21 Aug
2010
21 Aug
'10
10:45 p.m.
On Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 5:12 AM, Sridhar Ayengar <ploopster at gmail.com>wrote:
Chuck Guzis wrote:
This time, Intel marketing to the rescue...
Does IBM call it a minicomputer in its marketing
literature? I'm
just wondering if the mainframe, mini and micro terms are vanishing.
After all, *everything* is a microcomputer nowadays, isn't it?
There are still quite a few mainframes that I would have trouble calling a
microcomputer. Even the machines with multiple microprocessors running in
lock-step. The processor is the board with the multiple microprocessors and
the lock-stepping and result-comparison hardware.
From Intel 432 System Summary; Manager's
Perspective, 1981
"The Intel 432 is a microcomputer family.", first line, page 1.
and later from page 2:
"The goal of the 432 is to significantly reduce the life-cycle costs of
complex microcomputer applications. Toward this end, the 432 introduces a
new computer technology, an integrated system of hardware, software and
methodology. The technology of the 432 preserves the traditional
microprocessor virtues of low cost, small physical size and low power
consumption. Like a mainframe family, it offers a 32-bit architecture and
spans a range of performance. In other important ways, the 432 resembles no
computer of the past. Considered as a whole, its new technology constitutes
a breakthrough in computer system design. To emphasize that this technology
is inadequately described by conventional computer 'classifications,' the
Intel 432 is called the Micromainframe family."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_iAPX_432
You can just tell they were excited about this product.
cheers,
nigel (self appointed #2 iAPX 432 fanboi, after Eric Smith, titular #1
fanboi)