19 May
2005
19 May
'05
8:07 p.m.
On Tue, 17 May 2005 23:17:50 -0400 (EDT)
der Mouse <mouse at rodents.montreal.qc.ca> wrote:
I know I can do that, because I have. Back in the late '70s, at the
University of Colorado, I took a computer hardware design course. It
was very hands-on, and the term project, if you will, was to construct
a small 4-bit computer from SSI/MSI TTL. (The most complex chips used
were an ALU - 74181, I think it was - and some static RAM.) Not much
memory space, 16 4-bit words, but fully functional within its design
limitations.
One of the things that REALLY doesn't help is that the RS232-C standard
(by this I mean the 'current modern variant' in case there are any
pedants present) is an expensive document that you have to pay the ANSI
folks a BUNCH of money to even read.
Not that it would particularly help most of the people who can't wire an
RS232 cable, but WHY are standards like that still locked down and
rationed out like trade secrets?
-Scott
to certain computer technology.
Ditto for
making a processor from SSI/MSI chips (I've done this for
a special-purpose programmable device, turning it into a processor
would not have been hard), Mind you, these days most people can't even
wire an RS232 cable and
get it right....
Of course, it doesn't help that most equipment manufacturers can't
wire an RS232 connector and get it right (true almost regardless of
your definition of "right" in this context).