Eben Upton, the founder of Raspberry Pi, has expressed his desire for the device to support Windows 10 desktop. At the moment Raspberry Pi 3 supports the Linux platform, but Windows 10 support would take the device to the next level. In an interview with CouputerWorld, Upton says the decision is in Microsoft's hands.
“It's a Microsoft decision,” Upton said in the interview. “I would love it if Microsoft would do that. I'd love to it.”
Raspberry Pi started as something of a hobby device. A tiny PC, the device spoke to the enthusiast with its open sourced software. However, with Windows 10, Raspberry Pi 3 has the potential to become an accessible, small, and affordable computing solution for millions.
The third iteration of the device launched this year and Microsoft has already backed the device. Windows 10 IoT Core is available for Pi. However, this is a stripped down version of the platform, and Upton would clearly prefer the full Windows 10 experience.
Windows 10 IoT Core
However, Microsoft's willingness or desire to bring Windows 10 to the device in full is up for debate. At the moment, Raspberry Pi gives the company a foundation for Windows 10 IoT Core. The Internet of Things and the cloud is big for Microsoft. Azure currently underpins the Windows IoT Core/Raspberry Pi relationship. Microsoft may just like to keep it that way.
If Redmond did decide to release a full Windows 10 build for the small computer, some changes would be needed. The desktop build of the platform only runs on x86 chipsets, precluding the 1.2 GHz 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 in Pi 3. Windows 10 Mobile would be up to the task of desktop computing as proven with Continuum. However, Microsoft's mobile platform only works with Qualcomm-based ARM processors.
Whether Microsoft would be willing to put in the work to make a Raspberry Pi specific Windows 10 is doubtful.
Luke,
Why not ask the appropriate questions and focus on the most likely outcome? Microsoft could very easily run Windows 10 Mobile with Continuum on this device.
That would enable a full GUI and Windows Store based apps. For Legacy solutions Continuum with RDP/AppV or VDI is possible…
So Offer Windows 10 Mobile with Continuum, Remote App (AppV) and the ability to run Store apps. Push for the ecosystem native content instead of X86 Desktop Content. Run the X86 Desktop stuff via Application Virtualization or VDI.
Content continues to move from legacy Desktop X86 into native UWP. This is a win for the whole ecosystem. With Continuum this device can take the place of a Desktop and with Legacy application Virtualization can accomplish legacy desktop replacement.
Simple…
The problem would be that they are snuffing out their partner’s ecosystem–which albeit is starting to dwindle but still going–all in pursuit of an unproven market. It is a tougher challenge than the solution you suggest IMHO. The partnership with Raspberry Pi is an IoT play. I think the real solution is to make IoT more compelling. Find out what people are using their desktop for, and reimagine it in an IoT ecosystem.