Re: Remember "Bit-Slice" Chips ?

On Thu, 12 Dec 2024 04:20:04 -0500, 186282@ud0s4.net wrote:

   I think the "formalized" bit - plus the IBM name - kinda sealed it
   for the Z80s. Bank-switching on Z80's was kinda too clunky - and all
   the banks were 64k.

The IBM seal of approval did a lot. It killed the Z8000 entirely and set
back the 68000 designs.

   Anyway, won't really diss the 8088 ... had it's good time and place
   and uses and paved the way to Better.

It was a smart decision. All the 8-bit peripherals were cheap by then and
could be used.

   EVER see an actual 8086 system ? I never did. Kinda had to wait for
   the 286/386 era to see the promised perks. I think Compaq had an
   8086.

The early PS/2s used the 8086. I've seen them but never worked on one. I
did a project for GE Ft. Wayne that bracketed it. The interfaces to the
environmental test chambers was handled by 12 PC/Xts, while the
supervisory role and data collection was a PC/At.  The PS/2 was sort of
between the two. The 8086 models weren't appreciably better than the XT
and the later 286s weren't as good as an AT.