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Remembering 36-bit DECs

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the looking-back-on-the-past dept.

rjinbanff writes: "Very interesting read that details a number of historical events in Computing history (Kermit, EMACS, etc). Self-described as: "A nontechnical reminiscence written in 1988 (on the occasion of unplugging Columbia University's last DECSYSTEM-20) for a Digital Press book that was to commemorate DEC's 36-bit machines with a series of articles, but was never published." Minor edits, notes, glossary, links, and HTML formatting added in January, 2001."

1 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. 36bit architecture by doctor_oktagon · · Score: 5

    Unisys still use a 36 bit architecture in their 2200 mainframe class machines.... caused no end of grief to the new graduates at the last place I worked, on a UK banking system *grin*

    Interestingly enough, these machines still power most of the airline reservation and core banking systems in a significant part of the world.

    If someone came up with a 68bit (for instance) architecture nowadays we'd all be on /. accusing them of smoking crack!