Microsoft might be planning on doing more than just launching (re-launching?) new tablet devices at CES next month — it might also be previewing a whole new version of Windows.

As we noted earlier Wednesday morning, reports indicate that Microsoft is planning on unveiling a version of Windows specifically targeted at low-powered devices that run on chips based on designs from ARM Holdings.

This operating system, which would not be related to the Windows Embedded CE family of operating systems for mobile and embedded devices (and acts as the basis for Windows Phone 7), would be a departure for the software giant.

Historically, Microsoft has targeted x86 processors — meaning those from Intel and AMD — for its flagship Windows OS. According to The Wall Street Journal, it will be this OS (or at least a subset of the main Windows system) that will be showing off ARM support at CES in January.

Despite powering the overwhelming majority of desktop and notebook computers, Microsoft has struggled in the smartphone and tablet space. These devices overwhelmingly use low-powered chips, which means they use the ARM architecture as opposed to systems from Intel. These chips not only consume less power (which allows for better battery life), they are also much less expensive when purchased en masse.

Part of the reason that the company has struggled is that its operating systems for mobile and desktops have existed as fundamentally separate entities. This is in contrast with its competitors, which include Apple and Google.

The same underlying base OS that powers Mac OS X also powers iOS. That means that features between the two systems can be more easily interchanged. The modularity of that system means that the same core can be compiled to run on chips from Intel or ARM.

Likewise, the Linux kernel, which is used in Google’s Android, is revered for its modularity and ability to run on virtually every kind of microprocessor.

In the past, Microsoft has claimed that newer chips from Intel will be both low-powered and x86-compatible, but realistically, ARM is a problem Microsoft needs to solve.

The big question, of course, is when will Microsoft actually release an ARM compatible OS? The Wall Street Journal says that Windows 8 is two years away, which seems like an awfully long time to wait.

Perhaps Microsoft has a cut-down version of Windows 8 that can be used on ARM devices that can hit the market sooner rather than later. The success of the iPad shows that simply putting Windows 7 on a touch-screen tablet isn’t going to capture sales. Systems and software need to be designed for the form factor.