Re: The Apple ][ was cool!

[Roy Miller <millers@iliveinnebraska.com>]

william strutts wrote:

> "Christer Palm" <palm@nogui.se> wrote in message
> 3B55DDB6.A643235D@nogui.se">news:3B55DDB6.A643235D@nogui.se...
> > william strutts wrote:
> > >
> > > The data bus was definitely 8-bit hence we had 8-bit ISA slots
> > > which to me would say that the machine is an 8-bit computer.
> > > With the advent of the 286 AT, we had 16-bit data bus which
> > > lead us to the new standard 16-bit ISA slots.   The perception
> > > of the original XT was that it was an 8-bit compter.  Or more
> > > precisely stated an 8/16 bit computer and the 286 AT was a
> > > 16-bit computer.
> > >
> >
> > IMHO, the PC/XT/AT's were clearly 16-bit computers.
> >
> > One shouldn't start to look at memory and I/O bus widths when talking
> > about the bit-ness of a computer. In any modern architechture, these
> > will vary wildely - 256 bit memory busses are not uncommon, while I/O
> > busses are still mostly 32 bits - even in some 64-bit machines.
> >
> > The bit-ness is popularly defined by the largest data operand that the
> > processor can internally operate on with "base" efficiency, or basically
> > the width of the processors internal data bus. I.e. 8 bits for the 6809,
> > 16 bits for the 8086 - 80286 and 68000, 32 bits for the 80386-.
> >
>
> Then the 68000 is a 32 bit computer in  your words because it
> is internally 32 bits.

Apple's adds in Byte, when the Mac first came out, claimed it was a 32 bit
chip, much better than the 16 bit 8088.

Roy

>
>
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> William R. Strutts - wrstrutts1@nospam.home.com - Whatever!
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