Windows 8 vs. Windows RT - How to choose what's best for you

Microsoft launched Windows 8 on October 26, which was followed by a wide selection of devices from various Microsoft manufacturing partners. However anyone looking to purchase a new Windows device will be faced with a choice between Windows 8 and a new operating system called Windows RT.

Windows RT looks identical to Windows 8, but it is important to understand that it is not the same. In order to help users differentiate the two platforms we have done a comprehensive comparison between the two below.

Before we get to the comparison lets clear a few things out. Windows 8 is a full desktop operating system and will run all the applications that run on Windows 7 or older versions of Windows. Windows RT is a brand new version of Windows build specifically for tablets and meant to compete with the iPad. Windows RT wont run old Windows applications and will only run apps from the Windows Store. You can learn more in detail about the versions of Windows 8 here.

As we mentioned above Windows RT was built for tablets, and since the iPad redefined tablets we choose to refer to tablets running Windows RT as Windows tablets. Meanwhile Windows 8 devices run full versions of Windows and we will refer to tablets running Windows 8 as Windows slates. We feel this is a great way to differentiate between Windows 8 and Windows RT and you can see our comprehensive list of Windows 8 slates and Windows RT tablets in our guide to buying a new Windows 8 device. Now lets move on to the comparison. We have chosen to use the Microsoft Surface in our comparison, as the device is available in identical Windows tablet and Windows slate versions.

	Windows 8	Windows RT
Release Date	Feb 2013	October 26, 2012
Price	Windows 8 Pro can be purchased as an upgrade for your existing Windows 7 computer. Retail DVD upgrade available for $70 Digital upgrade available for $40 Available to users who purchased a Windows 7 PC between June 2, 2012 and Jan 3, 2013 for $15 Microsoft has not announced price for Windows 8 basic.	Windows RT will only be available on Windows tablets and will not be sold seperately. Includes free copy of Microsoft Office 2013, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.
Hardware	Will run on x86 devices powered by Intel or AMD processors. A touch screen will be requried to use certain Windows 8 features.	Will run on ARM-powered devices which consume less power and are offered at lower prices.
Software	Apps can be downloaded or purchased from manufacturer websites or the Windows Store. Is capable of running apps form previous version of Windows	Apps can only be purchased or downloaded from the Windows Store
Interface	Full featured start screen with multi touch suport Desktop support for apps and documents	Full featured start screen with multi touch suport Limited Desktop support for apps and documents No support for third party web browsers like Firefox or Chrome.
Business Use	Windows 8 Pro offers a Remote Desktop server, Active Directory domain support, Encrypting File System, Hyper-V, BitLocker and more. Windows 8 (basic) will have limited enterprise support	Includes limited Office 2013 apps Good for business traveller No ideal for coorporate use.
Battery Life	Current devices have an estimated battery life between 6 and 8 hours.	Microsoft claims Windows RT can offer up to 8 to 13 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 10 RT boasts up to 20 hours of battery life
Best For You	Anyone looking for a new slate, laptop or desktop could consider Windows 8.	If you are looking for a tablet with good hardware support, a USB port, microSD storage and the ability to view and edit Microsoft Office documents.