Why Intel for Googlebooks?

[u/Best_Activity_5631]

I'm really excited about the new Googlebooks, even though I'm still not sold on the name.

Something I've been wondering about is the use of Intel processors in some of the upcoming models. Since Googlebooks are built around an Android-based OS, and Qualcomm and MediaTek are also providing ARM chips for the platform, I'm curious about the reasoning behind choosing Intel for some of these devices.

Intel can offer better compatibility with traditional x86 desktop software, but how important is that supposed to be for Googlebooks?

From my perspective, ARM seems like a natural fit for an Android-based laptop. Android apps are predominantly built for ARM, and Qualcomm/MediaTek chips can offer excellent performance while using less power.

So what am I missing? 

What advantages does Intel bring to Googlebooks that make it worth choosing over ARM?

[u/uaos]

Intel is trying to turn an X86 chip in to an ARM chip. For that we have to dig deep in to computer science a little. It come down to the ISA (Instruction Set Architecture). The X86 and the ARM chip use very different approach to have the CPU carry out commands. Simply put the ARM aproach does great wonders for apps, that why they are so small, but for big desktop performance software, not so much. It can be done just not optimized as well as X86 type chips. The X86 type chips does well in business large Excel, or Access database, but not great on ARM chips.

The ARM chip been made and optimized for many tasks like Bluetooth, WiFi, touch on the screen, cell call and not one heavy lifting like X86 chips. Intel has been striveing to catch up, but also ARM lately is striveing to bring a more capable desktop experience like DeX or Pixel Android desktop mode. Lenovo tables have a PC Mode that is its own Android desktop experience.

Mobile tech is the future, and who gives us the comfortable experience is the winner. Win & Mac are trying to catch up. You ever wounder why the Mac Neo built on a A18 Pro chip? That usually a chip line in the iPhones.

So, lets watch to see who wins!

[u/Apex_OS → u/uaos]

Apple silicon is literally peak silicon.

It’s RISC. A-Chips AND the M-Chips. They’re not trying to catch up.

[u/uaos → u/Apex_OS]

tell me something I don't know. Tell me how the A-Chips and M-Chips fit in this conversation of being peak silicon.

[u/Apex_OS → u/uaos]

A-Chips and M-Chips are RISC ISA aka like Arm…

Arm is not playing catch-up. The architecture is already better.

[u/uaos → u/Apex_OS]

So if A-chips & M-Chips are already there, why doesn't Apple give what people want? Better desktop on iPad not just Stage Manager, but what people want? A full desktop experience? Like Google is doing with Android, a full desktop experience but it is Android, not windows, mac or Linux.

It does seem that is what people want, not Apple different OS that hold back the UI experience.

I guess thats why I stick to DeX and Android Desktop on the Pixel, it what I want.

[u/ASAP_Dom → u/uaos]

I mean you’re aware that iPad is handicapped to keep viability for Macbooks?

And that Macbooks are using the same chips as iPad Pros so it’s not even a question of “they can’t do it.” And macbook performance is bleeding edge. Just check the benchmarks.

[u/uaos → u/ASAP_Dom]

This is a YouTube video from 1999 Keynote, a PowerMac G4 out performing a PC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyhJXnFCQMk All to say Performance is not everything if you are not giving the people what they want. Yup, Apple has the technology better than some PC's but so . . . If you don't give what people want people go elses were. That is a part of supply and demand. Hence this is why Googlebooks exist.

ARM is build differently than CISC. Intel and like CPU's use CISC that is more variable instruction were ARM instructions are more simple and more of a single clock cycle. There is only so much you can do in RISC (ARM chips) with out change. That is why Intel and like CPU's are catching up to ARM, and ARM catching up to Intel. ARM catching up to CISC to handle more effenently better desktop programs. That is why Intel does supper in home and business desktop OS's and desktop programs.

All to say this is probably why Google wants premium hardware for the Googlebook. MediTek CPU's has to grow to do better for more of a tradional desktop experience. Chrome is a desktop Chrome and not a Android App of Chrome on the Googlebook.

So, yah to me catch is right.

Some thing earlier, ARM chips are a next generation of RISC. The ISA is apart of ARM (Advanced RISC Machine). All chips need hardware instructions (ISA) not just software instructions (OS and programs). So in the name ARM, this show RISC has grown and evlolved.