HP will focus on x86 chips for Windows 8 devices

MAKER OF EXPENSIVE PRINTER INK HP will avoid bunging ARM chips into machines that run Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system.

HP, which is making a big play with ARM servers running Linux-based operating systems, will focus on x86 processors in machines that run Windows 8, according to HP spokeswoman Marlene Somsak.

Microsoft has been putting on a big song and dance over Windows RT, the version of Windows 8 that will run on ARM chips. However the announcement by HP, which is still the largest PC maker, is a blow to Microsoft's efforts to push its Windows RT operating system.

HP's comments are also surprising because the company has been championing ARM-based servers in its Project Moonshot programme. The firm also has a deal in place with Calxeda to use its ARM processors, and Red Hat and Canonical are already showing off ARM servers running their respective Linux distributions.

Of course HP is Intel's biggest customer and the two firms have worked on a number of projects together including the ill-fated Itanium processor. Intel and to a lesser extent AMD are the biggest beneficiaries of this statement, and from HP's point of view it probably won't hurt when it comes to negotiating prices for a boat load of Intel chips. µ