david@marvin.jpl.oz (David Magnay) (01/09/90)
NSC seem to have-lost/are-losing interest in UNIX capable chips. The NS32016/082 was quite a neat unix solution. Would have been nice to see it go to CMOS and 15MHz or more. Probably not enuf of you guys ( and gals) put your back behind it to make it a worthwhile hit. The 532 is a mean machine, but pushes system costs up by the system complexity ( and performance). The '082 breakpoint and debugging support were great, but S/W never made great use of them; lots of operator control to drive them in the debuggers. It's an odd-on-bet that the 32016/082 will die soon. The 32cg16 will be the equivalent mainstay in embedded systems, where NSC have a foothold, backed up by the 532/GX32 at the top end. As far as building a 32016 portable, you will never see a CMOS MMU for it. The commercial realities of your portable are such that even if the 'C082 was avail, you would be unwise to commercially commit to it. The 386-PC type product, even running UNIX, will wipe you out. You can only survive with 3rd party support, and there would be none for such an orphan. .......................................................... Any views are my own, and not those of my employer. He has his own bad ideas. .......................................................... David Magnay mail david@marvin.jpl.oz Johns Perry Lifts uucp ..!uunet!murtoa!marvin!david 45 Wangara Road, Cheltenham 3192 phone (03) 584-3311 Victoria, Australia O/seas +61 3 584 3311
bdale@col.hp.com (Bdale Garbee) (01/13/90)
Sorry, I should have made it clear... I am working on a quantity one laptop for myself, low priority back-burner style. I have no intention of commercial production. Your feelings about National's interest in a CMOS part are exactly what I've gathered... I was just hoping I'd gathered wrong... Bdale