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

[GreyCloud]

On 09/21/16 05:10, Johnny Billquist wrote:
> On 2016-09-20 19:29, GreyCloud wrote:
>> On 09/20/16 04:48, Johnny Billquist wrote:
>>> On 2016-09-19 21:51, GreyCloud wrote:
>>>> On 09/19/16 08:34, Dirk Munk wrote:
>>>
>>>>> Intel did design the 4-mode setup, they just made an error in the
>>>>> design. Instead of correcting the design, they crippled it even more.
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't know if AMD has the same problem.
>>>>
>>>> An interesting point you just brought up. AMD right now isn't exactly
>>>> getting rich these days selling their current processors. Assuming one
>>>> can, approach AMD with this particular question and see what is there.
>>>> If AMD did it correctly, this may give AMD some hope of increasing
>>>> sales
>>>> in this particular arena.
>>>
>>> Nope. Totally pointless. People (comapnies) in general will not write
>>> any code or OS that would only work specifically on AMD processors. If
>>> AMD haven't already done the same as Intel, they will. Anything else
>>> just don't make sense.
>>>
>>> And you really do not need 4 modes. I have said that for years around
>>> here. Seems like VSI understood, but a lot of people still seem to want
>>> to hang on to this like a religion.
>>>
>>
>> Not totally true on the modes. Why did Data Generals machines have 8
>> modes?
>> I know they went out of business, but why 8?
>
> Why? Because they thought there was some advantage to that, I would
> assume. They also had two stacks, and seven registers related to those
> two stacks (no, I am not talking about different stacks in different
> modes).
>
> Also, DG used the PC as the source to decided which mode you were
> executing in.
>
> I can't explain their reasons for their designs. But I remember back in
> the 80s when I was looking at it that I just thought it utter madness. I
> never liked their hardware.
>

I tend to agree with your assessment as well.  Their terminals looked 
nice, but after kicking the tires on a DG demo, I didn't like it as well 
as the VT series from DEC.