Windows (PC) will make its first transition to a machine architecture
other than x86 in decades with Windows 8 Windows on ARM (WOA), and
Microsoft wants to make absolutely sure that it has a well-oiled
ecosystem in place to propel its growth. Currently, Microsoft picked
three potent players among ARM processor vendors, Qualcomm and Texas
Instruments (that have experience and can ship in Zerg volumes), and
NVIDIA (which has demonstrated a lot of engineering potential with its
latest Tegra products).
Microsoft reportedly asked the three ARM players to pick two notebook
vendors each (one major, and one minor) with which they will work to
develop some of the first WOA portable computing devices. Qualcomm
selected Samsung and Sony, Texas Instruments chose Toshiba and Samsung,
while NVIDIA chose Acer and Lenovo. Among these, Samsung, Toshiba, and
Lenovo are the major partners. Surprisingly, Taiwan-based companies have
an insignificant role in this ecosystem. ASUS, which has thus far been
the largest client of NVIDIA for Tegra processors, has been left out.
Now that downstream partners are selected, upstream ODMs such as Quanta
Computer, Compal Electronics, Wistron and Pegatron Technology, which
manufacture for those companies, are getting their R&D teams in
shape to compete for the next-generation platform. The finishing line of
ARM's marathon run to get into PCs is in sight.
Source: DigiTimes
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