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From: tes@whuts.UUCP (STERKEL)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: IBM PC standardization
Message-ID: <1222@whuts.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Jan-87 06:23:59 EST
Article-I.D.: whuts.1222
Posted: Tue Jan 20 06:23:59 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 21-Jan-87 22:31:49 EST
References: <2902@gitpyr.gatech.EDU>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 24
Keywords: IEEE, standardization

In article <2902@gitpyr.gatech.EDU>, jkg@gitpyr.gatech.EDU (Jim Greenlee) writes:
> I just got the February issue of "The Institute" (an IEEE publication) and 
> it appears that there is move afoot to standardize the architecture of the
> IBM PC and compatibles. Quoting from the article:

This reminds me of the ill-fated "S-100 Standardization" IEEE
performed circa 1981/2.  As far as I could tell, standard 696 
was almost universally ignored as everyone wanted to claim
"S-100" but had little interest in loosing sales of their own
add-ons.

Then in October?, 1981, IBM trashed the entire standard by
introducing their own PC, and the rest is history.

Useful "standards" are created and maintained by industry
working from economic necessity, not IEEE.  The new standards
will meet the same fate as S696 unless it is to the *continuing*
economic advantage of IBM, Compaq, etc.  It will be interesting
to watch for heavy IBM senior engineering participation.
-- 
    -----                   Terry Sterkel
  -====----            AT&T Bell Laboratories
  ---------    {harvard|allegra|ulysses|ihnp4}!whuts!tes
    -----         [opinions are obviously only my own]