On Fri, 07 Jul 2023 23:10:01 +0200 John Hasler <j...@sugarbit.com> wrote:
> Bret writes: > >> With bits and bytes, one strange thing that I remember, is that, in >> 1985, in Australia, a particular computer was introduced, that had a >> 32 bit processor with 8 bit buses. It was a Motorola 68008 CPU, and, >> I could not understand why a company would produce a 32 bit CPU wit >> 8 bit buses. > > That processor was targeted at embedded systems and it made sense in > some applications. I don't understand why anyone would put it in a > desktop. For the same reason that IBM put the 8088 (an 8086 with an 8-bit bus) into their original Personal Computer: to save money by interfacing with existing 8-bit support chips. In addition, rumour has it that the 8-bit bus helped cripple the machine enough to not pose a marketing threat to their other product lines. -- /~\ Charlie Gibbs | You can't save the earth \ / <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> | unless you're willing to X I'm really at ac.dekanfrus | make other people sacrifice. / \ if you read it the right way. | -- Dogbert the green consultant
