Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!hellgate.utah.edu!cc.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!slsw2
From: SLSW2@cc.usu.edu (Roger Ivie)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers
Subject: Unsubstantiated VAX rumors (was RE: Y VAX?)
Message-ID: <16864@cc.usu.edu>
Date: 17 Jan 90 21:57:05 GMT
References: <153.UUL1.3#5131@mvac23.UUCP> <457@ns-mx.uiowa.edu>
Lines: 29

In article <457@ns-mx.uiowa.edu>, jones@pyrite.cs.uiowa.edu (Douglas W. Jones,201H MLH,3193350740,3193382879) writes:
> It's not the PDP series, it's the PDP-11 series.  The PDP-11 was a 16
> bit machine, the PDP-8 was an unrelated 8 bit machine, the PDP-10 was
> an unrelated 36 bit machine, and the PDP-15 was an unrelated 18 bit
> machine.  All were made by DEC, many used compatible hardware at some
> level, but there was not one PDP series in any useful sense.
> 
Actually, the PDP-8 was a 12-bit machine.

Rumor has it that the VAX 11/780 has, in addition to it's PDP-11
compatibility mode, a hidden PDP-8 compatibility mode. My rumor monger
never explained how to turn it on, so I don't know if this is true.

> Now for the folklore:
> 
>     PDP-11/78  -- a paper machine, intended to outperform the 11/70,
>                     with improved support for 32 bit operands.
> 

PDP-11/76 -- a dual-processor PDP-11/70 that was never marketed for fear
	     of squashing the (then brand-new) VAX-11/780.

===============================================================================
Roger Ivie

35 S 300 W
Logan, Ut.  84321
(801) 752-8633
===============================================================================