On Thu, 6 Jan 2000, David Schwartz wrote:
> > as stated before: embedded systems use the smallest, most efficient, most
> > inexpensive chip that is up to the job.
>
> I realize that this is common sense, but it's just not true. The defintion
> of "the job" is depedent upon what chips are available. When the scope of
> the embedded system is defined, it's based upon the current level of
> technology.
>
> Why did the Hubble, and embedded system, just get upgraded to a 486-50?
> Obviously the system that was there before did the job, right?
>
> No, what happened was the availability of more powerful embedded processors
> changed the _scope_ of what the job was. This is what has _always_ happened.
>
> And the amazing thing is that the fast chip will be less expensive. The
> reason is simple -- the only significant difference in price between a chip
> one generation back and a chip three generations back would be due to a
> difference in pin count. And the chip one generation back will be suitable
> for more tasks than the one three generations back. This higher volume will
> often result in _lower_ cost.
>
> In fact, it's hard to find non-specialized '286s in wide distribution now.
> This is for an obvious reason -- it doesn't cost that much more to make a
> '486, and the potential market is larger.
>
> > 8bit chips are still used all over the place. And even in 38 years time,
> > there will be plenty of tasks that can be done with a 32bit chip and a
> > lightweight unix-like OS.
>
> Yes, but you will find that they won't be.
>
[snip]
Do yourself a favor .. go to http://www.digikey.com check their catalog
and see how many of their microprosessors can be outrun by an 8086.
If were still using mid 70s technology what makes you think we will all be
using the latest in 30 years ?
Gerhard
-- Gerhard Mack<>< As a computer I find your faith in technology amusing.
- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jan 07 2000 - 21:00:08 EST