11 Jul
1997
11 Jul
'97
noon
In message <Pine.SOL.3.95.970710235812.10063G-100000@typhoon>
classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu writes:
Nor me. One of the reasons I use classics is that they're so well made and
so reliable. A few weeks back I mentioned at a computer club that a new
hard disk that I'd run for less than 25 _hours_ was already giving me trouble
but that a 25 _year_ old minicomputer on the same desk was still going strong.
Enough of this
blathing...anyway, you got my idea. I buy them for
quality even they're outragously outdated. The newer ones even Compaq
and Toshibas, Sony is now showing QC problems and sunk down as well.
Recently a association already issued several critations warning
buyers not to buy certain models from them.
Boy - DO NOT get me started on THIS subject! That is a given. 8 bitters rule. Even 16 bitters rule.
Tho I do have
some 4 bitters - they don't rule - they just barely survive 8-)
Err, don't forget the HP Saturn, which is used in almost all their
calculators (including the HP48). That's a 4-bit machine at the hardware
level (and sort-of 64 bit at the software level - strange chip).
And I've found 4 bit microcontrollers in keyboards, 1-line displays, disk
drives (not the controllers - but handling the stepper motor, drive ready,
that sort of thing), and probably more besides.
There are probably more 8 bit MPU and CPU's in
existance now than
Intel CPU's. They are EVERYWHERE. Kind of like Candid Camera. Where
Don't forget the Microchip PIC (which has an 8-bit ALU and 12 or 14 bit
instructions). Those turn up in just about anything nowadays. There's even
one in my Laserprinter....
you least expect it. Cars, phones, thermostats,
elevators, games, man
TV's, VCR's, CD players, monitors, IR remote handsets, toys, etc...
you name it - SOMEONE put a 6502/8085/6809 into it!
Or an 8048, 8051, ST6, PIC, COP4, COP8, 7810, or something custom.
BC
-tony