https://touchreviews.net/apple-inc-aapl-next-macbook-air-unlikely-to-feature-ipad-like-arm-processor/ iPhone, iPad Games, Apps, Reviews, News Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:56:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3 By: Qubo5118 https://touchreviews.net/apple-inc-aapl-next-macbook-air-unlikely-to-feature-ipad-like-arm-processor/#comment-23413 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:43:00 +0000 https://touchreviews.net/?p=19396#comment-23413 Processor speed can be deceiving on paper. Two processors with same 2.3ghz speed but different architecture could result in different benchmarks. For example, AMD 6 core chip has roughly same benchmark score of Intel quad core chip. ARM chip does use less energy but is also slower core per core compare to intel chips. This is why ARM is really popular in mobile applications. Many android phones, TVs use ARM processors since it doesn’t require a lot of computing power.

In regard to this article, the rumor is that Apple’s in house designed A5/A6 processor will be put into Macbook Air. A5 is designed to power iOS devices, not a full fledged OS X Lion. If you think about doing light photoshop work on a Macbook Air, word processing, while browsing the web, it will become apparent that A5 is not sufficient for these type of applications. It was designed to run a table with iOS.

From marketing point of view, iPad is designed to compete with netbooks (which it did successfully). A5 chip powered iPads won over intel Atom powered netbooks. One very reason is that cheaper processor can not power full OS such as Windows 7 correctly. If you ever used a Windows 7 netbook, you will know what I mean. This is why many netbooks were released with windows XP, an OS from 2003. 

If Apple used A5 in high end ultra thin note books, then people will either buy Macbook Pro with Core i series chip, or PC notebooks. 

While we are on this topic, there are rumors that AMD chips will be used on some Apple products. I highly doubt it. I have been building desktop computers for a few years and I have used both chips. AMD has been a price alternative but when it comes down to it, AMD is definitely more resource hungry and less efficient. One of the PC I built based on AMD quad core is noticeably less smooth compared to intel quad core chip when it comes to more demanding operations. However it was acceptable since AMD was cheaper. 

In order for Apple to use AMD they will have to rewrite the now very stable OSX Lion and really take a risk on stability and performance. Not happening soon. 
 

]]> By: Justin Baum https://touchreviews.net/apple-inc-aapl-next-macbook-air-unlikely-to-feature-ipad-like-arm-processor/#comment-23412 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:20:00 +0000 https://touchreviews.net/?p=19396#comment-23412  But ARM on the PC is really becoming very very fast and strong. They already have quad-core 64 bit 2.3 GH ARM still using less energy.

]]> By: Ghgh https://touchreviews.net/apple-inc-aapl-next-macbook-air-unlikely-to-feature-ipad-like-arm-processor/#comment-23361 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:52:00 +0000 https://touchreviews.net/?p=19396#comment-23361 agreed

]]> By: Qubo5118 https://touchreviews.net/apple-inc-aapl-next-macbook-air-unlikely-to-feature-ipad-like-arm-processor/#comment-23332 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:16:00 +0000 https://touchreviews.net/?p=19396#comment-23332 going from intel core i series to ARM is like going from cruise missiles to artillery shells. Apple would never do it. Only incentive would be price margin, which  apple has a lot already. They would never risk breaking a great product. Remember those core 2 duo Macbook airs and lacked popularity? Now the Core i series fixed it. Why would they “unfix” it by going with a much less powerful processor? We have iPad if you 1. need less processing power, 2. want to spend less. 

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