The future of the ARM architecture

The signs were written on the wall - the ARM architecture has the potential to expand way beyond smartphones and tablets. Last weeks ARM yearly developer conference shows the way.

Put it all together and ARM is clearly laying the groundwork to expand beyond mobile phones and challenge x86 in netbooks and laptops, desktops and servers. The introduction of versions of Windows 8 and Microsoft Office for ARM-based SoCs from Qualcomm, TI and Nvidia should also be a big boost for the ARM architecture.

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More: ARM's big (and little) plans to go beyond smartphones | ZDNet

And here is a real product by HP: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/hps-p...make-arm-servers-mainstream/62410?tag=nl.e539

Hi there
As far as the ordinary user is concerned - it doesn't matter what the underlying technology is so long as the USER INTERFACE is simple and easy to use.

If the hardware reduces power consumption well so much the better.

In any case techniques such as virtualisation can ensure that whatever technology powers the servers the end user can still continue to use systems they are used to using.

The ARM type of processor of course has the ability for people to create very large banks of low powered servers cheaply as shown in your post.

Cheers
jimbo