The IBM (I've Been Mulling) PC

Subject WAS: Re: Xerox 820 system disks in Teledisk format? Hello, Jules writes: I keep thinking it'd be interesting to hear what folk think the IBM PC *should* have been - although that could descend into utter chaos :-) Utter chaos... Just like old times! A bit of history. When first conceived, the IBM PC was going to be a Z-80 CP/M machine. As the idea wound through the bureaucracy, it became clear that the brass wanted to get a leg up on the CP/M world, not be the last entrant. Powerful contingents pushed for a Motorola 68000 based PC, but while the processor was out, the support chips were a nightmare. The Intel 8086 was in the same boat -- 16-bit support chips would probably have ended up being two sets of 8-bit support chips. Awkward. But, there was the Intel 8088 - A sixteen bit chip that spoke to the world in 8 bits. (Cue the trumpets.) It does seem like the design was pretty compromised* - I'm curious as to what folk think should have been done with the hardware of the time whilst remaining in roughly the same price range... * Although wasn't the original intention for the 5150 to be more of an intelligent terminal than a standalone machine? That might explain things, as I suppose in that capacity it did what was needed. As I understand it, they wanted the ability to TRANSFORM it into a terminal, the IBM 3270 PC, not necessarily have it BE one. They were legitimately out to make the PC market their bitch, as was the mainframe market at the time. At least, that's how I saw it. It took a while for it to register that the PC market was going to be big with business, but when it did, the 400 pound bear started moving. They would have done it, too, I suspect, except for the PS/2 debacle. It must suck to be right, and STILL lose one's arse. Warren