6809 (was: Anybody ever use Aztec C for APPLEII?)

From: ben franchuk <bfranchuk_at_jetnet.ab.ca>
Date: Wed Apr 28 12:30:18 2004

Dave Dunfield wrote:

> It's disappointing that the 6809 never received as much acceptance or use as it should
> have. It was truly in a class by itself. Motorola documents show two circles, one
> containing the words "8-bit" and one containing the words "16-bit". A third circle,
> linking the other two contains the word "M6809", and this is a good description of the
> part. It was an 8-bit CPU with a great deal of 16 bit capability.

In hindsight, the 6809 while the best 8 processer it only has 64k of
memory space. Time has proved the 64k data and 64k program space and
about 1 meg of memory ( something the PC-XT had or PDP11/unix ) was
needed for useful programs with a resonable OS. Also since the only
common 6809 system was by Radio Shack as games machine you never got the
good I/O like lower case letters and a real serial and floppy drives.
Ben.
Received on Wed Apr 28 2004 - 12:30:18 BST