Windows RT explained: Microsoft finally gets tablet computing right

Windows RT is a version of Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 operating system that has been tailored specifically for tablets and notebooks powered by ARM processors. The new OS represents a massive shift for the Redmond-based company, as it is both the first version to support ARM SoCs and the first iteration to enable interaction on a tablet as enjoyable as a mouse and keyboard are on the desktop version of the OS.
Until recently, Microsoft has seen tablets as a niche hardware, and has focused most of its development efforts on running Windows on traditional desktop and laptop computers. Tablets are no longer solely used in vertical markets and by graphic designers, however. Thanks to relatively low-priced ARM hardware running Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating system, tablets are used by millions of consumers as a secondary media consumption device — or in some cases in place of a traditional computer all together.
Thankfully, Microsoft has recognized the importance of supporting the growing tablet market and has put together a purpose-built OS that not only blows away Microsoft’s previous tablet “support” strategy of bolting on touchscreen and digitizer support to the traditional Windows desktop UI, but rivals the user interfaces of iOS and Android.
While the familiar Windows desktop is still present, it is merely one of many applications available on a brand new operating system featuring a touch-friendly user interface. The Modern UI (formerly Metro) Start screen is essentially the new desktop of Windows RT, and it has drawn inspiration from Microsoft’s Windows Phone mobile OS to bring live tiles, gestures, multitouch, cloud syncing, and an app store to Windows users.

The software

Windows has traditionally been a versatile operating system that is extremely customizable, but one trait that makes tablets like the iPad and Nexus 7 attractive devices is an intuitive interface that makes the computer easier to use. Surely, that is not of much concern to power users (who are likely the majority of the ET audience), but for most people it is of supreme importance.
Windows RT goes against Windows tradition by limiting customization to smaller aesthetic tweaks (think customized lock screen photo, Start screen background), and presents a screen of live tiles much like Windows Phone. From there, you can launch, switch, and close applications with touch gestures. You can re-size the live tiles and reorder them, but that is the extent of customization allowed on what is essentially the new Windows RT desktop.
Microsoft has further embraced multitouch and gestures to navigate around the operating system. Swipe gestures in particular are used throughout the OS, and if you have used a smartphone or tablet before, after a couple of minutes playing around with Windows RT you will be right at home.

Easily switch apps by swiping in from the left of the screen.

The user interface of Windows RT is designed to work well on high-pixel-density displays. The full-screen nature of the Start Screen and all of the applications also ensures that precious screen real estate on mobile devices is not wasted by taskbars, window borders, file menus, and other features of previous Windows versions. Instead Microsoft has tucked away menus behind an overlay that can be brought up by swiping up from the bottom of the touchscreen.
While it will vary from tablet to tablet, Windows RT feels surprisingly snappy, despite the wimpy ARM SoC powering it, and the interface in general is really quite joyous to use. Buttons are larger, and there are extremely few areas in the Metro UI where you run the risk of your finger(s) not being accurate enough to select the thing you want. The Office 2013 applications running on the desktop will have a touch mode where the buttons will be spread further apart to make it easier to select items in the ribbon as well.
Users can run up to two applications at a time side-by-side, but for the most part Windows RT encourages you to focus on one app at a time. Applications in the background are put to sleep to conserve battery life. The limited multitasking is also well-suited to ARM hardware where you do not have the same level of computing power and memory as an x86 desktop or laptop.

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