16 v. 32 bit

[Desperatly seeking happiness]

> 
>   The 8088 is indeed a 16-bit machine (very strangely put together, it's true)
> which is then squished down onto an 8-bit data bus. Seems Intel wanted to make
> it `compatible' with the old 8-bit machines.
>

The 8088 is a 16 bit machine because IBM says it is.  If you look in some
of Intel's early data books (1978 or so) you'll see the 8088 referred to
as an 8 bit processor.  They didn't call it a 16 bitter until IBM needed
to sell their pieces of junk, which would have been instantly recognized
as junk had it been advertised correctly, i.e., having an 8 bit processor.


							Jim

	"When in trouble or in doubt
	 run in circles, scream and shout"