Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!mcmi!hdr!unocss!mlewis
From: mlewis@unocss.UUCP (Marcus S. Lewis)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.nsc.32k
Subject: Re: 32K "do-it-yourself" kits...
Summary: out-of-date systems?
Keywords: The Ultimate Scrooge...
Message-ID: <478@unocss.UUCP>
Date: 6 Nov 88 04:09:05 GMT
References: <2613@sultra.UUCP> <7532@nsc.nsc.com>
Organization: U. of Nebraska at Omaha
Lines: 27

In article <7532@nsc.nsc.com>, grenley@nsc.nsc.com (George Grenley) writes:
> Starting with 016/032 based hardware means, when you're all done, it will be
> out of date.
> 
> Would you build an 8088 based box?  No.
> 
If that was the cheapest way to get my feet wet, you betcher tootsies.
Since NSC thoughtfully has "committed" to retaining *binary* compatibility
across the 32K family, this is a loaded, and therefore unfair, question.
I have a 32016, and I intend to make it run efficiently, and learn the 
architecture while writing the OS to end all OS's.  Then, I plan to have
all of my kids through high school (not too long now!), and making a decent
living.  Right now, $100 put a real dent in my paycheck, and there's no way
I can handle $532, plus a PS, a box, a decent set of disk drives, and a
purchased OS.  So, piecemeal, I am building my S-100 system. I am using my
non-PC MS-DOS machine to develop code, and spending what free time I have
designing code, and incidentally learning in depth OS design, as well as 
paractical compiler design.  Learning was what I bought my first machine for,
and even though I am finishing a MS in Applied Math, I don't think I want to
stop learning.  
	When I finish my system, I will be in a better position to decide
if I *really* need a '532 or '732 or '932, and its associated vastly
increased performance.  As it is, an 8 MHz 32016 will run circles around
my 7.5 MHz V20/8088, and any CP/M system I happen to have that still runs.
Most of us "hobbyists", even pros, don't need the power of a Cray4, we just 
think we do.  That's the nature of these expensive toys.
Marc Lewis