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From: peter@ficc.ferranti.com (Peter da Silva)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Historical architectural advances??
Message-ID: <0KC6TSG@xds13.ferranti.com>
Date: 11 Oct 90 17:09:01 GMT
References: <1990Oct4.001346.4139@Stardent.COM> <8052@scolex.sco.COM> <2750@crdos1.crd.ge.COM> <8139@scolex.sco.COM>
Reply-To: peter@ficc.ferranti.com (Peter da Silva)
Organization: Xenix Support, FICC
Lines: 9

aWhat made the VAX a "supermini" was that it was 32-bit, rather than 16+ bit.
This let you run problems on it that would previously have required a
mainframe, albeit slowly.

As for what makes a mini/micro/mainframe... if you can hold the CPU in
one hand (1 to a few chips) it's a micro. In two hands (1 to a few boards)
it's a mini. Otherwise it's a mainframe. And if it's what you buy for no
holds barred performance (extreme inflexibility in demand curve), it's a
super.
-- 
Peter da Silva.   `-_-'
+1 713 274 5180.   'U`
peter@ferranti.com