Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site wcom.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!wcom!frodo From: frodo@wcom.UUCP (James Scardelis) Newsgroups: net.micro,net.arch Subject: Re: Intel and IBM Message-ID: <1011@wcom.UUCP> Date: Tue, 26-Nov-85 19:10:50 EST Article-I.D.: wcom.1011 Posted: Tue Nov 26 19:10:50 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 28-Nov-85 03:22:22 EST References: <129@intelca.UUCP> <392@aum.UUCP> <225@l5.uucp> Organization: Warner Computer Systems, Saddle Brook, NJ Lines: 37 Xref: watmath net.micro:12864 net.arch:2178 > A small start-up company in Boca Raton, Florida decided that they wanted > to get into the booming microcomputer market. They designed a machine > based on an 8088. At that time, I doubt that they even *considered* a > 68000 because [followed by a whole bunch of stuff] Well, that isn't the way I heard it...the way I heard it goes like this: IBM decided to get into the microcomputer market. As with mainframes, they decided to take the market over, based on what the IBM name means to corporate MIS people. IBM formed several semi-independent groups within itself that could appear to be start-up companies, each with the mission of making a personal computer by a given date. The group that won was the Boca Raton group, whose machine was based on the semi-16 bit 8088. The logic behind this choice was the fact that almost all software at the time ran on the 8 bit predecessor, the 8080, and could be converted at the assembly language source code level by translator programs to run on the new machine, ensuring a supply of application software shortly after the PC's introduction. The 8088 was chosen over the 8086 because of the 8 bit data bus, that among other things, made 64 K machines possible. The Intel 8088/8086 series was also an easier sell to IBM management because IBM was already experienced with the 8086 -- in the Displaywriter. The Boca Raton group became the Entry Systems Division, which continued to function somewhat independently of IBM corporate until recently, when the absorption of ESD into the IBM corporate structure was completed. -- Jim Scardelis, SA {vax135,ihnp4}!wcom!frodo #include