RT:

It was a ton of work for us, and we didn’t do the work and endure the disruption for any reason other than the fact that there’s a strategy there that just gets stronger over time.

The Future of Windows RT

So what’s going to happen to Windows RT? Based on what we know, there will be a Blue update that brings the same feature updates to Windows RT as is planned for Windows 8.

Further down the road? I’d love to see Windows RT ditch the desktop completely in favor of a version of Windows that purely runs on the Modern UI. Will that happen with Blue? While I can’t say 100% for sure, we haven’t heard any real evidence to suggest that will be the case.

Here’s to hoping that a new version of Windows within the next 2-3 years makes this notion a reality, though.

What do you think of Windows RT and ARM-based Windows tablets, should Microsoft continue with their long-term strategy of support for the platform or should tehy fully focus on x86 devices instead? Share your thoughts below.

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