Motorola to unveil microprocessor chip on Monday, much later than promised
Article Abstract:
Motorola Inc introduces the 68040 complex instruction-set computer (CISC) microprocessor, calling it the world's most complex chip. Originally promised for Sep 1989, the 68040's delayed introduction will probably cost it market share to the Intel 80486. The 68040 is compatible with all the previous CISC chip applications while having the speed of a reduced instruction-set computer (RISC) chip. The 68040 can perform 3.5 million floating point operations per second, making it the world's fastest chip, and will be particularly useful for graphics- and calculation-heavy applications. Though industry insiders do not see the 68040 making inroads into the RISC dominated workstation market, Motorola claims Apple Computer and HP are among 36 computer makers with plans to build machines using the chip.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1990
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Collapse spells victory for foe of consortium
Article Abstract:
T.J. Rodgers, president and CEO at Cypress Semiconductor Corp, opposed U.S. Memories Inc, the consortium of makers and users that was to have challenged Japanese domination in the semiconductor industry. Rodgers testified against the consortium in Congress, and he said his company might make the same chips that U.S. Memories planned to make. His arguments were motivated by more than philosophy: Rodgers was concerned that U.S. Memories would eventually compete with Cypress, which makes a variety of memory chips different from those that U.S. Memories had planned. Rodgers feels that consortia stifle the creativity and risk-taking of the small start-up companies central to the computer industry and the free enterprise system.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1990
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Motorola, TRW develop new chip with more power. Rival poised to clone Intel chip. Motorola loses edge in microprocessors by delaying new chips; one is held up by obsession with quality, a second by corporate infighting; squandering a lead in RISC
- Abstracts: Siemens, Nixdorf to join computer units; plan may spawn other combinations in Europe. part 2 Nixdorf prepares for Siemens merger; computer firm braces to enter the big leagues
- Abstracts: AT&T, NCR unveil strategy of merged firm. AT&T racing rivals to lay undersea lines. In computer industry, no one is laughing at AT&T's effort now; phone giant exploits niches, unifies Unix, even starts manufacturing own PCs; grooving with the 5 Satins
- Abstracts: Intel, NMB amend pact on chip supply. Japan aims to show that chip market is open to the West. Japan's chip makers take glut in stride despite U.S., Korean price competition