From: cyberman@toz.buffalo.ny.us (Cyberman)
Subject: Re: TECH: Using TI340x0
Date: 10 Apr 92 00:17:59 GMT



DG>b) I have heard disqueting rumors from other newsgroups (e.g.
DG>comp.sys.intel, comp.parallel) that Intel is discreetly diminishing
DG>support for the i860. This is unfortunate since it represents the
DG>company's best work to date on silicon, and is at present the
DG>closest thing we have to the ideal VR chip (hardware graphics,
DG>pipelined instructions, excellent MIPS/$, great floating point)
DG>in spite of its drawbacks (dreadful intruction set, poor 3rd-party
DG>vendor support, and it's easily a 4-month hack to port WorldTool
DG>to the i860 IPX/UNIX environment).

Typical hyper myopic INTEL.  They probably don't want it to
compete with the P5.  OR thier are having internal politics
squables. What I don't understand is why they have such high
prices for the I860.  Why?  The 486 has MORE silicon than it.
1.2 million as opposed to the I860's 1 million.

They over priced thier development tools.  [Like small businesses
can afford thier extortionary prices] I think they have really
ruined the sellability of the I860.

DG>My question is: what is the consensus among participants in this
DG>newsgroup as to the continued viability of the i860, vs. say,
DG>MIPS or SPARC (support for which doesn't look to be fading for
DG>many years to come)? I'm working on a hardware spec for a VR
DG>platform and just settled on the 860, but now I worry.

I perfer the I860 myself.  Intel just plain DOESN'T know what it
has!  I think they are having internal problems.  [called moron
pair interaction or administratium]  Thier I860 is briliant their
marketing for it is a dismal failure.  I don't even think they
have tried to market it.

I'm sure if some other Co. had it it would be in much greater
use.

        STEPHEN CYBERMAN@TOZ.BUFFALO.NY.US
        commiserated at Thu  04-09-1992  17:48:25
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 * SLMR 2.1a * Unable to locate Coffee -- Operator Halted!