[ho_schi]

I will not buy an device with ARM running Microsoft Windows. Ship it with Linux or we ignore it like the other devices with ARM. Windows isn’t built for ARM and the closed-source software isn’t running well or slowly on ARM. The reason to use Windows is that nothing changes and legacy software from 1988 runs like on MS-DOS.

What did Qualcomm think when they signed a monopoly deal with Microsoft? That they will benefit from this legally questionable action? Microsoft exploited hardware manufactures to spread their bad software in the 90ies and only Microsoft did win.

Ship it with Linux and target an initial a small but welcoming market. If you want just a cheap device with ARM for browsing only, Chromebook (next monopoly by Google…).

[high_na_euv]

Yea, lets start with tiny userbase of vocal nerds who cant even agree on how to do gui / package management

instead of the OS with majority of market share and giant userbase

90s are over, it is time to move on and stop EEEing everywhere

[ho_schi]

That’s not correct and the Steamdeck proofs it :)

The manufacturers are always the key. What ships pre-installed and/or runs well after setup matters. Thats why ThinkPads run so well with Linux. ThinkPads are certified for Linux or even ship readily with Fedora or Ubuntu.

That I’m using Arch and using mostly the TTY isn’t an issue. It doesn’t matter that the next user prefers GNOME and Fedora. Because we’ve settled for compatibility and not incompatibility through Windows or MacOS. The rest is just our personal choice. How cares if we run SysVInit or Systemd? Only the user.

PS: Applies also to Dells Developer Edition Laptops.

[guesswho_]

[flagged]

[eigenspace]

For what it's worth, they are in fact targeting Linux support: https://www.qualcomm.com/developer/blog/2024/05/upstreaming-...

[nipperkinfeet]

It's no longer 2012. Windows has progressed much since RT. I have a Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 device running Windows 11, and I'm really impressed with how well it operates, how long the battery lasts, and how well it emulates practically any 64-bit software I've tested. This is coming from someone who hates Windows 11. The majority of the software I use has been or will be complied for ARM eventually.

[doublepg23]

Wouldn't consumer Linux running on an ARM core just be a Chromebook?

[guesswho_]

Get a chromebook.

[AtlasBarfed]

I agree this is a prime moment for Linux on the desktop to shine, but so has the last 10 years of windows destroying its UI and backwards compatibility.

...I have no faith.

[eigenspace]

> ...I have no faith.

You don't need faith, you just need to look around: It's already shining!

Support for Linux in consumer software applications and devices has improved a huge amount over just the past few years. Using a Linux desktop in 2024 is not a second class experience at all anymore.

Sure the userbase is still quite small relative to Windows and MacOS, but in absolute numbers it's still a huge population of users, and it's also growing very fast. That combined with the fact that supporting Linux is typically quite easy means that more and more vendors are supporting it, which is creating a positive feedback loop by enticing more users.

No need for pessimism here.

[AtlasBarfed]

I daily drive mint and Linux distros for 25 years now.

I'm avoiding Wayland and whatever rewrite of gnome/kde is underway. Not to mention snaps are noxious and counterintuitive to user applications. At least flatpaks are easily jail broken / repermissioned with flat seal easily.

Upgrading breaks way too often. At least the 32/64 bit migration has occurred. About 80% of the time I've simply needed to reinstall the OS on major upgrades.

The killer app of Linux desktop migration, WINE, is still a crap shoot, although I use it for a lot of retro gaming, but even WinRAR or other common utils are hit and miss.

Hardware support (amd integrated graphics especially) drags.

Portables still are worse at powermgmt last I checked.

A lot of this is only marginally better (or for the rewrites, actually worse, and snaps are worse) over the last decade as ms shot itself in the foot.

[guesswho_]

Cursing windows is a classic fashion. Come on, be happy that the os exits and maintained.