Introducing Copilot+ PCs
Microsoft’s new “Copilot+ PCs” — ARM-based Windows laptops built around Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips and on-device AI features like the Recall timeline — are pitched as a major shift toward faster, more efficient, AI‑centric personal computers. Commenters are intrigued by potential gains in battery life, x86 emulation performance and broader ARM adoption (including for Linux), but express strong skepticism about Microsoft’s privacy record, the always‑on logging required for Recall, opaque branding around “Copilot,” and whether real‑world performance will match Apple Silicon or marketing claims.
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.