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This is truly amazing!

I am certain that Apple could today (if they wanted to) produce a proper desktop/laptop CPU of their own based on their ARM based designs. Maybe they will in a not too distant future? They sure has both the competence and the resources needed. IMHO they have been shooting for a lot more raw CPU performance than phones/tablets really need ever since the Cyclone architecture. A lot more. And in a way it would make sense for them to take control over their entire eco system, i.e. not only the OS but also the HW to the fullest. Who knows, maybe the "Mac" is about to have another ISA migration in the future?


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I agree.

Though this particular HW is very limited (unless expanded with a couple of add-ons for several (at least!) dollars ), it sure is a statement that nobody can ignore! Also if you look at it in some kind of future perspective.

When looking at Raspberry as a company and as products, where will they go from here, from the current offerings they have? I think it's quite possible that they, strengthened by their growing trade mark, will diversify "upwards" in the future. In other words, not only offering tiny, limited circuit boards, but perhaps also more like traditional computer products like laptops and maybe even some kind of "computer in a keyboard" (or in a monitor)? Maybe even some kind of desktop?

Apples quick stride in ARM development is very impressive, and they have come the furthest. However, they are not alone in doing interesting stuff on their own based on the ARM ISA, several other companies (and not as closed/proprietary) are moving in the same direction! ARM is definitely moving beyond "phones" into other segments (and has been doing this for years already), and maybe not just the server segments?

Linus Torvalds of Linux fame has said that "2016 will be the year of the ARM Laptop". Presumably he has some insight in various companies efforts.

I created this thread early 2011. Maybe the topic "ARM for the future?" is becoming more and more relevant?