Intel 'Petitioned Microsoft Heavily' Not To Choose ARM For Surface Go, Report Says (theverge.com)

Posted by msmash on Saturday August 25, 2018 @05:34AM from the intel-on-Intel's-push dept.

Microsoft launched its new Surface Go device earlier this month with an Intel Pentium Gold processor inside. It's been one of the main focus points for discussions around performance and mobility for this 10-inch Surface, and lots of people have wondered why Microsoft didn't opt for Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors and Windows on ARM. The Verge: Paul Thurrott reports that Microsoft wanted to use an ARM processor for the Surface Go, but that Intel intervened. Intel reportedly "petitioned Microsoft heavily" to use its Pentium Gold processors instead of ARM ones. It's not clear why Microsoft didn't push ahead with its ARM plans for Surface Go, but in my own experience the latest Snapdragon chips simply don't have the performance and compatibility to match Intel on laptops just yet.

1 of 81 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Appearances matter more to them than facts. by Narcocide · 2018-08-25 05:40 · Score: 5, Interesting

They don't care whether the ARM chips would have been better or not. Letting Microsoft choose ARM chips would be an admission of defeat. It's more important to Intel that Microsoft keep up appearances by choosing an Intel-designed chip than it is for the chip to actually be a good choice.