Comments on: Cloud is ARM’s Secret Weapon Against Intel

By: Qualcomm Turns a Netbook Into a Smartbook

Qualcomm Turns a Netbook Into a Smartbook — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:14:30 +0000

[...] chips. However, when it comes to smartbooks, Qualcomm will have to deal with possible demand for software designed for x86 chips and convincing folks to shell out more money for a data plan on the [...]

By: As Devices Converge, Chip Vendors Girding For a Fight — GigaOM Pro

As Devices Converge, Chip Vendors Girding For a Fight — GigaOM Pro — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:44:38 +0000

[...] ARM, the rise of the cloud eliminates the need for x86 software. If most of a user’s applications can be accessed via the web, ARM just needs to focus on [...]

By: Long View: As Devices Converge, Chip Vendors Girding For a Fight

Long View: As Devices Converge, Chip Vendors Girding For a Fight — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:19:12 +0000

[...] ARM, the rise of the cloud eliminates the need for x86 software. If most of a user’s applications can be accessed via the web, ARM just needs to focus on [...]

By: The Cloud Makes Computers Truly Cheap and Truly Personal

The Cloud Makes Computers Truly Cheap and Truly Personal — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:41:27 +0000

[...] architcture rather than Intel’s x86 architecture. As an EETimes article points out, if you can run your applications in the cloud, then the underlying hardware becomes less relevant. This holds true on the client side and in the [...]

By: Nick Eman

Nick Eman — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:50:48 +0000

“Cloud” – Sounds to me like the concept of credit…..then one day, the Cloud crashes and bye-bye data. Sorry but I am not comfortable with my data being “out there” anymore than it already is.

By: Can Intel Thrive in a Post x86 World?

Can Intel Thrive in a Post x86 World? — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:07:01 +0000

[...] such as ARM, which is licensing its intellectual property to a variety of chip firms that build application processors for mobile phones, or Nvidia, which is helping devleopers write code to run more applications on its graphics [...]

By: Intel/Nvidia Catfight Is About More Than IP | The Click

Intel/Nvidia Catfight Is About More Than IP | The Click — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:33:24 +0000

[...] This looks like one way Intel is circling its wagons as PC sales drop, GPUs gain prominence, and it finds itself fighting for mobile market share against chipmakers pushing ARM-based [...]

By: Intel/Nvidia Catfight Is About More Than IP

Intel/Nvidia Catfight Is About More Than IP — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:30:25 +0000

[...] This looks like one way Intel is circling its wagons as PC sales drop, GPUs gain prominence, and it finds itself fighting for mobile market share against chipmakers pushing ARM-based chipsets. [...]

By: With ION, Nvidia Covers the Mobile Market

With ION, Nvidia Covers the Mobile Market — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:28:13 +0000

[...] computing split. It has a platform for Intel’s x86 architecture in ION, and something for the ARM crowd with its (super low-power) Tegra platform designed for handsets and mobile Internet devices. Now we [...]

By: Rob B.

Rob B. — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:36:18 +0000

Any comments on the future direction of Apple’s low-power processor development and associated products? Apple purchased PA-Semi last year (fabless processor design house), who specialized in low-power processor architecture. There should be some very good things resulting from this $200M + purchase by Apple…

By: Netbooks and the Death of x86 Computing

Netbooks and the Death of x86 Computing — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:46:19 +0000

[...] or AMD powering your computer, in the coming year you’ll see everything from netbooks to mobile internet devices running on ARM processors. Other machines will offload more processing to the graphics processor. This is great for [...]

By: Why Netbooks Are Greener Than Laptops

Why Netbooks Are Greener Than Laptops — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:28:26 +0000

[...] key feature for a netbook. Netbooks’ efficiency is likely to increase in the year ahead. More power-conscious ARM-based netbooks are coming in 2009 with chips that will use no more than 1 watt of [...]

By: Geoff

Geoff — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:17:25 +0000

All it needs is someone to repackage the iphone with bigger screen and keyboard – job done! Plenty fast and powerful enough!

By: Ramesh Iyer

Ramesh Iyer — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:56:59 +0000

Hi Stacey,

Interesting article and we agree fully. Here are a few emerging dynamics in the netbook space:

1. Cloud computing (for those that remember the good old days of dumb terminals) is being eyed enthusiastically by the IT guys for the following reasons:

- Allows them to drive down the cost of the corporate laptop
- Your data can also be mirrored on the server, and therefore, data recovery in the event of a crash or stolen machines is much easier
- Deploying new laptops is a breeze. No more 1-2 hour installation of complex Vista/XP loads.

2. ARM-based SoC’s (and OMAP from Texas Instruments has a lion’s share of the smartphone space) will continue to lower power consumption, find innovative ways to pack more features, and leverage optimized software as key.

3. Linux based applications will continue to evolve. Office applications is a classic example – at one time, OpenOffice was the only solution. We’ve already encountered 3 others in the past 6 months who claim to have a solution that is better and that looks-and-smells-and-feels like MS Office. Naturally, cloud computing could obliterate the need for these Office apps but the Linux community shows no signs of slowing down.

4. If cloud computing (aka thin client machines) do succeed, there is no need for the Intel juggernaut to drive a stake in the ground wrt GHz. After all, why need the GHz when apps are resident on a central server. Focus on long battery life (14 hours for a netbook i.e. the same usage model as the smartphone – charge your netbook only once a day) and low retail price. And, that has been a central theme behind TI’s OMAP3 messaging – low price, high performance, low power consumption, extremely small PCB footprint, optimized software and reuse of hardware and software across multiple product segments.

BTW, please don’t forget to write about TI’s OMAP3. Its shipping now and in products now and was the first commercially shipping Cortex-A8-based processor. The Archos-5 player (based on Texas Instruments OMAP3 and a MID aka Internet Media Tablet) won EDN’s Best of 2008 award for Best Media Product.

By: lennypwallbrook

lennypwallbrook — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:26:52 +0000

I’ve done a lot of development on both Intel and ARM and others. This includes both hardware and software. When it comes to portable devices, ARM wins hands down on performance. Note: this means that the ARM meets the required specifications for the device at the lowest cost for both development and maintainance.

Realistically what is going to matter is which company’s product will give the manufacturer a higher profit. Unfortunately this will all boil down to marketing rather than anything else. Intel is a household name which people can identify with — a major plus for the “Intel Inside” crowd; this sells. Very few people outside the industry have heard of ARM though they use their architecture daily without any real problems.

Another factor that will drive this battle is the power source. The right power source could make a moot point of efficiency arguments. If your device can stay on all weekend and take 5 minutes to charge who cares.

By: botchagalupe

botchagalupe — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:20:48 +0000

Great post. I don’t follow the hardware side at all but this post turned on a light bulb for me. I have been thinking a lot about this idea of “Just Enough Hardware” (JeHW) and “One Cloud Per Child” OCPC. As we get closer and closer to thin netbooks and beefy clouds this stuff could be come a reality.

JeHW – Just Enough Hardware Its Time Has Come

John Willis
johnmwillis.com