~OT: Computer misconceptions

From: Doug <doug_at_blinkenlights.com>
Date: Fri Feb 5 17:46:13 1999

On Thu, 4 Feb 1999, Max Eskin wrote:

> >No, Intel invented the GPF, but Microsoft embraced and extended it.
>
> Actually, I'm pretty sure it was DEC (or whoever made the first
> protected-mode processor).

Nice; take a perfectly good joke and analyze it. AFAIK, Intel was the
first to have segment-level protection for which there may be several
types of "general" faults. Earlier processors had other protection
schemes, such as page-level protection, which would throw *specific* page
faults (which Intel also does).

I'm sure somebody will prove me wrong, but I say my joke stands up to the
closest scrutiny until they do!

-- Doug
Received on Fri Feb 05 1999 - 17:46:13 GMT