Dying Architectures

[Kim DeVaughn]

> It is often said that the whole world is not a VAX. Too bad. That's like
> saying all (wo)men are not saint(e)s. It all started with the PDP-11,
> which defined the basic instruxion set architexure for practically all
> new machines. Take a look at the 68000 & say, `this is a pdp-11.'

PDP-11's?  The IBM 360 series was commercially introduced in 1965, and was
available to selected customers via the 1965-equivalent of IBM's ESP
program (Early Support Program) in 1964.  I'm not a big fan of IBM's,
nor the architecture of the 360/370/303x/308x/309x machines, but in terms
of "defining architectures" for new machines, they have NO competition
by just about any measure (number of machines installed [in the appropriate
class], quantity of installed-base code [$375 Billion+, is the current
estimate], etc.)

I read a book some time ago titled, "The Sun Never Sets On IBM" by Thomas
J. Watson, Sr. as I recall.   Apt title.

/kim
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