I would only consider any of the upcoming Windows on ARM laptops with the new Qualcomm processors if and only if there is first-tier support for Linux and nothing is locked-down tight re: Secure Boot or TPM.
@qlp Define first tier support. I figure the best case scenario is how Qualcomm supports current mobile SOCs with Linux / Android now and that situation is dismal. Each SOC gets stuck on the same major kernel version.... FOREVER. This of course is why if you look at the sys info on any Qualcomm powered Android device, the kernel lags mainline by a year or two at least.
@JayLittle Providing support and keeping up with kernel versions (along with the access and support for the required board support packages), as you mention, is absolutely critical and is the top of my list.
Be more like Intel or AMD when it comes to GPU drivers and support compared to NVIDIA.
I want to see more alternatives to Qualcomm when it comes to ARM-based devices for laptops and desktops. I've seen rumblings of NVIDIA joining the fray once the Microsoft/Qualcomm exclusivity goes away; but, I have my reservations with NVIDIA (see aformentioned GPU drivers).
@qlp Oh God. Forget Nvidia. I was so happy when their attempt to buy ARM fell through because it probably would've rendered the processor architecture entirely irrelevant for me... outside of iOS devices of course.
@JayLittle I feel the same way for client devices, but I kind of have some hope for Ampere Altra and One, along with... I hate to say it... NVIDIA Grace CPU for the server side of things.
I want to be optimistic, but I also hope RISC-V will mature enough to provide competition to those two chips, along with AMD and Intel.
@JayLittle Yeah, I was a DEC Alpha and a Sun SPARC stan back in the day. I mean, it was the UltraSPARC T1 processor that really kickstarted the multi-core processors in the relatively affordable server market (thus, eliminating IBM POWER or System z).
Unfortunately, Compaq borging DEC and, then HP borging Compaq, killed any hope for anything decent as it ushered in the Itanic.
Sun sort of went sideways with the UltraSPARC IV, but their T series processors were still decent... but getting a lot more expensive.
@JayLittle I worked for a marketing agency that had Intel as a client around the time of the Itanic. Let's just say that I had a good laugh or two when reading some of the stuff the account and creative teams were working on. They also hated it when I used the name Itanic.
It was even funnier that I saw an ad for the Intel Itanium that featured a large yacht or a smaller cruise ship and started ROFLing. The senior account manager came over to see what I was laughing about and when she saw the ad, there was an audible sigh knowing how it reflects the Itanic name, turned around and walked away.
I'm so glad that AMD64 came out of that and still laugh when I see references to "amd64" in software when others have switched to "x86-64" or "x64" knowing how Intel shot themselves iin the foot 😂
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