Introducing Copilot+ PCs

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Windows on ARM & Compatibility

  • Multiple comments clarify this is “normal” Windows 11 on ARM, not a locked‑down RT‑style variant.
  • x86 (32‑bit) and x64 emulation already exist; latest “Prism” layer is claimed ~10–20% faster.
  • Most regular apps reportedly work, with main exceptions: hardware drivers, kernel‑level anti‑cheat, and some DRM.
  • Some note poor past experiences with Snapdragon Windows laptops (slow, buggy, weak battery), so they remain skeptical until independent reviews.

Performance vs Apple / Intel / AMD

  • Big framing: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite/Plus trying to match or approach Apple Silicon on performance and battery.
  • Several see this as the first serious ARM laptop push on Windows, enabled by OEM support (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, etc.).
  • Others think benchmarks are cherry‑picked (e.g., comparing throttled M3 Air vs actively cooled Snapdragon) and expect parity with older, not latest, Apple chips.
  • Intel/AMD also have NPUs; Microsoft says Copilot+ branding will extend to upcoming x86 laptops.

AI Features, Recall & Privacy

  • AI branding is widely seen as overused; many view “AI PC” as primarily marketing.
  • Some are genuinely excited about Recall (screen‑logging + semantic search) and OS‑level productivity features like automatic stand‑up summaries, real‑time translation, and “photographic memory.”
  • Major pushback centers on privacy, surveillance, and legal exposure:
    • Concerns about continuous screenshot logging, law‑enforcement access, corporate misuse, and future cloud syncing/backup of Recall data.
    • Debate over warrants vs corporate cooperation, and the erosion of practical Fourth Amendment protections.
    • Skepticism that Microsoft can be trusted, given telemetry, ads in Windows, OneDrive auto‑sync behaviors, and security lapses.
  • Some highlight that “local NPU” does not automatically equal privacy if data is still uploaded or retained indefinitely.

NPUs, Local Models & Usefulness

  • NPUs (≈40+ TOPS) are framed as enabling on‑device OCR, background blur, translation, and small models; thread consensus is these machines won’t run very large LLMs locally.
  • Several note that 7B models can run quantized in a few GB of RAM; 70B would require heavy quantization and lots of memory.
  • A recurring theme: unclear real‑world benefit for average users vs hype; some liken this phase to the “3D TV” era.

Linux, Secure Boot & Pluton

  • Interest in running Linux on these ARM laptops is high. Qualcomm is upstreaming support; Dell/Lenovo have some Linux‑friendly reputations.
  • Past ARM laptops had rough Linux support (missing GPU accel, camera blobs, suspend issues), so expectations are cautious.
  • Questions about UEFI, Secure Boot, and Microsoft Pluton: some fear tighter lockdown and loss of “general‑purpose computer” properties; others note ARM secure boot can now be disabled on some devices.

Branding, Windows Experience & Attitudes

  • Heavy criticism of “Copilot” branding sprawl (GitHub Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, OS Copilot, Copilot+ PCs) as confusing, echoing older .NET/Office/Skype naming messes.
  • Many dislike modern Windows: ads, bloat, telemetry, unstable search; some say this pushes them toward macOS or Linux.
  • There is visible enthusiasm from Windows fans happy to get ARM battery life and competition with Apple, but a roughly equal contingent sees “AI everywhere” and Recall as user‑hostile and potentially creating future e‑waste.