[Info-vax] Microsoft On ARM Failure (was Re: VSI licensing policy (again))

[Dave Froble]

On 9/23/2021 9:43 PM, Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:
> On Friday, September 24, 2021 at 3:20:15 AM UTC+12, Dave Froble wrote:
>
>> x86 is cheap.
>
> x86 is not cheap. Consider a typical Windows PC, where the two most expensive components are the x86 CPU and the OS; the providers of both of those make obscene profits, while the PC vendor is lucky to manage an overall 1-2% margin.
>
> Can you get an x86 CPU for a 2-figure price tag? Not a chance. With ARM, you can get an entire *computer* (like the Raspberry π) for a 2-figure price tag.
>

Not lately.  AMD's Ryzon CPUs are a bit more pricey than the past 
Athlons.  Still, on Newegg:

AMD Ryzen 3 1st Gen - RYZEN 3 1200 Summit Ridge (Zen) 4-Core 3.1 GHz 
(3.4 GHz Turbo) Socket AM4 65W YD1200BBAEBOX Desktop Processor

     $117.99 (5 Offers)
     Free Shipping

And you can bet that PC mfgs can get a better price.  Maybe even that 2 
digits you mentioned.

Yeah, bottom of the line, but for a home PC for email and browser, it 
will do a respectable job.

Even if an ARM is $10, it won't affect the price of the PC very much.

Now if you want to look at Intel's server CPUs, they can make the price 
of an Alpha appear cheap.

:-)

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
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