Comment by whizzter
3 months ago
I wouldn't have thought so 5-10 years ago, but with Microsoft offering Windows on ARM the is really no OS that specifically targets x86 (Legacy MS products will keep it alive if the emulation isn't perfect).
The thing is, x86 dominance on servers,etc has been tied to what developers use as work machines, if everyone is on ARM machines they'll probably be more inclined to use that on servers as well.
It's like an avalanche effect.
Microsoft has tried Windows on ARM, like, 5 times in the past 15 years and it's failed every time. They tried again recently with Qualcomm, but Qualcomm barely supports their own chips, so, predictably, it failed.
The main reason x86 still has relevance and will continue to do so is because x86 manufacturers actually care about the platform and their chips. x86 is somewhat open and standardized. ARM is the wild, wild west - each manufacturer makes bespoke motherboards, and sockets, and firmware. Many manufacturers, like Qualcomm, abandon their products remarkably quickly.
Huh? Qualcomm announced the X2 chips just 2 months ago with shipments for early next year. Looked at a local dealer site and there's MS, Dell, Asus and Lenovo WinArm machines (with current gen Elite X chips).
Yes, Windows on desktop hardware will probably continue mainly with x86 for a while more, but how many people outside of games, workstation-scenarios and secure scenarios still use desktops compared to laptops (where SoC's are fine for most part)?
1. Don't do the 'huh?' thing. It's not cute, it's just annoying.
2. I am referring to the snapdragon x elite and associated devices, which were and are a failure.
3. You don't need ARM to create an SOC. Even Intel makes a more power efficient x86 SOC than the x elite.
4. Games and work are, like, HUGE use cases. If you can't use the ARM laptops for your job or your not-at-job, then what the fuck can you use it for?
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