Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!portal!cup.portal.com!mslater
From: mslater@cup.portal.com (Michael Z Slater)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: AMD 29000
Message-ID: <33558@cup.portal.com>
Date: 5 Sep 90 16:28:32 GMT
References: <534@cpsolv.CPS.COM>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 18

>What are the advantages and disadvantages of the AMD 29000 as the processor
>for a Unix workstation?  Are there any products out there using the 29K?  If
>not, why not?  Is there something about the architecture that makes people
>avoid it?

The disadvantage of the 29000 for Unix workstations is that there is no
Unix port!

This has nothing to do with the architecture, but is a marketing decision
that AMD made a couple years ago.  With SPARC and MIPS looking very strong
in the Unix arena, and with the importance of building a base of third-party
software for Unix workstations, AMD decided to focus all their efforts on {
embedded applications.  I think it was a wise choice.

Does anyone know of any real architectural reasons why the 29K Unix port was
never completed?

Michael Slater, Microprocessor Report   mslater@cup.portal.com