Arch Linux pulls the plug on 32-bit
It is a shame that many major Linux distributions are dropping 32-bit x86 support.  I used to be able to say with confidence that the old laptop or PC in your garage can run any major Linux distribution, breathing new life into aging hardware.  For example, I have an old ThinkPad T42, which I use to test out new Linux distros, which incidentally, is currently running Arch.  Using older hardware increases the chances that stable drivers will be available.  I put in the CD (or flash drive), boot up, and everything seems to just work(tm).  Its no speed demon, but its usable.  But now with Arch dropping support for a significant amount of commonly available and being a major, top-level distribution, I feel I now must make specific recommendations for Linux newcomers to try rather then have them waste time downloading a large ISO, transferring it to a flash drive or disc, to find they are unable to boot up with it. This may cause users to give up before even giving Linux or open source software an honest try.<p>Also, I wonder what this means for the Intel Quark SoC (found in Intel Edison and Intel Galileo boards).  Does this mean Arch Linux wont be an option for these devices?<p>Despite RHEL 7&#x2F;CentOS 7 not supporting 32-bit x86, there is now a community-led effort to port it to 32-bit x86.  I wonder if Arch would consider doing the same (supporting 32-bit x86 as an alternative architecture).