This is true. Note that the GPU performance of Surface 2 should be a bit better than any Bay Trail fanless tablet, and the CPU and Javascript performance should be reasonably close too. But more importantly, Microsoft recognizes the importance of working with ARM processors rather than just being fixated on x86 processors. After all, if Intel is trying to push into both Windows and Android, then why in the world would Microsoft not want to push into both x86 and ARM? And the vast majority of consumers who use tablets for consumption are not interested in running legacy x86 Windows apps on their tablet. I believe that Anand missed these subtle points when he suggested that Bay Trail should have been used in Surface 2.
The 900M write down and then fact that every OEM partner has said they aren't making anymore RT based products should of been the less then subtle clue nobody wants RT and Bay Trail should of been used. Don't forget that RT will never be accepted in the business/enterprise environment because it doesn't support domain joining, another reason for Bay Trail.
You make a good point that the vast majority of tablets users are not interested in running legacy x86 Windows app, however being able to run legacy apps is better then not having the app you want. That's the problem with RT, the hardware is top notch, but people won't buy it because the apps they want aren't available. Developers won't make the app because nobody is buying RT tablets. It's a chicken and egg situation. Don't forget that normal x86 Windows has an app marketplace just like RT does.
Intel can make way into Android devices because the majority of Android apps are CPU agnostic since the run java so there isn't a separate marketplace like there is with Windows RT/x86/phone. Android has a single marketplace for arm or x86, phone or tablet. Windows platform has three separate one for phone , RT, and x86. If you buy an app on Android you can use it on your phone or tablet. On Windows if you buy an app on your phone you'll have to buy it again on your RT tablet because it's a separate marketplace. You see how this is a losing strategy for the customer and the developer?
With phones, tablets, and phablets converging Microsoft needs to do the same with RT and Windows phone before it's to late. Developers don't want to have to program for three different platform and consumers would rather have there phone or tablet access to 150,000 (estimate based on RT and Phone marketplace merging) apps instead of 100,000 apps on each platform.
Facebook
Twitter