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From: gil@pajaro.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: 64 Vs 32
Message-ID: <15525@sun.uucp>
Date: Tue, 24-Mar-87 13:39:32 EST
Article-I.D.: sun.15525
Posted: Tue Mar 24 13:39:32 1987
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Summary: variable field length computer


In article 645 Lars Aronsson asks:
> Is there already ... a computer with truely variable word length?

The Fairchild SymbolIIR (R for research) computer, circa 1970, was VFL with
hardware supported array structured memory having no limitations on
manipulation. The size or type of data did not have to be specified in the 
instruction since they were contained in the data fields. As one might
suspect, the primary drawback was speed when compared with conventional
fixed field length machines.

Gil Chesley{usual disclaimers}