"Android is the first Linux OS backed by a strong consumer
brand--Google," write analysts Christian Heidarson and Ben Lee in
Gartner's Semiconductor DQ Monday Report.
"Though they stopped short of endorsing the platform--saying
that Android is a work-in-progress--they did offer some hope for
future Android-based devices running on ARM processors versus
Windows 7-based Netbooks running on Intel's Atom processor. "There
is a sense among PC manufacturers that although Android is not
ready for prime time today--or tomorrow--it will inevitably get
there," they wrote.
"The report continued. "When Android did work, we found that the
user interface was very snappy on relatively low-performance ARM
processors, more so than on Windows 7 on (Intel's) Atom. What we
learned about support from critical software vendors convinced us
that there is momentum behind ARM in the PC industry, enabled by
Android."