The
IBM Personal Computer, model number 5150. It's a machine I often start with, and for
good reason, because it's the forefather of every IBM PC compatible we have today. Created in 1981, using mostly off the shelf
parts, the central processor chosen to be the core of this technology was Intel's 8088,
clocking in at an impressive 4.77Mhz. Itself a descendant of the Intel 8008, which
itself was the successor to the Intel 4004, released in 1971; Intel's first commercially
available microprocessor. Even before this, Intel had used numbering
for it's components which correlated to an in house code. The first digit indicated the process technology
used, the second it's generic function and the final two digits, the sequential number
identifying the component's development. Intel's new microprocessors would break from
this norm a little, with designer Federico Faggin leapfrogging a few numbers to avoid
disrupting the numbering applied to groups of compatible components, after all, this
was a micro-processor and could handle many tasks by itself. To form it's own compatible family of components,
the 4001 control memory, 4002 data storage and 4003 bus expansion chips were also created. This numbering would continue with Intel's
subsequent microprocessors; the 8086, 80186, 80286, 80386 and 80486, with each new design
jumping 100, to indicate the ushering in of a new phase but after that, things changed. Why? Both Intel and Advanced Micro Devices were
setup by ex-employees of Fairchild Semiconductor; a company which started in 1957 and ruled
the Silicon Valley roost throughout the 1960s, so when Intel started creating Microprocessors
in large numbers it created an industry standard "second source" programme whereby AMD would
assist in the production of their processors. A deal was instigated where both companies
could have access to technology and act as second sources for each other, so in exchange
for access to their processors, Intel wanted something equivalent in return from AMD, but
by the time the Intel 386 was ready, Intel decided AMD seemed to have little on the table,
and actually rejected their Quad Pixel Display Manager chip, somewhat breaching their good
faith. From 1985, Intel took the decision to manufacture
all 386 chips completely under their own initiative, bypassing the second source deal. This exclusivity meant that protecting their
processors from infringement, was suddenly more pertinent. This was especially true when AMD successfully
managed to create their own 386 clone through reverse engineering of Intel's chip a few
years later. Intel got wind of this through a tale stranger
than fate. AMD's marketing manager, Mike Webb was checked
into a hotel in Sunnyvale California, awaiting a package. Curiously, an Intel engineer, also by the
name of Mike Webb was staying at the same hotel, and lo and behold, the package was
accidentally delivered to him, rather than the AMD Mike. The literature in this package gave away the
386 game and Intel quickly sought to sue AMD for infringement. To me this sounds like an intentional plant
by Intel, and AMD would later query the integrity of this course of events. In the mean time, it meant AMD had to delay
their processor release until, in March 1991, the Judge sided with AMD, having created their
chip using their own process and declaring the 386 trademark itself as too generic. AMD also argued that due to the earlier contract
between the two companies, they had the right to use Intel's microcode for subsequent x86
chip generations. This created further lawsuits until the end
of 1994, and also lead to Intel creating the "Intel Inside" marketing campaign to enforce
brand identity. AMD would release their Am386 competitor in
1991, some 6 years after Intel and begin to capture their own portion of the x86 market. Intel would try and register both 486 and
586 but abandoned it's applications, even attempting i586 but only seeking approval
on the grounds that no exclusive claim to use 586 stand-alone is made. Enter Lexicon, a marketing company Intel gave
the task of creating a name, which sounded integral to the computer. CEO David Placek initially thought up Pentagon,
referencing the Greek number 5, indicating this was the fifth generation of processor. "Agon" was then changed "Ium", sounding more
like Scientific - like an element, and in March 1993, the Pentium brand was born, a
brand name which by the late 90s would become more recognisable than Intel itself. Although not everyone appreciated it. Other manufacturers would conveniently tow
the 586 and 686 line in the wake of this, before following suit with their own brands. It was clear that there was power in the word,
given that words are just easier to remember. It's also clear that Intel do still like numbers,
having resorted, in part at least, to using them in their more contemporary range of processors,
alongside specific usage guidelines, of course. And that's it for this Byte size. There's some links below if you fancy a bit
more information on this. Otherwise, have a great evening.
