Qualcomm abruptly cancels Snapdragon X Elite dev kit - refunds customers for mini PC, ends sales and support for the device immediately

https://www.tomshardware.com/desktops/mini-pcs/qualcomm-abruptly-cancels-snapdragon-x-elite-dev-kit-refunds-customers-for-mini-pc-ends-sales-and-support-for-the-device-immediately


[edited for brevity]

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According to the letter that developer Jeff Geerling received,
Qualcomm said, “…the Developer Kit product comprehensively has not met
our usual standards of excellence and so we are reaching out to let
you know that unfortunately we have made the decision to pause this
product and the support of it, indefinitely.”

The Snapdragon X chips are focused more on efficiency than
performance. While it allows Windows on Arm laptops to have amazing
battery life that finally lets Windows devices compete against the
legendary efficiency of Apple Silicon chips, it falls flat in the
performance department when compared to proper desktop chips. The
variant in the dev kit, the X1E-00-1DE, had a slightly higher
dual-core boost clock than the top retial version. An X Elite dev kit
was pushed beyond 100 watts, and the reviewer discovered that you’re
using up four times more power but only get up to 30% more
performance.

At the moment, you can only get these chips on laptops and a couple of
tablets, but Qualcomm said that Snapdragon is coming to all PC form
factors, including desktops. Because of this, all is not seemingly
lost for a desktop Windows 11 on Arm device, and we might still get a
Snapdragon X mini-PC, but from an OEM instead. Aside from that, some
X2 Elite chips have been spotted being tested at Qualcomm — hopefully,
the company will apply its learnings on the Snapdragon X Elite Dev Kit
to make a powerful mini-PC sporting these next-generation SoCs.
<<<


I find this interesting.  Certainly, I would've either gone straight
for an ARM laptop, or waited till I could get it as parts for a
desktop, but this sector of the industry is one I'm watching closely.

--
Joel W. Crump

Amendment XIV
Section 1.

[...] No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Dobbs rewrites this, it is invalid precedent.  States are
liable for denying needed abortions, e.g. TX.