Joe - Re: " I remember that the 68000 had a lot cleaner, elegant design."
It was a lot cleaner, a lot more elegant - very orthogonal instruction set and plenty of 32 BIT registers (for a 16 bit CPU!).
It was a lot later, too.
Re: "Also, if the Boca Raton team were not given as much independence,
maybe IBM would have designed their own CPU."
NO!
IBM's chairman had commissioned several studies and groups to make an IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER. Nothing got done and almost 2 years (1978 to 1980) were chewed up.
Bill Howe was told to make a proposal to design, build and deliver a PC in 12 months, starting in the summer/fall of 1980.
The only way they could accomplish that was to use commercially available parts. That was understood and accepted by all parties.
Don't forget - IBM wanted a small PC to market - they never thought they would be creating one of the largest industries known to mankind.
Re: "You don't want to sound like Oprah's husband, giving lectures on how to be successful,"
I was reciting historical facts. If you dispute them, let me know why.
As for being married to Oprah - that is not my idea of success.
Paul |
