Freescale to launch netbook CPU - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 6th Jan 2009, 14:54

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2009/01...-netbook-cpu/1

Freescale is to launch a new CPU - the i.MX515 - based around ARM's Cortex-A8 system and aimed at the netbook market.

proxess · 6th Jan 2009, 15:04

If the price is attractive on these products, then I'm pretty sure they'll hit main stream.

steveo_mcg · 6th Jan 2009, 15:21

It looks a good idea especially if its cheap with that long battery life. Only problem i can see is you'd have to compile every thing you wanted to use on it out side of the repo's.

Xtrafresh · 6th Jan 2009, 15:54

no x86 = no mainstream appeal. Nobody will buy it when it is sitting next to a windows-based Atom, unless it is half the price, which i dont believe.
It's a shame, really, but for Linux to be pervasive manufacturers need to ship some hybrid stuff first, or launch full-scale PR-campaigns to get some big corporate clients: people use what they use at work.

bowman · 6th Jan 2009, 16:25

'Sadly'? Not really..

n3mo · 6th Jan 2009, 17:34

I for one would love a non x86 netbook, I'd pay for it just for the lack of ability to install Windows.

seveneleven · 6th Jan 2009, 17:56

And what platform/chipset will it be accompanied by?Surely it won't be pin-compatible with Intel's chip?

Lilliput King · 6th Jan 2009, 18:04

Maybe no mainstream appeal, but with a 16 hour battery with a 6-cell and no moving parts some people would certainly buy it.

Like, me, for instance.

Cupboard · 6th Jan 2009, 19:23

I am sure you could have some form of Window CE on it, though why you would want to is beyond me.
Anyways, sounds good to me even if it is rather similar to other things on the market, like the processor behind the Beagle Board (that I still want)

NiHiLiST · 6th Jan 2009, 22:20

The only vaguely Unix-derived OS that I've found worthwhile using on a laptop (or desktop for that matter) is OS X, Linux still just isn't ready for the mainstream. It's come a long way since I first tried Redhat 5.1 but I still see it as a hobby OS for the desktop.

I swear by Linux for servers and embedded applications, but OS X and Windows still absolutely kill it for mainstream desktop/laptop use and I can't see that changing anytime soon.

Sadly, because of this, I expect tales of this CPU's unexplored potential will be told in years to come when it's long dead

LordPyrinc · 7th Jan 2009, 01:45

The battery life is commendable... if it lives up to its claims. Yet, I agree that the inability to run a Windows OS will not make it mainstream. Longer battery life is very attractive to traveling business people, but what percent of those travelers do not use Windows or other Microsoft applications in their respective companies?

p3n · 7th Jan 2009, 08:29

Why would it need to run windows? Have you seen windows XP on a 1ghz processor with <1mb of L2 cache? Yeah not so good eh...

Xtrafresh · 7th Jan 2009, 09:26

it needs to run windows because that is what people use at work. People will use that same thing at home too, because only 1% of the population is interested enough to even give anything else a thought.

Sad and injust as it might be, to the general public a PC without Windows sounds like a car without tires.

kenco_uk · 7th Jan 2009, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by p3n

Why would it need to run windows? Have you seen windows XP on a 1ghz processor with <1mb of L2 cache? Yeah not so good eh...

Ran alright on my P3-933 at the time!

Moriarty · 7th Jan 2009, 13:43

The netbook market seems the right place for Linux to get it's foot in the door. It loses mass market appeal in more powerful machines due to incompatability with a gamut of software, but for something thats just a browser platform it would be a great choice.

6th Jan 2009, 14:54	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Freescale to launch netbook CPU http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2009/01...-netbook-cpu/1 Freescale is to launch a new CPU - the i.MX515 - based around ARM's Cortex-A8 system and aimed at the netbook market. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

6th Jan 2009, 15:04	#2
proxess Victim of AdvancedModernCapitalism Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The town of Love, Funchal Posts: 597	If the price is attractive on these products, then I'm pretty sure they'll hit main stream. __________________ Netbook: Asus eeePC 901; 12Gb SDD; Custom Ubuntu 9.04 Minimal Compiz Standalone. Laptop: Intel Centrino Duo T5500 1.66ghz; 2048mb RAM; ATI Mobility Radeon x2300; Hitachi 120gb iPod Classic 120GB; Maxtor 160GB External; Ubuntu 9.10 x64 and Windows 7 x64.

