One thing I dont understand is Intel/AMD have x86 license, they could have build a low power USB x86 PC to run win9x using a slow SoC. If ARM can run Quake 3, I think x86 that is less efficient are still well enough to at least run window9x. I am pretty sure a lot of x86 softwares have req much lesser than Quake 3

Someone from these 2 companies need to copy this with some brain, u could sell this thing very well.

just imaging a USD size PC with a build-in wifi connection + a usb connector for storage + necessity connectors like audio jack/hdmi port. That allows u to plug into a TV and turn into a PC itself. Or may be plug multiple on my desktop to become 1 big + many mini PC running diff OS like old Linux.

because I dont think the current x86 chip can do it under a USB size while still able to run winXp @ decent speed.


but it is definitely a huge plus when u can turn a dumb TV into a fully fledge PC. May be microsoft use a lite version of win8 to deal with these low powered USB PC.

what the heck u talking about... read all my post please, I am saying Intel/AMD could have copy this and make a x86 USB PC, which is much more useful than ARM ones.

x86 and ARM are the same thing just diff instruction set/architecture. If this thing is possible for ARM, it will also be possible for Intel/AMD. Its just whether they want to do it or not and sell it in mass quantity. my say for running win9x is a simple example, wouldnt it be great to have a USB PC that can be a printer? Driver can be rewritten.

Coca-cola is a billion dollar business selling cheap drinks
Usb thumb drive business are also big, they are selling around RM20-150 as well.
b4 thailand HDD maker are selling millions of HDD @ RM100-200 too.
So are Optical drive maker/DRAMsm makers/keyboard/mouse business.

Electronics can be very cheap.

it is a big business, just whether they want to do or not. they also once tot embedded cpu/smartphone/tablet is a waste of time, look what apple/Samsung prove them wrong?

u see thats why they Intel/AMD has been thinking for smartphones/embedded system back ,now they(intel) are trying to join back in for what they have missed to fight what apple/ARM/Samsung has been sucessful in. My question is why not check out other unexplored area rather than fighting Apple/Samsung/ARM? Raspberry pi had proves that market does want a cheap micro computer.

computer chip in Phones are simple, it was use to think a low profit zone.

besides, Intel probably have enough volume to feed the entire industry. Intel/AMD supplied like 90% of desktop/server/notebook chips, u called that low volume?

besides, low powered chips are small, many times smaller, a single wafer can produce much more SoC than a big Sandy bridge.

It is not about the cost ARM can achieve it is the WILL that Intel/AMD willing to try this market or not.

Software is not an issue, it can be rewritten for drivers, but it is the x86 legacy softwares. x86 got huge library of softwares. If Intel/AMD is smart they would use this as their advantages. the same could have said for Microsoft on their windows.

didnt I told u, the production of ARM cpu is base on wafer, each wafer can produce much more ARM cpu than a large sandy bridge CPU. ARM cpu simple, the die size is small, each wafer can make more of it. Intel/AMD can do the same on x86 it is no diff.
You need to take a read about the die size b4 start talking about how awesome ARM volume is. If Intel have production issue, they wouldnt waste their time playing with Medfield CPU trying to complete with ARM.

if old legacy software arent important, why Microsoft make such a big fuss about trying to keep windows 7 able to run old software? Besides it is not about being able to buy them or not, but being able to run it, many of us still have old legal copy software, it will be wonderful that I still can use it on my new hardware.

plenty of simple free software nowadays can run on embedded system. So it is not just having legacy software, but also covered the others.

I dont see how x86 being a disadvantages to ARM when they got huge library of softwares backing it.

This post has been edited by Boldnut: Mar 27 2012, 08:32 AM

there are box version of OSes, there old softwares that are still useful, these softwares are abandon by the developer, it is far less likely they will recompile for ARM. free softwares are not limited to OPEN softwares, there are many not open ones too.

if I could run any old games/software that I use to own on my USB device, wouldn't it be great? if there is an x86 smartphone, I'll ditch ARM cpu any time.

its the same concept to Raspberry Pi, just x86 are more useful given the legacy they have.

it is a reaching tool, but they take it out and it sold out easily showed that market want cheap PCs.