Microcode, which is a no-go for modern designs

[Jeffrey S. Worley]

What defines a 'modern processor'.  The term is pretty slippery.

The Crusoe used microcode to emulate x86 and could therefore emulate
any processor architecture Transmeta wanted.

Crusoe was a pioneer in the low power market, the processor dynamically
clocked itself in very small steps depending on need.  This is a
familiar feature now but was pretty revolutionary for the time. 
Interestingly, Linux Torvalds was in on the design and was on the board
of Transmeta.  A fair number were sold to Sony for their VIAO series of
notebooks.

Does Crusoe qualify as a 'modern' processor?  In my book yes, but I
have a very old book.. :0
best,

Jeff