Yeah, looks kinda expensive. And not too fast, too: 1.3 GHz quad core CPU's in an age where there are at least twice faster CPU's in smartphones already? Even 1.8 GHz octa-core Exynos 5420-based ARM Chromebooks are laggy, judging by reviews.
Of course, I understand: doing hardware is hard, and there is an acute shortage of open source ARM SoC's. Still, I wish they could figure out a way to provide more hardware for a smaller price. If nothing else, it would help the adoption of an open hardware laptop greatly: it's kinda weird that all this work is so that only some 1,000 people would get their laptops.
1.3 GHz is not bad at all for an ARM. It's not trying to compete with x86 for the performance crown. It's decently fast and runs linux apps like a web browser just fine.
I've been using ARM machines as a desktop replacement for a few years now. Native applications run just fine on fairly modest hardware. However, for web browsing, a quad core Cortex-A9 around that frequency and with a 32 bit DRAM interface just crosses in the usable (but somewhat laggy) category. Cortex-A15 with a 64 bit memory interface feels much closer to modern x86 machines.
Novena's 64 bit memory interface might actually make a big difference. From my tests, a 1080p 32 bit framebuffer uses up around 1/4 of the system memory bandwidth with a 32 bit DDR3 interface.
I also get the feeling that desktop browsers (chromium, firefox) aren't very well optimised for ARM.
Just curious, which ARM machines have you been using as desktop replacements? And why bother, since, I presume, none of these are mass-market products? What advantages do they have over x86 machines?
I'm mostly working on software for ARM and since all the tools I need for work run well enough, why not? I still use x86 at home.
> which ARM machines have you been using as desktop replacements?
The ones I've used most were IMX53QSB, then ODROID-X2, ODROID-XU and I'm now switching to ODROID-XU3.
> What advantages do they have over x86 machines?
I was able to get rid of the x86 desktop while only using ARM hardware I would have used anyway. Also, the boards have a tiny footprint (you can tape several to the back of a monitor for example), they're very low power and can be passively cooled. They're very cheap too.
I've also used some RK3188-based mini PCs dongles for their portability. You can carry a reasonably fast GNU/Linux machine in your pocket and don't cost much more than Raspberry Pi, which I find way too slow.
There are varying degrees of "fine". I'm sure it's acceptable, but according to tests, even Chromebooks with octa-core 1.8 GHz Exynos chips are somewhat laggy compared to Intel-based alternatives. Chrome OS is basically a browser on Linux, after all.
I know the variety of hardware; started with ZX Spectrum (3.5 MHz 8-bit Z80), programmed TCP stack on a 25 MHz 16-bit CPU and I could be fine with a six-year-old laptop (typing on one, actually). Still, premium-priced laptop could use more power; especially if it's ARM, there's never too much.
that speaks more about the architecture and requirements of ChromeOS than about ARM SoCs. For example, I have Firefox OS running pretty well on an APC Paper with specs so modest that they are trumped by most mid-range smartphones these days. Both systems are very similar in the sense that its a linux kernel and the interaction with the user happens on HTML5 based apps but one is striving to run on single core with 128mb of RAM and the other is running on Chromebook Pixel which is one of the best laptops available in the market today.
The poster you replied to said that you can run apps LIKE a browser just fine. Not that you should run (web) apps INSIDE a browser. When running proper native code works just fine why would you choose to run web "apps" anyway?
Of course, I understand: doing hardware is hard, and there is an acute shortage of open source ARM SoC's. Still, I wish they could figure out a way to provide more hardware for a smaller price. If nothing else, it would help the adoption of an open hardware laptop greatly: it's kinda weird that all this work is so that only some 1,000 people would get their laptops.