Orchid XP v8 wrote:
> They put it on toasters, washing machines and other devices that you 
> don't even think of as "computers". 

<raises hand>  Cash registers, credit card terminals ....


-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
  Helpful housekeeping hints:
   Check your feather pillows for holes
    before putting them in the washing machine.

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Darren New wrote:

> <raises hand>  Cash registers, credit card terminals ....

...credit cards... ;-)

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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Warp wrote:
>   I believe that the answer is: Intel *already* has the pipelines to
> produce 386 processors, from the 80's. Basically they don't have to
> do anything but (simplifying a bit) put the raw material in from one
> end, and 386 processors pop out on the other end. The only costs are
> the raw materials and the maintenance of the pipeline hardware. In
> other words, it's very cheap for them to do this.
>   Designing a completely *new* 387 using modern technologies would cost
> them a whole lot of money. Countless man hours would be spent into the
> design, and a completely new pipeline would need to be constructed.
> Why spend all that money and go through all that trouble when the existing
> hardware is doing just fine, and selling well?

Exactly, although they *are* designing new chips that are meant to go 
where the 386 goes.  I think the one from Intel is called the Atom.

...Chambers

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