Why does microsoft not build laptops like?

[Anonymous]

why doesn't Microsoft make a custom version of windows that is highly optimized built from the ground up for their surface laptops, And have their own CPU design made by TSMC with advanced lithography with the custom windows version built around these custom chips. they are a trillion dollar company or is there other factors that make this impossible?

[RavVid]

MS Windows grew up with Intel so there was co evolution. To help you understand Windows is written in a high level langue - I expect is still in C++.

But CPUs don't execute C++. They execute binary instructions. Instructions cause the CPU to add, substract, shift binary strings left or right etc. To go from C++ to something that can be run on the CPU, the C++ is compiled and linked. After that point it can run.

To use a different CPU basically means there is a different Instruction set to be used unless Intel compatible (like AMD processors) is in the computer. So the compiled and linked code can't run on a new CPU.

It is non trivial but not impossible. Apple did it by having a layer of code that translates instructions to the current CPU being used.

That is the helicopter view. Apple decided it was worthwhile to be able to switch CPUs and MS has not seen it as worthwhile, is about as complicated as it gets..

Apple Mac has at various times run on several CPUs. Power PC, Intel and a quite archaic one 68000. Now it is allegedly using it's own CPU.

I say allegedly "own" because it is bullshit. What Apple has done is move to the ARM company. They design silicon libraries and Apple just picks what it thinks is best for their platform. Apple fanboys will be offended I guess but that is a long way from designing your own CPU in my book and you are going to have to talk fast to persuade it is. .

[DryGermanGuy]

Custom chips died with Commodore/CSG. Today everybody wants cheap standard parts straight from the shelves.

[Nikki1989]

Microsoft's core business has always been software.

[Jeff51]

They make software not hardware

[In_Trance]

No money in it