One of the significant hurdles to the widespread adoption of Windows on Arm PCs has been the uncertainty surrounding app compatibility. However, in a move that could ease these concerns, Google announced on Monday the formal release of Google Drive for Arm PCs, effectively removing a key barrier for users.
Progress in Compatibility
The introduction of PCs powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite Arm processors has generally been met with enthusiasm. Yet, initial tests revealed that several applications, including Google Drive, either performed sluggishly or failed to run altogether. This feedback was particularly pronounced during early reviews, highlighting the need for improved software support.
Google’s decision to roll out a stable version of Google Drive for Arm follows a successful beta launch last year. Existing beta users will automatically transition to this stable version, which necessitates the Microsoft WebView2 runtime included with Windows 11. This update will be accessible to all users with personal Google accounts, as well as those utilizing Google Workspace.
Having utilized Windows on Arm laptops extensively during various work trips, I have observed a shift in perception regarding their viability. My experience with the Surface Laptop 7th Edition, alongside the review of the comparable Surface Pro 11th Edition, underscores the evolving landscape of software compatibility.
Despite the progress, three areas remain critical for users: applications like Google Drive, VPN software, and gaming. Qualcomm has actively addressed the first two categories, with many productivity applications now either being natively coded for Arm or capable of running through the Prism interpreter within Windows. Notably, some VPN applications, such as NordVPN, are also optimized for Arm. However, gaming continues to present challenges, as many titles either do not run natively on Arm or exhibit subpar performance. While recent announcements of a GPU upscaler promise to enhance gaming efficiency on Arm, the overall gaming experience still lags behind.
Interestingly, recent reports indicated that the Surface Laptop was accompanied by a warning on Amazon regarding higher-than-average consumer return rates. Although this warning was not present during my latest check, it serves as a reminder that Qualcomm, Arm, Microsoft, and developers have ongoing work ahead to fully realize the potential of Windows on Arm PCs.
