People have this false notion that Intel only makes x86 microprocessors, when in reality they make many other things. What truly makes them elite is their semiconductor fabrication plant ("fabs"). They are vastly superior to the competition, but they are most profitable/efficient only when the lines are full. When x86 chips became in greatest demand THAT became their focus. Now that they can no longer run their fabs at capacity with their own products they are opening them up to other companies (e.g. Altera, Netronome). Their fabs' process technology is currently 12-24 months ahead of the competition, and everyone would love to build their (ARM) chips their if they could (affordably).
Back to chips, there is yet to be a high-performance 64-bit ARM implementation on the market for consumption. Until that day x86 will remain in Windows/Mac PCs and Linux workstations/servers without a question.
Apple will never say the bezel design is to make the iPad easier to hold, because this would be a functional reason for its current construction. That would prevent them from using their *design patent* argument against Samsung regarding the bezel. They simply say it was an aesthetic decision:P
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People have this false notion that Intel only makes x86 microprocessors, when in reality they make many other things. What truly makes them elite is their semiconductor fabrication plant ("fabs"). They are vastly superior to the competition, but they are most profitable/efficient only when the lines are full. When x86 chips became in greatest demand THAT became their focus. Now that they can no longer run their fabs at capacity with their own products they are opening them up to other companies (e.g. Altera, Netronome). Their fabs' process technology is currently 12-24 months ahead of the competition, and everyone would love to build their (ARM) chips their if they could (affordably). Back to chips, there is yet to be a high-performance 64-bit ARM implementation on the market for consumption. Until that day x86 will remain in Windows/Mac PCs and Linux workstations/servers without a question.
Apple will never say the bezel design is to make the iPad easier to hold, because this would be a functional reason for its current construction. That would prevent them from using their *design patent* argument against Samsung regarding the bezel. They simply say it was an aesthetic decision :P
It may have been slashdotted in 2003, but its from a class in Fall 2000
http://alumni.media.mit.edu/~paulo/courses.htm
How to build (almost) anything (MAS 863)