Microsoft Debuts New Copilot+ Windows PCs Designed Around AI

[KPOM]

I don't think that's really true. They half-assedly tried it with Windows RT 12 years ago, half-assedly tried it again with a single product (Surface Pro X) in 2022, and haven't really done anything other than that.

This has widespread industry support out of the gate, and major apps like Chrome and Spotify have begun releasing ARM versions of their software in the last 2 years.

This time around they got Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Asus to announce ARM products.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Hate how even more bloated an already bloated Windows has become with all this "AI" stuff.

Will iOS, macOS etc 'become even more bloated an already bloated xOS has become with all this "AI" stuff' too?

 

[brofkand]

It's concerning how far behind Apple seems with AI. Google has AI built into Android and MSFT is making AI PCs. Apple still has Siri that can't do anything...

Apple was too preoccupied arguing with the EU about Lightning cables and sideloading, while Microsoft and Google were actually doing useful things with their platforms.

 

[sw1tcher]

Microsoft today announced the launch of new Windows PCs that have integrated AI hardware, called Copilot+ PCs.

Copilot+ PCs is not easy on the mouth. Should have called them PCP, short for Personal Computer with Co Pilot+... oh, wait.

 

[visualseed]

More AI? Freaking hell I don't think I've ever seen the entire computer industry become *this* suddenly obsessed with something before.

Microsoft has always acted like this. Remember back in the '90s when "push technology" was all the rage and they had to shoehorn Active Desktop into windows before PointCast ate their lunch? They have done something like this every few years. Like surfers trying to catch the next wave hoping every swell is going to be the next big one. They have mostly been on a hiatus the last decade because the world has been focused on mobile and Microsoft doesn't have a dog in that hunt.

 

[MallardDuck]

And a start menu filled with AI generated ads.

No thanks.

 

[Rigby]

are those Intel or QCOM chips? gotta be one or the other ...
and as for the mentioned "feature" - no thank you

Both will be able to meet the NPU requirements, though not the ones that are currently available. QCOM will probably be available first, but Intel and AMD aren't far behind.

 

[steve123]

Finally, some actual competition. This is great. This should stimulate some real improvements in hardware from Apple and perhaps some more competitive pricing when their unit sales take a big hit.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

There is no behindness. Nearly all use of so called AI has been for spam, deepfake and revenge porn. Real industry and economy hasn’t seen benefits yet and anyone who says there is a two bit liar with an investment to protect.

it's been great at my workplace. People can type an email as angrily and aggressively as they like and use AI to dial it back to a professionally acceptable level!

 

[Stella]

I really hope for the latter. I despise "AI" and don't really want it forced upon me. The way things are going it sounds like that's exactly what the industry wants to do; shove this down everyone's throat.

It’s the future. Get used to it, AI is here to stay and isn’t going anywhere.

 

[CrysisDeu]

Rewind built in? Heck yes!

 

[sw1tcher]

Recall - Recall gives the PC a "photographic memory" so users can access anything they've seen or done on their PC. Content can be located using timelines across any website, application, or document, with support for snapshots.

Apple beat Microsoft with this feature. Apple calls it iOS 17.5 and it can recall photos you've deleted from years past.

 

[Remy149]

Apple was too preoccupied arguing with the EU about Lightning cables and sideloading, while Microsoft and Google were actually doing useful things with their platforms.

Sure because it’s Apple lawyers who develop the software.

 

[steve123]

Apple was too preoccupied arguing with the EU about Lightning cables and sideloading, while Microsoft and Google were actually doing useful things with their platforms.

And the AVP distraction has not helped Apple either.

 

[reyesmac]

Can it watch me sleep too? And tell me how many times I cough during the day? The only feature that will be legitimately useful is the ability to turn off what I DON'T want it to do. And thats probably the last feature they will add.

 

[No5tromo]

"Disable automatic updates"
"Let's create a picture instead"

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

They aren’t really talking specifics with these Qualcomm chips.

Does Apple?

They’re claiming great battery life but at what performance expense?

Does Apple?

And they aren’t talking about battery life on higher performance tasks.

Does Apple?

