Xref: utzoo comp.misc:2450 comp.arch:4921
Newsgroups: comp.misc,comp.arch
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: microprogrammable machines (Perq)
Message-ID: <1988May22.024205.18010@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <2006@sugar.UUCP> <53583@sun.uucp>, <401@m3.mfci.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 22 May 88 02:42:05 GMT

> ... A Perq was capable of
> very high performance when judiciously microcoded, but that didn't
> sell enough of them to make up for all the disadvantages of
> proprietary hardware and compilers.

Well, there were a few other little problems, like spectacularly late
deliveries...

They also made the mistake of trying to re-invent the wheel EVERYWHERE:
new processor, new operating system, etc.  The result was more or less
predictable:  the initial releases, both firmware and software, were crude
and buggy.  A 68000 running Unix looked very good by comparison, even if
it couldn't do graphics quite as quickly.  Especially since the 68000-box
manufacturer, an obscure little startup called "Sun", could deliver the
thing more or less on time...