Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by pjmlp 1234 days ago
80% of the world desktops aren't going to ever be replaced by Apple hardware, unless Apple decides on another price policy.

Likewise I have given up on the Year of Desktop Linux when Windows 7 came to be, and even with the latest hiccups, I don't see a reason that it will ever change.

ChromeOS and Android, even if running the Linux kernel, aren't a GNU userland, nor a replacement for the Windows workloads that matter to the people that keep going for Windows all around the globe.

So unless Windows on ARM is a success (so far it has failed at it), Intel and AMD don't have much to worry about for desktop workloads.
1 comments
lotsofpulp 1234 days ago
I do not know about 80%, but I went into a Bank of America last year to get a certified check, and the employee did everything for me via an iPad.

I have also seen hotel employees use property management system software on iPads, no on premise server or Windows required.

I would not be surprised if there is a lot of opportunity for change here. It is just so much easier to train and troubleshoot on a machine that has little (or no?) possibility of malware, can be fixed by just swapping it out with a replacement and logging into the app, uses less power, and is cheaper.

link
pjmlp 1234 days ago
America is one of the few Apple holdouts, as well as countries in similar wage levels.

The majority of the world among 195 recognised countries + others, isn't as lucky.

link
lotsofpulp 1234 days ago
The context is about the value of x86 versus ARM. Whether it be Apple or Google or whoever, the crux of the matter is that locked down ARM end user devices are more viable and cheaper than in previous decades due to prevalence of broadband internet, which is available globally.
link
pjmlp 1234 days ago
And Windows, because that is what most common people use on their desktops and laptops across the globe.
link
lotsofpulp 1234 days ago
Sure, I do not know if Microsoft has any competitively priced ARM products, but if they do, it still does not help Intel.
link
pjmlp 1233 days ago
So far all attempts to push Windows on ARM have been a commercial failure and it hasn't been for lack of trying.
link