[sdiy] IN your mind, what is ....

[john mahoney]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "phillip m gallo" <philgallo at attglobal.net>
>
> Conceptually the 4004 evolved into hyper-wangled pentiums, more
> specifically, probably more accurate to say it evolve into todays
> microcontrollers (especially any 8051 type including 80c251).
True, and those MCUs are everywhere.
Zilog's Z-80 was yet another 8080 spinoff, basically, and it was everywhere
in Sinclairs and such.
IIRC, the progression went 4004 > 8008 > 8080 > Z-80 > 8085 > 8086 > 80186 >
'286 > '386 > '486 > Pentium and Celeron.

Further off topic, intel maintains 2 separate CPU design teams; they work on
alternate generations in a game of R&D leapfrog (of course, they share
information, too). Maybe this is why only IBM is keeping up with intel in
the CPU race.

> ... They were certainly "spurred on" from the 4004 as an industry event.
It's fair to call the 4004 the Grandfather of Microprocessors.

> Linear chips, except for analog arrays, are more like individual bit slice
> components you compound them for total top level functionality.
More like discrete logic, maybe?

Slightly back ON topic...

There will be pure analog DIY as long as parts are available. But this
"digital stuff" is an increasing part of DIY. Current examples include the
Chameleon, the PSIM-1, and DIY VST software. I guess that computer chips
weren't off-topic, after all.

So, are you still with us, Joel (kirch)? Have you gotten anything useful
from your survey? There are several good contenders for the title!
--
john