The Surface Laptop line is running about $200 less than an equivalently configured MacBook Air. Microsoft is squarely taking aim at the Air because the Qualcomm chips don’t have an equivalent Pro/Max/Ultra equivalent and only max at 16 gb RAM (the M3 can go to 24 gb). Edit: I just realized the processor and RAM configurations are tied to specific colors of the computer…anything more than a 16 Gb Elite 15” can only be had in black…what?!

The AI features Microsoft showed off are useless fluff except for Recall, which is a complete and total privacy nightmare and an example of “just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should.”

Windows 11 chokes on a high speced Intel PC (ask my work computer) so I can’t imagine it doing well on Qualcomm ARM chips. Windows hasn’t been and still isn’t ARM ready and given the performance overhead from all of Windows’ underlying cruft, I think these devices are going to underwhelm when all is said and done.

I appreciate your remarkable support for the Apple... but the whole world runs on Windows while only a small percentage of us- myself included- lean mostly on the offerings within our little niche.

Since my frustration at mostly "company store" shenanigans has grown so much in the last 5 years or so, I'll be looking at this with an open mind and seeing if there is some great stuff here. I've never purchased a laptop that was not made by Apple but am ready to do so vs. paying 3X-5X more for RAM & SSD vs. market. I already have a Mac Desktop to polish up mobile files if I need something Mac specific.

I welcome competition. Even if I don't go PC with the next laptop purchase, real competition should drive Apple to deliver a much better laptop too... and hopefully one that lacks such in-my-face robbery on RAM & SSD upgrades.

 

[brofkand]

Microsoft has always acted like this. Remember back int he '90s when "push technology" was all the rage and they had to shoehorn Active Desktop into windows before PointCast ate their lunch? They have done something like this every few years. Like surfers trying to catch the next wave hoping every swell is going to be the next big one. They have mostly been on a hiatus the last decade because the world has been focused on mobile and Microsoft doesn't have a dog in that hunt.

It's just the way mature industries go. Car companies redesign their models every few years for no real reason, TV companies did 3D TV a few years ago, etc.

 

[name99]

NGL, Windows 11 is a horrid and bloated OS which I have the misfortune of using it daily.

Possibly so.

That doesn't change that fact that Recall, in particular, is a feature I have long wanted on Apple devices. I'm thrilled that MS is shipping it, because it's so useful that this will force Apple to get off their ass and ship it ASAP.

Should have shipped two years ago, but better late than never; I'm OK with it being demo'd at WWDC next year.

 

[dumastudetto]

Interesting the new Surface laptops all now start at 16GB RAM ($999 up-to $1999). I wonder what made them do that.

 

[Realityck]

Recall - Recall gives the PC a "photographic memory" so users can access anything they've seen or done on their PC. Content can be located using timelines across any website, application, or document, with support for snapshots.

Just what consumers need when their PC get accessed by someone else.
So dear this is what you been looking at on the computer?

 

[AHDuke99]

Apple…over to you in June for some iPad software love.

I wouldn't expect much. Apple needs to keep iPadOS a thing to protect App Store revenue. Loading macOS onto an iPad means users would be able to download things outside the App Store.

 

[cocky jeremy]

NGL, Windows 11 is a horrid and bloated OS which I have the misfortune of using it daily.

I have it on my gaming PC and love it. Looks so much better than 10.

 

[pdoherty]

It’s basically Windows Vista 64 bit with a skin, new drivers and Direct X 12.

Every Windows OS in the last 20 years has just been a reskin like that. Many of the admin apps haven’t even been reskinned since Windows XP.

macOS does major reboot from the ground up every five or so years. Every year is a major rebuild that requires many apps to be updated.

Not that accurate. Anyone paying attention knows that when Windows 8/8.1 came out (and the versions since) its network stack was rewritten it appears from the ground up. Only after that can you routinely peg your NIC's maximum bandwidth on file transfers. Older versions of Windows rarely or never came close to that theoretical maximum speed.

 

[smulji]

but the whole world runs on Windows

When it comes to the traditional PC (laptops / desktops), you're right. But on mobile, the world runs on Android and iOS. Even iPadOS has a user base of 400+ million users.