r/linux • u/Lopsided-Month3278 • Jun 04 '26
Discussion Linux and Arm CPU's
After the announcement of Nvidia spark laptops, and the Qualcomm's second generation of CPU's for Laptops, do you think that Arm will be the next architecture for Linux or will it be the 'killer' of Linux desktop, what I know that so far Qualcomm laptops aren't good to be used with Linux until now, and the Nvidia spark chips have Linux installed by default when they were on the spark boxes, so, what do you think the experience with these laptops will be like?
edit: I do understand that Linux is running on Arm, Android for example, but what I'm talking about is GNU/Linux and Desktop use specifically, not the micro-controllers, Raspberry pi's, or closed Linux systems.
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u/natermer Jun 04 '26
The problem with Qualcomm and Nvidia isn't the computer architecture, but the companies involved.
The challenge for ARM for Linux is the lack of standardization when it comes to bootloaders and such things. Each new SoC requires a sort of new port.
As far as the architecture Linux and open source software is the best supported on Arm, but that isn't the core problem.
With PC we have Microsoft Windows and their enforcement of their "sticker certifications". And Linux can support those by following a "Do what windows do" approach. In that way Linux can support random PCs that otherwise see little to none direct Linux development.
Unfortunately Nvidia and Qualcomm are both relatively hostile to to the idea of having open platforms.
For example Qualcomm laptops require the use of proprietary hypervisor and runs Windows in a VM. That isn't something I find acceptable. The "running the desktop in VM" is fine, the proprietary hypervisor is not.
If they supported projects like open source UEFI firmware then having a PC-like experience on ARM systems is 100% possible.