Cheaper ARM laptop chips could be a really big deal

[Redaktion]

Lost in the Snapdragon X Elite hype is the prospect of lower-end Qualcomm laptop chips taking the market by storm as these hold so much more promise for a true revolution than their costlier counterparts do.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Cheaper-ARM-laptop-chips-could-be-a-really-big-deal.868023.0.html

[GeorgeS]

Sure, the author has a point - well SORT OF.

Given the ranges of: <$500, >$500 & <$1000, >$1000 & <$2000, >$2000 the bottom segment is generally where heavily discounted and Chrome devices can be had.

Actually Chrome devices WERE the 'inexpensive leaders' before OEM's started jacking their prices up to the next segment.

Forgetting for the moment that most 'casual computing tasks' have shifted to users Smart Phones and Tablets where a laptop is generally needed is when TYPING and/or a KEYBOARD is involved which generally ANY of the CPU's the author mentioned (including MANY that they did not mention!) would be functional.
(IE: a dual core CPU with 4-8GB of RAM is enough! As an example, 2-cores and 8GB is what I'm using RIGHT NOW!)

The CHALLENGE it would seem is for the OEM's to produce systems INEXPENSIVE enough for them, distributors and retailers to have enough margin on to make a profit with.

[Gibi]

2-cores and 8GB is what I'm using RIGHT NOW!

Now disable swap and check in how many minutes you'll get a BSOD. Beyond that time point with swap enabled you are getting 2-5 times less performance than your system is capable of.
Speaking of stupid hardware, I have an old Atom tablet capable of running Windows 10 Home on 2GB, can browse internet and do office apps or vscode, at 1-4W consumption. But I'm not saying "2GB is enough".

[GeorgeS]

2-cores and 8GB is what I'm using RIGHT NOW!

Now disable swap and check in how many minutes you'll get a BSOD. Beyond that time point with swap enabled you are getting 2-5 times less performance than your system is capable of.
Speaking of stupid hardware, I have an old Atom tablet capable of running Windows 10 Home on 2GB, can browse internet and do office apps or vscode, at 1-4W consumption. But I'm not saying "2GB is enough".

Considering I'm using a 2013 Mac there is no 'swap' to turn off or BSOD. :)

Honestly you might be surprised with what EVERYONE was able to accomplish with far far weaker hardware in the past. (and even today)

Granted if you own a business that requires a high end workstation to accomplish the work you do then your likely going to be forced to purchase one.
Likewise if you WORK FOR a company which work requires a high end workstation to accomplish THEIR tasks THEY will likely provide one.

However, outside of 'hobbies' and 'interests' and unpaid time wasting most consumers have shifted the majority of their 'computer needs' to their smart phones and tablets in just about everything but use cases that require a keyboard.

There an inexpensive 'Chrome' or 'Win on ARM' or even 'Chrome on ARM' could easily be all that they need for shopping, web surfing, banking, streaming content, paying bills and doing their taxes.

(that is of course if they are/were not already doing those things with their smart phones & tablets!)

BTW: I have a 'dual core Atom' with 1GB of memory that TODAY can do all of the above. IDK how many watts the system uses. :)

[Gibi]

Considering I'm using a 2013 Mac there is no 'swap' to turn off or BSOD. :)

Then you don't know mac well enough. There is swap to disable and there are kernel panics.

Honestly you might be surprised with what EVERYONE was able to accomplish with far far weaker hardware in the past.

In the past software was less demanding too and no one had ideas to make Office or VSCode basically a webpage in a window.

There an inexpensive 'Chrome' or 'Win on ARM' or even 'Chrome on ARM' could easily be all that they need for shopping, web surfing, banking, streaming content, paying bills and doing their taxes.

You should be using a tablet for this in 2024, why even buy a laptop.

[GeorgeS]

There an inexpensive 'Chrome' or 'Win on ARM' or even 'Chrome on ARM' could easily be all that they need for shopping, web surfing, banking, streaming content, paying bills and doing their taxes.

You should be using a tablet for this in 2024, why even buy a laptop.

The thing is, tablets SUCK when it comes to typing and having PORTS for other devices.

Sure, MS bloated even their basic 'office' software up to where it eats large chunks of RAM & Disk space.

However for those of us that don't actually use MS's wears, Libre Office or even Open Office work fine with less than 2GB of RAM and Linux needs very few resources (I have it installed on that Dual Core Atom powered 'Netbook')

As far as 'knowing OSX', I don't really HAVE or NEED to as the Dual Core i5 with 8GB RAM & 256GB of storage is all THIS computer has EVER needed. (and I may have over 100 tabs open in Firefox all the time)

The reality is that while many/most people really DON'T have any need for a classic "personal computer" these days and when they do the AMOUNT OF computer they need is MUCH LESS than what many might claim. (unless of course they are playing AAA games or are using your computer for your business)