Why ARM’s Dell Win Won’t Challenge Wintel
While a significant design win it is only for a niche market.
England-based ARM Ltd scored a major design win this week when Dell Inc. announced it was using the chip in one of its latest business laptops, the Latitude Z.
The second largest PC OEM in the world announced that it was using Texas Instruments Inc.’s OMAP3430 in its Latitude Z model. Texas Instruments’ OMAP3430 chip makes use of an ARM microprocessor core. The solution is part of what Dell calls Latitude-ON, where the OMAP system allows users to boot into a slimmed down Linux operating environment with access to a web browser. When turning on a notebook using the Latitude-On mode, the PC delivers nearly instantaneous web access, bypassing the lengthy boot-up time required for Windows.
With Latitude-On intended only to perform a specific and limited function in notebook PCs, iSuppli Corp. does not believe it represents a threat to Wintel’s dominance. Dell describes Latitude-On as a “system on a system” wherein a regular Dell laptop using an Intel Corp. X86 and Microsoft Windows adds a separate subsystem based on Texas Instruments’ OMAP3430 chip.
The aim of Latitude-On is to provide access to web-based e-mail, contacts, calendars and other Internet content and services without the lengthy boot cycle typically associated with traditional laptops. Basic document viewing functionality also is supported for Microsoft Office and Adobe PDF files.
In addition to TI OMAP processor, Latitude-On also includes WI-FI and mobile broadband connections. The Latitude-On module can also be retro-fitted to specific Latitude models.
While at first glance Latitude-On appears to represent an encroachment of the ARM microprocessor and Linux operating system into the Wintel-dominated PC world, the reality is quite different. Yes, Dell is making use of a TI OMAP processor based system in these laptops, but it is only being employed for a very narrow purpose: providing a very lightweight conduit to certain types of information. It does not in any way displace the key functions of the Intel- and Microsoft-based laptop platform.
ARM microprocessor-based chips presently do not command any significant volume in the PC market.
The main barrier for ARM’s acceptance is that there is no version of Microsoft Windows that has been compiled to run natively on the microprocessor architecture. Microprocessors based on the ARM instruction set use a fundamentally different set of operating procedures than those of the x86 processors from AMD and Intel. Therefore an ARM-based microprocessor cannot run applications and operating systems designed for X86 chips.
Despite rumors that a port of Windows to the ARM has been or is being investigated, it seems unlikely that there will be an ARM-centric Windows PC in the near- or mid-term. However, an ARM-centric Linux PC certainly is possible and could be an intriguing option for users looking for alternatives to Wintel in personal computing.
Blurring the Lines
The Latitude-On system endows notebook PCs with features similar to smart phones like the iPhone and members of the Blackberry line, which also provide access to email and document viewing in an “instant on” manner.
Dell’s solution certainly represents an attempt by the PC market to fight back against the kind of access that smart phones provide. Dell clearly has sought and received sufficient customer feedback to implement such a rapid-on-to-limited-environment system. However, before drawing any conclusion on the success of this approach, iSuppli will wait and see how the system performs with customers. It also will be interesting to see what the reaction will be from Intel and Microsoft.
England-based ARM Ltd scored a major design win this week when Dell Inc. announced it was using the chip in one of its latest business laptops, the Latitude Z.
The second largest PC OEM in the world announced that it was using Texas Instruments Inc.’s OMAP3430 in its Latitude Z model. Texas Instruments’ OMAP3430 chip makes use of an ARM microprocessor core. The solution is part of what Dell calls Latitude-ON, where the OMAP system allows users to boot into a slimmed down Linux operating environment with access to a web browser. When turning on a notebook using the Latitude-On mode, the PC delivers nearly instantaneous web access, bypassing the lengthy boot-up time required for Windows.
With Latitude-On intended only to perform a specific and limited function in notebook PCs, iSuppli Corp. does not believe it represents a threat to Wintel’s dominance. Dell describes Latitude-On as a “system on a system” wherein a regular Dell laptop using an Intel Corp. X86 and Microsoft Windows adds a separate subsystem based on Texas Instruments’ OMAP3430 chip.
The aim of Latitude-On is to provide access to web-based e-mail, contacts, calendars and other Internet content and services without the lengthy boot cycle typically associated with traditional laptops. Basic document viewing functionality also is supported for Microsoft Office and Adobe PDF files.
In addition to TI OMAP processor, Latitude-On also includes WI-FI and mobile broadband connections. The Latitude-On module can also be retro-fitted to specific Latitude models.
While at first glance Latitude-On appears to represent an encroachment of the ARM microprocessor and Linux operating system into the Wintel-dominated PC world, the reality is quite different. Yes, Dell is making use of a TI OMAP processor based system in these laptops, but it is only being employed for a very narrow purpose: providing a very lightweight conduit to certain types of information. It does not in any way displace the key functions of the Intel- and Microsoft-based laptop platform.
ARM microprocessor-based chips presently do not command any significant volume in the PC market.
The main barrier for ARM’s acceptance is that there is no version of Microsoft Windows that has been compiled to run natively on the microprocessor architecture. Microprocessors based on the ARM instruction set use a fundamentally different set of operating procedures than those of the x86 processors from AMD and Intel. Therefore an ARM-based microprocessor cannot run applications and operating systems designed for X86 chips.
Despite rumors that a port of Windows to the ARM has been or is being investigated, it seems unlikely that there will be an ARM-centric Windows PC in the near- or mid-term. However, an ARM-centric Linux PC certainly is possible and could be an intriguing option for users looking for alternatives to Wintel in personal computing.
Blurring the Lines
The Latitude-On system endows notebook PCs with features similar to smart phones like the iPhone and members of the Blackberry line, which also provide access to email and document viewing in an “instant on” manner.
Dell’s solution certainly represents an attempt by the PC market to fight back against the kind of access that smart phones provide. Dell clearly has sought and received sufficient customer feedback to implement such a rapid-on-to-limited-environment system. However, before drawing any conclusion on the success of this approach, iSuppli will wait and see how the system performs with customers. It also will be interesting to see what the reaction will be from Intel and Microsoft.
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