Almost every modern personal computer has an x86 processor inside it. The programming code for x86 has transformed a lot over the years, but microprocessors still can run it thanks to operating systems by Microsoft Corp. But it looks like one of the strategic partners of Microsoft says goodbye for Windows: Intel Corp.’s Atom Z600-series “Moorestown” platform is just not designed for Windows, Intel claims.

"Moorestown was designed for low-power and small form-factors, for example, tablets and smartphones. Hence, the design decision was to use the low power interfaces for handhelds, such as low power audio, NAND for storage, etc.,” said Claudine Mangano, an Intel spokeswoman.

Although Atom Z600-series system-on-chip (SoC) supports interesting new features and a multitude of technologies to trim down power consumption of core(/s), it is not enough to compete against ARM-based chips, which have even lower power consumption.

Eerier this week Intel unleashed Oak Trail, which essentially builds on Moorestown, but which was designed to support Windows, among other software solutions. The SoC is targeted at tablets as well as sleeker netbook designs.

“Moorestown was not designed to run Windows. It is designed to run flavors of Linux, including MeeGo and Android.  Oak Trail builds on Moorestown. It includes Lincroft and Langwell, and then adds in some of the legacy IO to enable Windows solutions, among others,” added Ms. Mangano.

Tags: Intel, Moorestown, Microsoft, Windows