Apple → Re: Apple Event March 8

Why isn't it? People have been running the ARM version of Windows with x86 emulation quite well on Apple Silicon Macs under Parallels.

That's absolutely true..many folks are successfully doing that, despite the fact that the ARM version of Windows 11 takes a bit of effort to obtain and there's no support from Microsoft for ARM Windows on Mac hardware. So the rub really just comes down to support for both Windows and the Windows application application in that environment. I also run a specific CAD/CAM application that's Windows only under parallels. (Intel Mac for me) Some people have finally been able to get it to successfully run under ARM Windows 11 (but not ARM Windows 10) which bodes well for me to do a hardware upgrade at some point. But even now, the software vendor pretty much waves a silver cross if there is a support question relative to running their application in a VM on MacOS...and they don't seem to want to change. The bottom line...as long as the user is ok with the support risk, things can be made to work and apparently work well under Apple Silicon.

What effort? It's two clicks. One to go to the Windows ARM download site, and the second to click on the download link. Not being already part of the insider preview program is just silly. The whole process for me to obtain the ARM version took me like 3 minutes, tops.

Or one click:
»www.microsoft.com/en-us/ ··· iewARM64

Yes, it's accessible (although I can't leverage that link because I'm not a member of the program and don't have a reason to be one). But keep in mind that "most folks" are not like you and I who understand the way things work...so there's a little more effort required on their part to set things up. Doable, yes. The lack of actual support may, however, be something some folks are not comfortable with. That's all I'm saying.

There’s - as yet - no commitment from Microsoft that Windows for ARM will really become a thing, i.e. they might drop it (wouldn’t be the first time an alternative version is dropped). Then I’d be stuck. Otherwise I’d do it. It’s not a matter of knowing how to do it (easy), but long-term prospects. I don’t want to end up needing two physical computers to do my stuff a couple of years from now after shelling out thousands on a new Mac.

Parallels does all the work for you. There's virtually nothinng to do other than click ob the icon to install the OS.

I guess you are completely anti-Microsoft which is why you're not a member of a free program that provides free software with new features. No9 other logical reason otherwise.

Not sure why you're being like you are about this in including that assumption. While MacOS became my preference years ago, I own and maintain multiple Windows machines and also own and maintain two paid-for licenses for Windows in virtual machines. I'm also a long time subscriber to Office 365. So no, I'm not anit-Microsoft in any way, shape or form. I don't belong to the early release program because I have no need or interest in that. It's a simple thing and not a negative on the program at all.

But also, as an IT and Telecom professional all those years before I recently retired, I also supported a large population of Windows users for nearly a decade, so I know that support is important to many folks...especially if they are considering risks for running an expensive Windows applications in what is a new, essentially unsupported operating environment. That's how it is for me, too, even as an experienced technology user. Before I commit to the Apple Silicon environment with a need to run a $2000 application in virtualized ARM Windows, I want to see if any actual support for the environment comes to pass. I have a few years before replacing what I have starts to become a serious thought. Again, my point was merely that for many folks, support is important. Nothing more.