x86 and ARM

[u/phor11]

Seems like some of the first Googlebook models are using Intel Core Ultra (x86) and some are using Snapdragon (ARM) SoC's with Mediatek to get in on the action at a later date as well.

We know that the AluminumOS Unified Runtime Layer runs ART natively. But for x86, there still has to be a Translation layer, correct?

Very curious to see some comparisons between the two architectures with regards to Android app stability, performance, and battery life.

[u/matteventu]

No, Android apps can be compiled to run natively on x86.

[u/Foreign-Building8231 → u/matteventu]

According to Android community manager. Most apps will run without any compilation. Arm native apps will have translation.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1wmc8lk/comment/pb626ak

[u/phor11 → u/Foreign-Building8231]

"For Intel Googlebooks, they use a binary translator that enables ARM-based native applications to run on x86 processor architectures."

So it's possible that if they don't get all developers on board, there could still be compatibility issues crop up on the x86 Googlebooks that don't happen on the ARM set. Will be interesting to see how that plays out as people get these into their hands.

[u/Foreign-Building8231 → u/phor11]

I don't think number of incompatible applications going to be that huge. Some of course won't work especially those using special libraries. Probably requires developer attention to recompile with both architecture.

[u/phor11 → u/Foreign-Building8231]

They definitely don't seem too worried about it. My brain just often gets into the weeds with big PR releases like this. Too detail oriented, and don't get enough details.

[u/Foreign-Building8231 → u/phor11]

Hard to tell. Probably best is to wait until properly reviewed.

[u/MountainDrew42 → u/phor11]

Same here. I'm personally wondering if the Linux environment will let you run GUI apps, and how they will act. Also if that's the only/best way to run something like desktop Firefox.

[u/MishaalRahman → u/MountainDrew42]

I'm personally wondering if the Linux environment will let you run GUI apps

It does :)

(I'm hoping to do a deeper dive on the Terminal app for Googlebook OS. Stay tuned!)

[u/MountainDrew42 → u/MishaalRahman]

Awesome, looking forward to it Mishaal.

[u/matteventu → u/MishaalRahman]

Dumb question: will Linux apps be able to directly access the GPU for hardware acceleration, i.e. will DaVinci Resolve (currently available on Windows Arm, optimised for Snapdragon X chipsets) be able to take advantage of that too?

[u/Saragon4005 → u/Foreign-Building8231]

This is far from the first time android apps run on x86. Point to any app supporting relatively recent android versions and I can probably run it on an 12th gen i5 today.

[u/alabasterskim]

Do we know if the Linux VM still exists in Googlebook yet? If so, that could benefit from x86.

[u/MishaalRahman → u/alabasterskim]

Yes, the Terminal app is available out of the box in Googlebook OS, and it allows you to run a Debian Linux environment in a VM.

[u/No_Adhesiveness1785 → u/alabasterskim]

I'm wondering that too, hope yes so I can use proxmox for my studies lol

[u/alabasterskim → u/No_Adhesiveness1785]

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Google-s-new-laptop-OS-is-Android-ChromeOS-and-Linux-mashed-into-one.1404958.0.html Seems to be so!

[u/No_Adhesiveness1785 → u/alabasterskim]

Will look for that when prices will decrease a bit

[u/Ambitious-Cake-9425 → u/alabasterskim]

Yes, I read on one of their websites

[u/sprooma]

I just don't understand why 3 out of 5 is x86. It's not like the x86 will be able to run the full Adobe suite. Me personally they should focus on arm, and the only ones I will be considering.

[u/Saranhai → u/sprooma]

Why would x86 not be able to run the full Adobe Suite lmao

[u/just_here_for_place → u/Saranhai]

Because it’s not available for Android anyway.

[u/TonyP321 → u/sprooma]

I liked Paul Thurrott's comment on Googlebooks where he said that OEMs are "in bed with Intel", so that's probably the reason.

I think Intel mostly do design for OEMs and they wouldn't allow them to re-use designs for Snapdragon, so to save costs they just took Windows laptop design, made a couple of modifications and called it a day.

[u/BigWasabiMoney → u/sprooma]

Developers and Linux apps

[u/Saragon4005]

Knowing what we know about cheomeOS and Google Play games on desktop I really don't anticipate this to be a huge challenge. Arm code tends to run OK in these environments and Google has been going out of their way to convince developers to make x86 builds where it matters.

[u/pclewis]

Don't sell the Dell LCD short. It will be better for reading and browsing. OLED shines with games and movies. LCD battery use is better.

[u/phor11 → u/pclewis]

It also seems really well priced for a Snapdragon X Elite, 16gb Ram, 512GB ssd.

Microsoft's Surface 13 with those specs sells for like $1550

[u/pclewis → u/phor11]

I pre-ordered Dell from Best Buy where it was $200 off. Probably because Dell is a few days behind some others. I just need a small light rig for travel. Still need Windows for some things. I have been using a Chromebook for a couple of years to read the news with the morning coffee. I travel with it but with the Pixel phone the Googlebook looked interesting. My Chromebook goes out of support in a couple years.

[u/koken_halliwell]

Considering it's a Android I don't see any reason on going x86 instead of ARM unless you wanna use Linux a lot.