[Info-vax] [OT] Portable operating systems, was: Re: PowerX Roadmap -

[Dirk Munk]

Scott Dorsey wrote:
> In article <nrrrl7$84n$1 at dont-email.me>, GreyCloud  <mist at cumulus.com> wrote:
>>
>> Not totally true on the modes.  Why did Data Generals machines have 8 modes?
>> I know they went out of business, but why 8?
>
> Because if you want five modes, you might as well just make eight because
> it takes the same number of bits in your opcode.
> --scott
>
>

Modern CPU's seem to have 5 modes, there is now a -1 mode for hypervisors.