Will Intel lose the computer market to ARM in 2012?
The core of the computer industry, laptops and desktops, is on the brink of revolution with Intel and Microsoft set to lose their long-term stranglehold for three main reasons: Netbook sales are exploding and eating into the laptop and desktop markets. Ever more users are operating "in the cloud" where the CPU architecture and OS are irrelevant. Demand has shifted with users now wanting small solid-state fanless computers with long battery lives. Sales of netbooks rose from only 0.4M in 2007 to 11.4M in 2008 and 35M in 2009 with projected sales of 139M in 2013 . By the end of 2008, notebook sales had overtaken desktop sales for the first time in history . The tremendous growth in netbook sales was precipitated by the global financial climate making cheaper devices more alluring for cash-strapped consumers . Google are desperately trying to get a piece of the action with their Chrome OS , an operating system designed around their Chrome web browser specifically for the new bre...