I'm planning to buy a new laptop since my old one has been running Ubuntu for a year now, mostly with Plasma KDE. I'm considering an ARM-based machine this time because I'd love a device that stays cool and has a longer battery life. However, I want to know if there are significant downsides to going ARM, especially since I don't plan to use the stock operating systems. Should I choose Apple Silicon or Qualcomm for ARM? For my needs—like text editing, web browsing, and programming in Visual Studio Code, often within Docker containers—will there be a large gap in support between ARM and AMD64? I'm also a fan of Wayland and would like to know how well it works on ARM. Lastly, I'm curious about peripheral support, since I regularly use a Logitech Bluetooth mouse, Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones, and a portable monitor. If ARM isn't suitable for my needs, who would it be best for?
4 Answers
Apple Silicon runs well on ARM, but if compatibility is your main concern, sticking to x64 might be better for now. Over time, ARM compatibility will improve, but it’s still not quite there.
Keep in mind that Steam, Proton, and Wine don't run natively on ARM, so you'll need to emulate x86 to get those running, which can add complexity. That said, Linux has good support for ARM, thanks in part to projects like Raspberry Pi.
I’ve been running Ubuntu on a Raspberry Pi 5 to test the ARM experience. If portability isn't a concern, that could be a fun way to see how ARM works for you.
Check the package lists for arm64 distributions since they can help you determine if they'll meet your needs. Also, since you’re into Docker, confirm that your required containers are supported on arm64. As for Apple Silicon, keep in mind that you're somewhat limited to what Asahi has implemented at this point. I personally don’t like Apple's hardware design either—the sharp edges and odd placement of the power button are just some of my pet peeves. I'd really recommend ARM primarily for developers focusing on arm64; there are tons of cool AMD64 laptops with great battery life that could work just as well for you.
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