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Intel Says Clover Trail Atom CPU Won't Work With Linux

Posted by Soulskill on from the that-will-go-over-well dept.

girlmad tips this news from the Inquirer: "Intel's Clover Trail Atom processor can be seen in various non-descript laptops around IDF and the firm provided a lot of architectural details on the chip, confirming details such as dual-core and a number of power states. However Intel said Clover Trail 'is a Windows 8 chip' and that 'the chip cannot run Linux.' While Intel's claim that Clover Trail won't run Linux is not quite true — after all, it is an x86 instruction set, so there is no major reason why the Linux kernel and userland will not run — given that the firm will not support it, device makers are unlikely to produce Linux Clover Trail devices for their own support reasons."

4 of 434 comments (clear)

  1. They've got it backwards. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Chips aren't exactly designed to "run Linux" or any other OS. It's Linux that supports CPUs.. NOT the other way around.

    All this means, is that Intel doesn't want to help. It does not mean it won't run Linux. Linux always finds a way to work.

  2. Qui Bono? by Simon+Brooke · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can't see what possible benefit it is to Intel to deliberately limit the market for their processors. Unless they are doing this for Microsoft's benefit, in which case, surely, there are anti-trust implications?

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    I'm old enough to remember when discussions on Slashdot were well informed.
  3. Re:antitrust issues? by macromorgan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Doubt it. They can choose to support or not support whatever they want. They just can't actively use their current monopoly position to harm competition in another market (operating systems). If they put in some special instructions that actively sabotage the Linux kernel from running, that would be one thing. From what it sounds like though, they are merely not providing drivers/source code for Linux for some of the CPU features for this platform. Of course since a lot of geeks will try to get Linux running on a toaster for the lulz, I expect this to only be a short-term hindrance.

  4. Re:antitrust issues? by postbigbang · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Let's say the reason is either one.

    Let's say that Intel wants to limit the audience for the chip, and cut their own sales. Let's say that AMD, VIA, and the ARMs makers will be delighted to fill in any vacuum.

    Do.We.Care?

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    ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.