6th Jan 2009, 15:21	#3
steveo_mcg What owl? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 3,975	It looks a good idea especially if its cheap with that long battery life. Only problem i can see is you'd have to compile every thing you wanted to use on it out side of the repo's. __________________ No boom today, boom tomorrow... there's always a boom tomorrow.

6th Jan 2009, 15:54	#4
Xtrafresh Blame it on the Boogie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Nijmegen, Holland Posts: 1,907	no x86 = no mainstream appeal. Nobody will buy it when it is sitting next to a windows-based Atom, unless it is half the price, which i dont believe. It's a shame, really, but for Linux to be pervasive manufacturers need to ship some hybrid stuff first, or launch full-scale PR-campaigns to get some big corporate clients: people use what they use at work. __________________ AXGS Blog: A fresh look at P55. Fresh Fusion: Unfinished \| FFF: Name change and text update 19-11

6th Jan 2009, 19:23	#9
Cupboard I'm not a modder. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bury St Edmunds/Durham Uni Posts: 1,840	I am sure you could have some form of Window CE on it, though why you would want to is beyond me. Anyways, sounds good to me even if it is rather similar to other things on the market, like the processor behind the Beagle Board (that I still want) __________________ i7 920, 8800GTS 512, 6GB Corsair all in an Intel DX58SO; 3*320GB RAID5; CM Stacker Samsung Q45.

6th Jan 2009, 16:25	#5
bowman Multimodder Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 249	'Sadly'? Not really..

6th Jan 2009, 17:34	#6
n3mo Multimodder Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 184	I for one would love a non x86 netbook, I'd pay for it just for the lack of ability to install Windows.

6th Jan 2009, 17:56	#7
seveneleven Minimodder Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Plovdiv,Bulgaria Posts: 30	And what platform/chipset will it be accompanied by?Surely it won't be pin-compatible with Intel's chip?

6th Jan 2009, 18:04	#8
Lilliput King Minimodder Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 29	Maybe no mainstream appeal, but with a 16 hour battery with a 6-cell and no moving parts some people would certainly buy it. Like, me, for instance.

6th Jan 2009, 22:20	#10
NiHiLiST New-born car whore Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Manchester Posts: 3,809	The only vaguely Unix-derived OS that I've found worthwhile using on a laptop (or desktop for that matter) is OS X, Linux still just isn't ready for the mainstream. It's come a long way since I first tried Redhat 5.1 but I still see it as a hobby OS for the desktop. I swear by Linux for servers and embedded applications, but OS X and Windows still absolutely kill it for mainstream desktop/laptop use and I can't see that changing anytime soon. Sadly, because of this, I expect tales of this CPU's unexplored potential will be told in years to come when it's long dead __________________ Flickr

7th Jan 2009, 01:45	#11
LordPyrinc Legomaniac Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 254	The battery life is commendable... if it lives up to its claims. Yet, I agree that the inability to run a Windows OS will not make it mainstream. Longer battery life is very attractive to traveling business people, but what percent of those travelers do not use Windows or other Microsoft applications in their respective companies? __________________ HP Pavilion Elite m9040n PC - Vista Home Premium Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 @ 2.40ghz - 3G of RAM - Dual 320G HDs Upgrades/Add-ons: 22" Widescreen LCD, 700W RocketFish PSU, BFG GeForce 9800 GT 160G Ext USB HD, Logitech X-540 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers

7th Jan 2009, 08:29	#12
p3n Hypermodder Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 731	Why would it need to run windows? Have you seen windows XP on a 1ghz processor with <1mb of L2 cache? Yeah not so good eh...

7th Jan 2009, 09:26	#13
Xtrafresh Blame it on the Boogie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Nijmegen, Holland Posts: 1,907	it needs to run windows because that is what people use at work. People will use that same thing at home too, because only 1% of the population is interested enough to even give anything else a thought. Sad and injust as it might be, to the general public a PC without Windows sounds like a car without tires. __________________ AXGS Blog: A fresh look at P55. Fresh Fusion: Unfinished \| FFF: Name change and text update 19-11

7th Jan 2009, 13:43	#15
Moriarty Evil Genius Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 31	The netbook market seems the right place for Linux to get it's foot in the door. It loses mass market appeal in more powerful machines due to incompatability with a gamut of software, but for something thats just a browser platform it would be a great choice.