I'm sick of subject lines about that stupid apple storm thing

[gregt+@CMU.EDU (Gregory Ross Thompson)]

payner@netcom.com (Rich Payne) writes:
> I was reading in Byte (I think) of a new micro-programmable RISC
> chip which could emulate a fast 486 (and run slightly faster) when
> programmed as a 486. It said that the design team had already
> written the microcode to emulate a 68040 and the i486. At production
> volume the prices mentioned were around $10-$15/CPU.

  Hmm.  I haven't read this article, so I'm simply speculating here.
I find it VERY hard to believe that someone has made a general purpose
microprogrammed RISC that is faster at being a 486 than a 486 itself.
For one thing, one of the main "definitions" of RISC is that it's not
a microcoded machine.  I know, everyone has their own opinion in the
RISC/CISC debate, but I'd personally rather hear something like
"pipelined CISC" than "microcoded RISC".  Please don't send me flame
mail for that. 

  Next, unless a major chip manufacturer is fabing the chip, I'd doubt
that they could get the cost down to $10.  It's probably costing Intel
more than that to make the 486.  Also, their useful yeild would be
really low for a while, making the cost initially high.

  Next, if you can make a general purpose chip that can emulate an
'816, then you can ALWAYS make a dedicated '816 that'll be faster.
Why not just do that?

  Oh well.  I just wanna get an Alpha to go with my Alfa...

  Lastly: everything I've said in this post is MY OPINION.  I haven't
read the article, so PLEASE don't send me mail saying that I'm wrong,
and the chip does exist.

		-Greg
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'cause I got more spice than the frugle gormet