Explain Like I'm Five

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If the IBM PC used an ARM (or related) CPU instead of the Intel 8088, would smartphones ultimately have sucked less? (self.explainlikeimfive)

submitted 6 months ago by url8 to c/explainlikeimfive

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Developers still continue to shaft anyone that isn't using an IBM PC compatible. But if the IBM PC was more closely related to the latest Nexus/Pixel device, then would the gaming experience on smartphones be any good?

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

ARM was designed because the 6502 was approaching end of viability, and Acorn (the maker of the BBC Microcomputer) needed a next-gen product. At the time, RISC was the trendy thing, and I suspect the 286 and 68000 were too expensive to adapt for their products; they weren't pushing £5000+ workstations like IBM or Unix vendors.

It was light and small because they had a small team; low power was a happy accident.