[kwlug-disc] m1 RISC silicon: impression

[Mikalai Birukou]

> I don't understand this Linux on Mac thing.  Why would you buy Apple, 
> and then run Linux on them?  Just more PR and hype for Apple.  Apple 
> says, "Thanks, you Linux suckers!"

May I present comments with different contexts:


a) Linux on m1 has this demystification feel to it. Which I welcome.

I have already had the following exchange with the developer, i.e. 
technical person,: "this m1 runs code faster, probably thanks to these 
ai cores" -- "nope, this code has nothing to do with neural nets, just 
general logic".


b) Retro computing.

We forgot that this is a quickly evolving tech. My Phenom from ten years 
ago is already retro. With m1 computers start to feel fast again. Add 
that this is talking about single core productivity, read: faster 
compilation times.

Looks like m1 is in a range of desktop Ryzen-super-bupper. Work per watt 
is impressive for compilation, that felt like stuck for a while. At 
least I didn't have much hopes for silicon, and then they properly lean 
into RISC approach with m1 performance being a result. I personally like 
when some clean theory works -- is it a professional deformation after 
math/physics?

Still. Would I replace my Phenom with power efficient m1? In this 
Canadian winter? In my cold office? Its a two in one: heater and six 
retro cores.


c) What better message can we have to say to folks: "you too, try 
properly RISC approach in design"? After a decade of CISC, what can be a 
better motivation then everyone packing to competitive silicon? And this 
adjust mindset will meet RISC-V, sooner or later, yielding great result, 
I am sure.


d) As for Apple and "Linux suckers", I hope you start to appreciate GPL 
style licenses versus MIT's.


>> It seems that even HackaDay is onto you...
>>
>> https://hackaday.com/2021/11/17/linux-coming-soon-to-m1-macbooks/
>> <https://hackaday.com/2021/11/17/linux-coming-soon-to-m1-macbooks/>
>>
>> Linux: Coming Soon To M1 Macbooks | Hackaday 
>> <https://hackaday.com/2021/11/17/linux-coming-soon-to-m1-macbooks/>
>> Regardless of the chipset or original intended use of any computer 
>> system, someone somewhere is going to want to try and run Linux on 
>> it. And why not? Linux is versatile and free to use as well as …
>> hackaday.com