5 ms·

Those specs don't speak to performance. Your 5 year old computer could easily run Windows 8 without a problem and the Nexus 4 can't.

marshray 14y ago
Serious question: What is the use of "running Windows 8" per se? Traditionally, computing platforms are for applications and operating systems are a means to that end. What class of applications (from 5 years ago) would have inherent performance issues with Nexus4-class hardware (assuming a real external display and hard drive were added)? Also, it occurs to me that Surface RT is largely Windows 8 and Office running on very comparable hardware. I have a Surface RT, it runs this stuff quite well.
- sliverstorm 14y ago
  What is the use of "running Windows 8" per se? ... operating systems are a means to [an] end That's the use. If it runs Windows 8 without complaint, you can generally do the things that running Windows 8 allows you to do.
  - marshray 14y ago
    One could open and close Notepad and Calc all day long and even do some light websurfing with IE with no problem, just to find the system bogs down trying to work with a real productivity app like an IDE, a video editor, or even a spreadsheet. I think we've all seen a slow desktop before. Windows generally has minimum requirements well below that which you would want to have for serious productivity work. An OS has to leave some RAM and storage space for the user's apps.
    - sliverstorm 14y ago
      This is why when someone says "It runs XYZ!" I presume they mean it runs it well enough that it doesn't get in the way under general usage. People sometimes take liberties with claims about what runs on what, but generally do follow that guideline.
- vy8vWJlco 14y ago
  An operating system IS an application, not a just a means to an end. If you prefer Linux or Windows, that is the application. (Everything else is a microwave, not a computer.)
mappu 14y ago
Those specs edge out the Microsoft Surface RT, which does run Windows 8.
- noahjk 14y ago
  Windows RT*, a little less demanding.
  - marshray 14y ago
    It runs desktop MS Office too. For many people/enterprises that's the gold standard yardstick for "usable PC performance".
primitur 14y ago
The 5 year old computer can easily run Ubuntu and now Mobile phones will, also. What don't you get: this is Canonical running ahead of the pack?
Profess 14y ago
How does running Windows 8 gauge performance of a device?

marshray 14y ago

Serious question: What is the use of "running Windows 8" per se? Traditionally, computing platforms are for applications and operating systems are a means to that end. What class of applications (from 5 years ago) would have inherent performance issues with Nexus4-class hardware (assuming a real external display and hard drive were added)? Also, it occurs to me that Surface RT is largely Windows 8 and Office running on very comparable hardware. I have a Surface RT, it runs this stuff quite well.

sliverstorm 14y ago
What is the use of "running Windows 8" per se? ... operating systems are a means to [an] end That's the use. If it runs Windows 8 without complaint, you can generally do the things that running Windows 8 allows you to do.
- marshray 14y ago
  One could open and close Notepad and Calc all day long and even do some light websurfing with IE with no problem, just to find the system bogs down trying to work with a real productivity app like an IDE, a video editor, or even a spreadsheet. I think we've all seen a slow desktop before. Windows generally has minimum requirements well below that which you would want to have for serious productivity work. An OS has to leave some RAM and storage space for the user's apps.
  - sliverstorm 14y ago
    This is why when someone says "It runs XYZ!" I presume they mean it runs it well enough that it doesn't get in the way under general usage. People sometimes take liberties with claims about what runs on what, but generally do follow that guideline.
vy8vWJlco 14y ago
An operating system IS an application, not a just a means to an end. If you prefer Linux or Windows, that is the application. (Everything else is a microwave, not a computer.)

mappu 14y ago

Those specs edge out the Microsoft Surface RT, which does run Windows 8.

noahjk 14y ago
Windows RT*, a little less demanding.
- marshray 14y ago
  It runs desktop MS Office too. For many people/enterprises that's the gold standard yardstick for "usable PC performance".

primitur 14y ago

The 5 year old computer can easily run Ubuntu and now Mobile phones will, also. What don't you get: this is Canonical running ahead of the pack?

Profess 14y ago

How does running Windows 8 gauge performance of a device?