It made more sense for Microsoft to opt for Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors and Windows on ARM rather than the Gold chip.

According to The Verge,  Microsoft wanted to use an ARM processor for the Surface Go, but Intel intervened.

Intel reportedly "petitioned Microsoft heavily" to use its Pentium Gold processors instead of ARM ones.

Vole has been working hard to improve the use of Windows on ARM and despite Intel’s threats it would sue competitors like Qualcomm if they attempted to emulate Intel’s x86 instruction set architecture.

Saner minds might point out that Intel will simply have told Vole: "Look, Windows on ARM is not cooked yet do you want to fight us in court before you have a product that is 100 percent?"

Intel might have added that Microsoft's previous attempts to put Windows on ARM chips failed because of early problems spoiling the whole brand.

It is delaying the inevitable. Not only will Microsoft develop ARM-based software it is also pushing ahead with ARM server designs, threatening Intel’s dominance in the datacentre.