Xref: utzoo comp.os.cpm:2329 sci.electronics:5730
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!rutgers!apple!vsi1!daver!lynx!neal
From: neal@lynx.uucp (Neal Woodall)
Newsgroups: comp.os.cpm,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: New processor rumour
Summary: 8-bit is here to stay for a while....
Message-ID: <5388@lynx.UUCP>
Date: 1 Apr 89 02:37:32 GMT
References: <240@ericom.ericsson.se>
Reply-To: neal@lynx.UUCP (Neal Woodall)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Lynx Real-Time Systems Inc, Campbell CA
Lines: 41

In article <240@ericom.ericsson.se> etxbrfa@kk32.ericsson.se (Bj|rn Fahller TT/MLG) writes:

>I've heard some rumours that Zilog recently has released a NEW version
>of the Z80 processor. The new version should (according to the rumours)
>have a largely expanded instruction set, with multiplication, division,
>SIO routines, etc...

>Is this actually the case? I thought Z80 was out years ago.

Depends on what you mean by "out".

To the magazines/periodicals (like EDN, EE Times, ESD (Electronic Systems
Design, NOT Electro-Static Discharge), Computer Design, etc. the Z80 might
be "out" because it is not the "newest, flashiest, most powerful 32-bitter"
offered. Remember, these magazines try to "hype" the high-tech stuff
because that is what is "exciting" to all of the engineers. If you read
these mags a lot, then you might very well get the idea that 8-bit is
"out" and the only kind of processor any self-respecting engineer would
desing with is the latest 32-bit RISC machine.

Actually, the 8-bit processors and single chip computers/controlers
represent the largest share of revenue generated by the companies which
supply processors to the commercial market...they are used in things like
microwave ovens, refridgerators, copy machines, soft drink machines, etc.
(note...TI still makes lots of bucks selling 4-bit micros!)

It will probably be a loooong time before the 8-bitter bites the dust, if
ever.

I know I will probably get MANY flames for this....even though the stuff I
am presently working on is 25 MHz 68030 VME, I still have a soft-spot in my
heart for the good old 65C02! I catch "hell" for saying this from my
co-workers all of the time!


Neal

P.S.	Your english is fine (isn't this what you ment by "please comment
		on my language"...of course, I am the world's worst speller, so what
		do I know?