• umbrella@lemmy.ml
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      5 months ago

      x86 hardware is standardized in a way where you don’t need to port an os to them, it just runs with generic drivers.

      arm still needs a custom kernel and completely different drivers to even boot, because every manifacturer can implement it completely differently.

      there are efforts to fix this (namely project mainline and some work on arm uefi standards) but they arent done and wont be for a good while.

      • QuaternionsRock@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        arm still needs a custom kernel and conpletely different drivers to even boot, because every manifacturer can implement it completely differently.

        Dunno why you’re getting downvoted, this is correct. ARM makes comparatively very expensive to maintain an OS over a variety of CPU models. The specialization required by each Cortex revision (and beyond that, each manufacturer adaptation) is too intense for a world trying to conserve resources.

        x86 hardware is standardized in a way where you don’t need to port an os to them, it just runs with generic drivers.

        That being said, I’m honestly shocked your friend doesn’t run into issues. Several ISA extensions have been released for x86 since the Core 2 Duo days, and I have to imagine software incompatibilities appear semi-frequently. Running Windows 10 on that can’t be a good experience.

        • umbrella@lemmy.ml
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          5 months ago

          I have to imagine software incompatibilities appear semi-frequently. Running Windows 10 on that can’t be a good experience.

          actual issues are rare actually, it pretty much just works as long as the hardware supports the features the application requires. if it doesn’t it will likely throw an error and not run.

          you are right in that its an awful experience though, its usable but you have to debloat it and even then its slow. can’t watch hd video either.