Re: Check this out for a rumour...

[hexman@netcom.com (Tony Morales)]

> Apparently Western Design Center Inc, makers of the 65c02 and 65c816 
> microprocessors have decided to launch their own computer 'to fill 
> the gap where the Apple II line left off'.  It would appear they have
> been busy extending the 65xxx family of processors and have a 65c16s (a 
> low power version of the 65c816 for hand-helds etc) and a 65c265 (a 
> 65c816 with built in I/O circuitry making a complete 
> computer-on-a-chip).  This chip will be in the new computer, called a
> 'Mensch' after the designer William D. Mensch.  Although this is not
> Apple compatable, it fulfills WDC's philosophy that the average 
> computer user does NOT need the Mb and Mhz of the modern computer.
> It should be available to the public now.

I've never heard of the 65c16, but the 65c265 and the Mensch computer
have been around for at least a year--the thing was demoed at the 1994
KFest.  As I recall, the thing didn't make much of an impression on
those who saw it, or at least those who wrote articles about seeing it.

> ALSO, and much more importantly, WDC have a 65c832 processor on the 
> drawing board, making a 32-bit Apple II at least possible.

WDC has been talking about a supposed 65832 for somewhere around 8 years
now, if not longer.  I'll believe it when I see it.  WDC should have put
all effort into the 832 where they could have possibly made a bit of
money, instead of this ridiculous Mensch computer.  I mean, if the 832
was pin for pin compatable with the 816, (like the 65816 data sheets
say it will, err, would have, been), which Apple IIgs user wouldn't buy
one.  I certainly wood.

The King of All Programmers, Tony Morales        If it's PC to like
GEnie: hexman                                    Windows 95, then I am
Internet: hexman@netcom.com                      not PC!
ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/he/hexman/index.html