If I had time I would love to build a bit-slice computer, with 4, AMD 2901 which would make it a 16 bit CPU. The question is what architecture. Maybe an ARM Core
Don't worry, I don't know where the misinformation about 68000 is coming from I was slumming at Garret Airresearch Special Test Dept in LA. My boss put on a special project to pick the next CPU for our custom test which at the time we using 40/40 cards, I specked out 68010 back then! It was clean silicon which intel has never done. To this date, it holds the record as the most widely embedded CPU family in the world. The other thing that I sould talk about is that the 680x0 family used memory addressing for all I/O while IBM used Channels
In reality, what IBM scared them was a little company in Oceanport NJ or Interdata the 7/16, 7/32 and 8/32 were minicomputers that could replace Big Blue's Boxes, and the instructions sets were almost identical. In fact, 8/32 #1 when to Murry Hill Bell Labs, for the first non-DEC port of UNIX!
I could easily be misinformed. I haven't talked to any of the decision makers - just regurgitating a consensus of all the stories I've heard on the subject.
The failure of Digital Research to work out an agreement with IBM has to be one of the all time biggest missed opportunities in the industry.
........ It's not lying when you can do it. They delivered, so that settles the fact that they weren't lying.
At the point, they said Yes it was what we called vaporware! (Lied) They first had to buy the dam west coast company that had DOS, then port it. which they had major problems with and thats when Paul Zilber was brought in The first release never really never worked right. CP/M was better at the time.
... MS lied of course and said no problem. then they bought the company with DOS. which they could not get ported, One of my mentors and dear friends went to Phoenix and got their code working.
It's not lying when you can do it. They delivered, so that settles the fact that they weren't lying.
IBM mainframe 360/370 was never dyadic ie you can do this in one operation: A- = A+ + -B or ie add and store but there are post and pre-increment and decrement. While the general architecture was similar the 68000 did not have the speed that a 360/50 had. And while your marketing guy was not an engineer in Florida and they did in fact have a 68010 unit built. And about the DOS not true at all. There were two companies on the west coast that had OS one was C/PM could be ported to 68k codebase the other was DOS and NOT Micro$oft.
When IBM introduced the IBM PC, built with the Intel 8088 microprocessor, they needed an operating system. Seeking an 8088-compatible build of CP/M, IBM initially approached Microsoft CEO Bill Gates (possibly believing that Microsoft owned CP/M due to the Microsoft Z-80 SoftCard, which allowed CP/M to run on an Apple II).[3] IBM was sent to Digital Research, and a meeting was set up. However, the initial negotiations for the use of CP/M broke down; Digital Research wished to sell CP/M on a royalty basis, while IBM sought a single license, and to change the name to "PC DOS". Digital Research founder Gary Kildall refused, and IBM withdrew.[3][4]
IBM when up to see one of them but I believe they were surfing at the time and blew the meeting. one bright soul at IBM said MS might be able to do it in Phoenix, MS lied of course and said no problem. then they bought the company with DOS. which they could not get ported, One of my mentors and dear friends went to Phoenix and got their code working.
I asked a director of marketing at IBM back around 1985(ish), why IBM went with the Intel instead of Motorola. I pointed out, the timing of the availability was only a week or two, and the architecture of the 68000 was much better and cleaner than the 8088. The response, because this person was a close friend was:
Officially, the release date was the overall deciding factor, and the availability of the new DOS from the newly formed Microsoft.
Un-officially, the architecture and addressing of the 68000 was very close to the 360 mainframe, and Motorola was in the works of developing a memory management unit (MMU). Because, it would then be a very simple process to port VM to the desktop, the possibility of destroying the mainframe market would possibly kill the company.
Douglas, I do believe you are mistaken. IBM had actually built the prototype around the 68010. But when IBM asked for an "allotment" Motorola turned them down. They rebuilt with the 8088 the rest is history!
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