If I recall correctly, Intel built an early version of what became the 4004 under contract to DataPoint Corp, but the chip failed to meet performance spec's, and Datapoint walked. The Intel guys thought they had a possible winner anyway, and went ahead.
Not to knock Datapoint; they had the earliest commercial ethernet system around. Very much an innovator.
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If I recall correctly, Intel built an early version of what became the 4004 under contract to DataPoint Corp, but the chip failed to meet performance spec's, and Datapoint walked. The Intel guys thought they had a possible winner anyway, and went ahead.
Not to knock Datapoint; they had the earliest commercial ethernet system around. Very much an innovator.