Re: Identifying CPU and current OS
On Mon, 29 Sep 2025 18:07:16 +0100
"mick.crane" <mick.crane@gmail.com> wrote:
> I never really knew what this meant but liked the sound of it.
>
> "32 bit extensions and a graphical shell [on top of] a 16 bit patch
> to an 8 bit operating system originally coded for a 4 bit
> microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company, that can't stand 1 bit of
> competition."
>
'Windows was once famously described as "32 bit extensions and a
graphical shell [on top of] a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit operating system
originally coded for a 4 bit microprocessor, written by a 2 bit
company, that can't stand 1 bit of competition." This was attributed to
Art Bahrs (an HP guy) in Aug 1997, although it probably predates that.
'While humorous, it's inaccurate: neither DOS nor its predecessor QDOS
were a patch to any flavor of CP/M (presumably the "8-bit operating
system"), and no flavor of CP/M never targeted a 4-bit microprocessor. '
https://wiki.c2.com/?MicrosoftWindows
'2 bit', I think, stands.
--
Joe
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