On 13 Oct, 03:52, ste...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> On Oct 11, 1:43=A0am, Leon <leon...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On 10 Oct, 17:42, ste...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
>
> > > On Oct 10, 9:01=A0pm, Leon <leon...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
> > > > I've just ordered my 1600 MIPS XMOS XC-1 design kit.
>
> > > > The XMOS chips will replace DSPs and FPGAs in a lot of
applications=
..
>
> > > > I haven't been so excited about a new chip since the transputer
cam=
e
> > > > out. David May designed them both, of course.
>
> > > > Leon
> > > > leon...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> > > Is the comparison with the Transputer supposed to imply this is a
hal=
f
> > > thought out design with brain dead execution? :-\
>
> > > Steve
>
> > The transputer was ahead of its time, and really pushed the technology
> > that was available. I sold a lot of systems using it, mostly to
> > universities and research establishments, because there was nothing
> > else around with that sort of performance then. Inmos even had their
> > own fab!
>
> > Leon
>
> The Transputer wasn't ahead of its time. It was brain dead. A chip
> only effective in substantial arrays selling for hundreds of pounds
> per device was a dead duck from the start. The only people who could
> seriously look at it for substantial arrays were military
> applications. However, when approached about military parts Transputer
> gave evasive answers.
>
> There was nothing innovative about the design of the Transputer. The
> device as it was supposed to be (i.e. separate comms and execution
> planes), rather than the crippled one they ****pped, was similar to
> designs several people in the UK (and presumably elsewhere) were
> toying with at that time. The others did not proceed because the
> economics looked so wrong.
It was used very widely ar the time, because there wasn't anything
comparable for sale. I even sold several of my modules to hobbyists
and university students - at =A3500 each!
Some of the customers for my 16 module system were prestigious outfits
such as BAe, Plessey Roke Manor, GCHQ and Oxford University PRG. It
delivered 320 MIPS with very good floating-point performance at a
comparatively low price (about =A313,000 with T800 chips).
I even had inquiries from Russia, indirectly, but it was embargoed
because of the performance. I did once apply for an ex****t license for
Russia, to see what happened, and actually got it! I contacted the DTI
about it; they got very excited, admitted thay had made a mistake and
insisted that I returned the do***ent. I'm quite sure that Russia did
get the technology, though. I heard on the grapevine that there were
companies in Finland that acted as intermediaries.
Leon
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