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From: F0O@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.intel
Subject: Re: When will the 8088 die?
Message-ID: <90337.093702F0O@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: 3 Dec 90 14:37:02 GMT
References: <90335.202651F0O@psuvm.psu.edu>
 <1990Dec3.024326.22956@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca>
Organization: Penn State University
Lines: 24

In article <1990Dec3.024326.22956@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca>,
mroussel@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca (Marc Roussel) says:

>     This comment really piqued my curiosity... Since the 286
>instruction set is a superset of the 8088's, how do you propose that
>Intel make a chip whose instruction set is a superset of the former's
>without including the instructions of the latter's?  Furthermore, what
>possible purpose could it serve to deliberately screw up backward
>compatibility in such a way?

     Another question... Is it possible to make a chip that is backward
compatible with the 286, but *will not* work on an 8088.  By using protected
mode, it would be possible, and this is one of the things I'm talking about.
FORGET the 8088 series of computers/compatibles; I think all software/hardware
developers should focus on the 286 and up.  I realize this cuts out alot of
the market, but from a technical standpoint, I think it would be a good thing.
From a marketing standpoint...
     Another reason I'd like to see the 8088 go is one of marketing.  As we
get more computers with different series of chips, how much is the price on
chips/computers being artificialy? kept high?  For instance, if the 8088
compatibles were suddenly taken off the market, would the 286 and other
computers come down in price?

                                                                [Tim]