What is the difference between Windows 8 and Windows RT?
2014-04
gsharp
I was reading the specs about MS Surface and saw that there are two Models offered. One with Windows RT and one with Windows 8 Pro. I'm wondering what's the difference between those two OS?
Karan
From the Windows Blog post "Announcing Windows 8 Editions":
For PCs and tablets powered by x86 processors (both 32 and 64 bit), we will have two editions: Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro.
Windows RT is the newest member of the Windows family – also known as Windows on ARM or WOA, as we’ve referred to it previously. This single edition will only be available pre-installed on PCs and tablets powered by ARM processors.
Wikipedia also has nice pretty tables with more details on the available features.
Full list of features in each version from the Microsoft blog post:
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╦═══════╦═════╦═════╗
║ Feature Name ║ Win 8 ║ Pro ║ RT ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Upgrades from Windows 7 Starter, ║ x ║ x ║ ║
║ Home Basic, Home Premium ║ ║ ║ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Upgrades from Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate ║ ║ x ║ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Windows Store ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Bundled Modern UI/Metro Apps (Mail, Calendar, ║ ║ ║ ║
║ People, Messaging, Photos, SkyDrive, Reader, ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
║ Music, Video) and support for other Store Apps ║ ║ ║ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Microsoft Office Home & Student RT included ║ ║ ║ x ║
║ with OS (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote) ║ ║ ║ * ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Internet Explorer 10 ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Device encryption ║ ║ ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Connected standby ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Microsoft account ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Desktop and support for Desktop apps ║ x ║ x ║ † ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ SmartScreen ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Windows Update ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Enhanced task manager ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Switch languages on the fly w/ language packs ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Better multiple monitor support ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Storage spaces ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Windows Media Player ║ x ║ x ║ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Windows Media Center (separate download) ║ x ║ x ║ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Exchange ActiveSync ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ File history ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ ISO / VHD mount ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ VHD booting ║ x ║ x ║ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Mobile broadband features ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Picture password ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Play To device ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Remote Desktop client ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Remote Desktop host ║ ║ x ║ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Refresh and reset your PC ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Snap ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Touch and Thumb keyboard ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Trusted boot ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ VPN Client ║ x ║ x ║ x ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ BitLocker and BitLocker To Go ║ ║ x ║ ‡ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Client Hyper-V ║ ║ x ║ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Domain join ║ ║ x ║ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Encrypting File System ║ ║ x ║ ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╬═══════╬═════╬═════╣
║ Group Policy ║ ║ x ║ ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╩═══════╩═════╩═════╝
* Office Home & Student RT does not include support for Macros, Add-Ins, Forms and other features as listed in the FAQ.
† Only bundled Microsoft applications such as Notepad, Paint etc. can be executed in Desktop mode on Windows RT.
‡ Windows RT has no UI and very limited support for managing Bitlocker To Go drives (cut down version of manage-bde command is available).
If you're not sure whether a given program will work on your version of Windows, you can find more information in How can I tell which versions of Windows 8 a program will work on?
kinokijuf
Windows RT is compiled to use an ARM CPU and only runs Metro apps. Windows 8 Pro is the standard Windows OS that runs on x86 processors (Intel, AMD, etc). It runs Metro apps as well as existing Windows applications.
arpz
Windows RT is a version designed for ARM Processors, machines like tablets. Windows 8 will be the normal x86-x64 type.
JW8
Windows RT has been designed to work with ARM processors, while Windows 8 Pro is designed to work with x86 processors.
This Endgadget article points out some of the differences:
It's worth pointing out that the ARM-based WinRT (psst -- you can catch up on what exactly Windows RT is here) model is both thinner and lighter than the version with Windows 8 Pro. Moreover, the battery is sized up in the latter, presumably to handle the higher power drain of the 1080p panel and the Core i5 processor.
So it looks like the RT version of the tablet is a bit more energy efficient.
Eroen
There seems to be some confusion on this topic, so I have attempted to clarify.
Windows RT:
Windows RT is a variation of the Windows 8 operating system specifically designed for ARM(see bottom) devices. Since it is a distinct operating system, you will see Windows RT in place of Windows 8 when you look at the Settings -> PC Info screen of an ARM based tablet device (or similar). Earlier incarnations of the operating system were branded Windows on ARM.
WinRT:
WinRT is a runtime, somewhat like .NET or Java. It provides a cross-platform environment for other software and supports multiple languages (C++, C#, JavaScript and others).
Difference between "Windows RT" and "Windows 8":
From the end-user perspective there is not much difference as both support the Modern UI. Windows RT is not sold directly to consumers, but is meant to be sold to device manufacturers (aka OEMs) for preinstallation on devices. The goal behind Windows RT is to enable a consistent user experience across the range of tablets offered by manufacturers (including Microsoft's homegrown Surface). Windows RT will come bundled with Office, while Windows 8 users will have to buy (and install) it separately. The selection of bundled software differs between Windows RT and Windows 8. Windows RT seems to have stricter and different limitations on the software you are permitted to run on it, and it does not enable the use of the Win32 and COM APIs(see bottom). The WinRT API is available in stead.
I am working on a project requiring access to the underlying system information of an ARM device running Windows RT, and it appears to be possible to access a subset of the Win32 API. If it works, I will post my experience in a subsequent post.
A microprocessor architecture (actually a family of architectures). Other architectures are x86, x86_64/amd64, PowerPC and MIPS. There are several companies licensing the architecture and producing ARM chips, mostly for low-cost and/or low-power applications.
Application programming interface. If a specific API is unavailable, you will not be able to run software created for use with that API.
Rakib Ansary
From what I have read it seems there are more or less three versions(?) of Windows 8: Windows 8, Windows RT, and Windows Phone 8.
While the difference between Windows 8 and Windows RT is clear, I don't understand the difference between Windows RT and Windows Phone 8.
The Android parallel, Jelly Bean that runs on Tablets and on Phones doesn't have any differences.
Are there any differences between Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 except for the fact that one is for Tablets (Windows RT) and the other is for Phones (Windows Phone 8)?
Journeyman Geek
As far as anyone can tell, windows RT is basically windows 8 recompiled for arm. Everything is windows like, right down to the command prompt(yes it has cmd.exe), and explorer. Its in the tradition of other, forgotten windows ports like that for Alpha and MIPS.
The fact that the only 'desktop' applications there are at launch is an artificial restriction - in theory windows desktop applications may work with a few changes and a recompile.
Windows phone is probably going to be based off an embedded windows base, and not contain everything the full version does. Its also likely to be customised to some extent per phone company. You certainly arn't going to get 'desktop' - which is for MS office only on windows RT anyhow, and it obviously won't be as full featured.
corwin01
We will know more details on WP8 later today, but we do know a few things.
First: Windows RT is Windows 8 compiled to run on ARM based processors.
Second: Windows 8 and WP8 have a "shared core."
Third: WP8 and Windows RT both run on ARM.
Fourth: The all share the same design language.
So we know Microsoft has pushed the same design language to help unify the differing platform in look and feel, but does that mean that they are the same? No, but, I have a feeling that it will comparable to an Froyo vs ICS. Up to a point they share certain APIs in common (the "shared core") but after that Windows RT is going to have lots more API for developers to work with.