ARM for the future?

[the_leander]

Both share the same endian design (as does the ARM, and NOT the X86).

As far as I know ARM is bi endian. Same goes for PPC, at least in some models.

[Iggy]

As far as I know ARM is bi endian. Same goes for PPC, at least in some models.

Actually, you're right Alan. ARM is bi-endian and most PPCs (except the G5) are also. That why its easier to port 68K software to these processor (since X86 only operates in the opposite endian mode as a 68K).

[coldfish]

Everybody loves you when you're bi.  
...ahem.

ARM is getting more interesting, I think there are at least 10 products (probably more) in this house using ARM architecture. And I see handheld/mobile computing as the future.  

Remember that the BBC micro used a 6502 and ARM are an offshoot of Acorn, so there's a tenuous sentimental relationship to MOS and C= as well.

[Khephren]

Everybody loves you when you're bi.  
...ahem.

ARM is getting more interesting, I think there are at least 10 products (probably more) in this house using ARM architecture. And I see handheld/mobile computing as the future.  
.

Iv'e never thought to count them, so:

GP32
x2 Nintendo DS
4 Smart phones
Psion Revo
Netbook
Dreamcast

10 here as well, they really are everywhere! Iv'e always liked ARM since I had a Psion. It ran for weeks, ran cool, and was nippy enough to run doom.

[gaula92]

Dreamcast is not ARM.

[gertsy]

No ARM in trying.

Sad I know.  But I miss Franko..

Tag: Typed on a little Netbook(Atom) running XP.  No ARM in that either.

[ElPolloDiabl]

x86 has and continues the brute force approach.
In the old days you had to think long and hard which platform you wanted, because of the low chance of software getting ported.

The only thing you have to think about now is whether you want to buy a locked down nanny you gadget or if you want an open one. There is a high chance cross platform software. Directx coming to Linux is a nice one.

Developers big and small make an effort to port there stuff to both Mac and Windows. On a smaller level also to an iphone.

If you want something bloated you can have Windows or Linux (lite versions yeah got it). It would not be an Amiga experience unless the OS is very lean or very easy to make lean.

My vote is for ARM because you could make it feel like an olde Amiga. x86 PC still seems like a frankenstein monster...You're forever configuring drivers or altering the bios whenever you plug something in or reinstall the OS.

[fishy_fiz]

x86 has and continues the brute force approach.
In the old days you had to think long and hard which platform you wanted, because of the low chance of software getting ported.

The only thing you have to think about now is whether you want to buy a locked down nanny you gadget or if you want an open one. There is a high chance cross platform software. Directx coming to Linux is a nice one.

Developers big and small make an effort to port there stuff to both Mac and Windows. On a smaller level also to an iphone.

If you want something bloated you can have Windows or Linux (lite versions yeah got it). It would not be an Amiga experience unless the OS is very lean or very easy to make lean.

My vote is for ARM because you could make it feel like an olde Amiga. x86 PC still seems like a frankenstein monster...You're forever configuring drivers or altering the bios whenever you plug something in or reinstall the OS.

I can only guess you was drunk while you typed this  
DirectX for linux ? Huh? There's wine, but its not directx. You also seem to be confusing x86 for particular oses running on x86. As for cross platform development, the only thing that really needs to be considered is endianness, which doesnt often come up and is mostly dealt with by development tools and apis, and the apis themselves.
As for x86 using brute force, sure it can, but x86 is also quite elegant when it needs to be. In regards to ARM "feeling" more like amiga, that's like saying an orange "feels" more like a grapefruit in regards to the official fruit of argetina,.... completely nonsensical. AROS for example can run on various architectures, and not one "feels" different to the others, be it arm, ppc, x86 or x86-64. All feel *very* amiga like though. Additionally you can run big endian x86 code inside amiga os3.x inside amithlon and it does absolutely nothing to the feel besides improving speed.

Hopefully this doesnt seem too harsh, but your post really was a bunch of jibberish.

[ElPolloDiabl]

Err I'm reading some important documents as I was typing so I'm distracted, not drunk.

Directx link:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/directx-11-coming-to-linux-games-to-follow-whoa-slow-down-there/9776

[Khephren]

Dreamcast is not ARM.

Dreamcasts sound processor was an ARM 7 chip.

[fishy_fiz]

hehe, I must admit that was my 1st thought when seeing Dreamcast mentioned too, but thankfully I decided to do a bit of googling before I responded.
I miss my Dreamcast. Probably my favorite of the "modern" consoles.

[persia]

The configuring drivers is also a sign of life, there's new hardware and hence new drivers.  That being said I don't see it that often in bog standard Windows 7 machines.  The main issue with Windows 7 is somebody wants to use this piece of equipment that they bought last century and there's no Windows 7 driver.  New stuff pretty much just installs and the driver is there or you load it off disk or the website.  

If you want to have a viable Amiga community in a decade or two, after all of us original Amiga users are gone, then you need new equipment.  PPC is a dead end, intel provides you with cheap hardware but may be harder to port the OS to.  ARM is hot, there's a gazillion new tablets out there.   An AmiPad seems like the most logical step towards long term survival.

[Khephren]

I miss my Dreamcast. Probably my favorite of the "modern" consoles.

There's life in the old dog yet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1vcIhjUjCc

[fishy_fiz]

Heh, cool, looks very nice. It's inspirations are pretty clear (some heavy rtype inspired bits there), but it looks to have been done quite well.
What's the story behind it though, is it a commercial game ? Looks too nice to be homebrew  

[dammy]

I've been saying for years now that ARM is a great option.  With each passing month, new and even better news is coming out for ARM support.

[Khephren]

Heh, cool, looks very nice. It's inspirations are pretty clear (some heavy rtype inspired bits there), but it looks to have been done quite well.
What's the story behind it though, is it a commercial game ? Looks too nice to be homebrew  

Yeah, I love R-Type. I think they are an indie publishing house, did Rush Rush Rally for DC as well.  http://www.redspotgames.com/shop/

To stay on thread, do any of you think ARM will hit the desktop/notebook heavily?  
I know intel are definitely trying to get heat/wattage down to the smartphone arena (wonder if they regret selling strongARM?) Could be a big battle ahead!

SIDENOTE: I have an ARM netbook, but it runs CE it is a bit shit. The clips in at 144MIPS, but can do less, and feels less responsive than my A1200:030/50. (This is definitely due to the OS though, as my Psion Revo is well nippy).