Article: ~"Apple is taking computing away from the focus on tech specs and focusing on the whole package. They've made their own CPU, they've put deep thought into the software, and it shows, this thing is fast".
You: ~"Hold on, we don't know anything about the processor's specs. It can't feel fast to use for the end user until we can benchmark the CPU against an Intel CPU".
Me: While knowing about the processor might be interesting, if Apple have combined software and hardware to make a fast to use device, what the numbers show the raw hardware is capable of is rather irrelevant - even if they were extra bad, that would just show the software was extra carefully tuned.
Not sure you read the same article I read. Some exact quote:
"But: everyone I spoke to in the press room was raving first and foremost about the speed. None of us could shut up about it. It feels impossibly fast. (And our next thought: What happens if Apple has figured out a way to make a CPU like A4 that fits in an iPhone? If they pull that off for this year’s new iPhone, look out.)"
"Apple doesn’t just own and control a mobile CPU, they own and control the hands-down best mobile CPU in the world. Software aside (which is a huge thing to put aside), it may well be that no other company could make a device today matching the price, size, and performance of the iPad. They’re not getting into the CPU business for kicks, they’re getting into it to kick ass."
Now that i reread the whole thing, the author sounds extremely delusional and I am tempted to question his tech knowledge and what he knows about the hardware besides being a raging apple fan boy.
You can argue the details about whether an atom chip is a good alternative, but as a whole it's certainly in the right size, weight, battery life, touchscreen technology, modern OS and price ranges to make a worthy comparison.
You: ~"Hold on, we don't know anything about the processor's specs. It can't feel fast to use for the end user until we can benchmark the CPU against an Intel CPU".
Me: While knowing about the processor might be interesting, if Apple have combined software and hardware to make a fast to use device, what the numbers show the raw hardware is capable of is rather irrelevant - even if they were extra bad, that would just show the software was extra carefully tuned.