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From: draper@buster.cps.msu.edu (Patrick J Draper)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.intel
Subject: Re: When will the 8088 die?
Message-ID: <1990Dec3.200008.23972@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu>
Date: 3 Dec 90 20:00:08 GMT
References: <90335.202651F0O@psuvm.psu.edu> <1990Dec3.024326.22956@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca> <90337.093702F0O@psuvm.psu.edu>
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Reply-To: draper@buster.cps.msu.edu (Patrick J Draper)
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, Michigan State University
Lines: 37

>
>     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...

No! No!

*386* protected mode should be the one we should be worried about. We
don't need a bunch of computers with 64Kb segments (like we have now).
We need 4 gigabyte segments like in the 386, that way they might as well
be flat model. 80286 can die - viva 80386!


>     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]

Probably not because the major cost of a computer is components. If you
put an 80286 in an XT box with an XT hard disk controller, the price
will be the same (roughly). Reduce the cost of the case, power supply,
floppy disk, controllers, video cards, etc. and the price of the whole
computer will drop.


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patrick Draper              In times like these it is helpful to
buster.cps.msu.edu          remember that there have always been
                            times like these.
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