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Microsoft Announces Windows For Raspberry Pi 2

Posted by samzenpus on from the coming-together dept.

jones_supa writes Microsoft is expanding their Windows Developer Program for Internet of Things by delivering a version of Windows 10 that runs on the Raspberry Pi 2. This release of Windows 10 will be free for the maker community through the Windows Developer Program for IoT. With an official partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Microsoft is bringing development tools, services and ecosystem to the Raspberry Pi community. More details will be shared in the coming months. You can already join the program and be amongst the first to receive product information and beta software releases.

8 of 307 comments (clear)

  1. Raspberry Pi 2 but not Surface RT? by acoustix · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How can Microsoft justify Windows 10 on a less powerful device like Raspberry Pi 2 and not support on the Surface RT?

    Seems pretty stupid to me to purposely screw over the people that bought the RT models that are perfectly capable.

    --
    "A plan fiendishly clever in its intricacies"- Homer Simpson
    1. Re:Raspberry Pi 2 but not Surface RT? by CastrTroy · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I think it's a big push to get more apps on the Windows App store. There are probably more Raspberry Pis out there than Surface RT/2(RT) tablets, and at $35, I would buy one if they got a few nice apps in the app store. If they support their new Universal Apps on the Raspberry Pi, then programming would be made quite a bit easier. From the experience I've had with programming stuff for the Windows App store, I have to say that I like it a lot more than programming for Android. By continuing to support Windows on ARM, they are leaving the door open for more devices in the future.

      I have a Surface 2(RT), and I have to say, I actually like Windows on ARM quite a bit. The OS is quite a bit better than iOS or Android as far as I'm concerned. Sure it doesn't run full Windows applications but neither do iOS and Android, and it's actually got quite a few capabilities that are sorely missing from those operating systems. I also, don't see how they could justify supporting Raspberry Pi, while at the same time abandoning their own products, but I can definitely see why they would want to open up their app store to and easily available $35 computer. I will definitely buy one just for Windows 10 if they do this and it supports the App store.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  2. It's the same! by Grindalf · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Low power it may be, but with the newer quad core Acorn Risc Machine v7 processor @ 900MHz and a Micro SD Card with a Class 10 speed 128 Gb capacity, it's just like working a normal, but slow, tower PC with a proper keyboard and a proper mouse. As it is designed to teach British school children to write computer software, it will automatically sell Millions of units in it's home market. Just have one micro SD card per operating system!

    --
    The purpose of existence is to make money.
  3. Re: just want I wanted! by matbury · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Loads of schools have bought and are buying iPads without much of an idea of what they're going to use them for, let alone a coherent educational plan. The end result? Expensive, distracting toys that have little, if any, demonstrable effects on learning outcomes in K-12 education. Then there's stories like this: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01... Developmental psychologists are less than enamoured of shiny, techy internet gadgets in classrooms and children's pockets.

  4. Re: just want I wanted! by LaurenCates · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Kind of. I taught at a school that issued MacBooks for lab sections (the loans began and ended with the lab period).

    The MacBooks in question were running Windows.

    The parent poster had already made the point I was going to make, by the way, that Windows, by and large is a "safer" choice for many, many people.

    --
    Some people don't believe in fairies. I don't believe in The Patriarchy.
  5. Windows on Pi? by danbob999 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So will Windows 10 have APIs for stuff such as GPIOs, SPI and I2C, along with pin muxing?
    Will everything be possible without having to connect a monitor, keyboard and mouse?

  6. Re:just want I wanted! by Richard_at_work · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If open was their goal, why did they go with components which require closed source drivers and firmware?

    From what I can see, Raspberry Pi's goal was to be this generations BBC Micro, nothing else. Something that is cheap to hack on - Linux was free from a license cost perspective, so that's what got used. The non-open components were cheap from a cost perspective, so thats what got used.

  7. Re: just want I wanted! by amiga3D · · Score: 4, Interesting

    iPads are just tools. They aren't magic. I've seen some interesting and innovative uses of iPads in education, particularly with kids with special needs. First though you have to have people who know how to use these tools and implement them into an overall educational program. Buying a bunch of anything without a plan makes no sense. This is what's special about the Rpi. They are primarily into teaching and building a community around this educational system. The maker aspect of the Rpi is just a big plus that helps build the community.