The crazy world of 8-Bit personal computing truly kicked off in 1972 with the release of the Intel 8008 microprocessor. The impact of which can still be felt today — in fact, some of the designs of modern “x86” processors are built upon the foundation that the 8008 built.
But did you know…
Another company managed to get a working 8-Bit microprocessor before Intel?
The Intel 8008 had almost no design similarities to the Intel 4004 (and was not a successor)?
The initial functional design of the Intel 8008… was not actually made by Intel?
It’s all true. The history of the Intel 8008 — the CPU that formed the basis for the 8080, 8086, and the entire x86 processor family — is wild and woolly. To say the least.
So buckle up, buttercup. This is one heck of a ride.
Not based on the 4004
Let’s get this out of the way, right up front.
The Intel 4004 microprocessor was released in 1971 (the year before the 8008). The 4004 is a 4-Bit processor, while the 8008 is an 8-Bit processor.
These facts led many to believe that the 8008 was an upgraded, 8-bit version of the 4004. An easy assumption to make.
However…
The 8008 microprocessor was not based on the 4004. The 8008 was, in fact, a completely different design — not originally designed by Intel — that happened at roughly the same time as the 4004.
The Intel 4004 - Photo credit: Thomas Nguyen
These two chips are wildly different — the fact that the “4004” and “8008” have similar names is nothing but marketing.
So, if the 8008 was not originally designed by Intel… where the heck did it come from?
Well… San Antonio, Texas. Obviously.
Computer Terminal Corp
A company down in Texas named “Computer Terminal Corporation” was building a programmable computer terminal with an 8-bit CPU design.
A truly cool looking machine, with a massively widescreen CRT monitor: The Datapoint 2200.
Fun historical tidbit: One of the goals of the Datapoint 2200 was to replace the IBM Punch Card. Towards that end, the widescreen monitor on the Datapoint 2200 was almost exactly the same dimensions (displaying 12 rows of 80 characters) as those Punch Cards.
An IBM Punch Card
But this was 1969.
Which meant that there were no off-the-shelf CPUs that those nerdy Texans could use to build their 8-Bit machine. So they did what any good nerds would do… they built their own CPU design — using a wide array of individual components — on a large board.
A shot of the “core CPU board” of the Datapoint 2200. Photo courtesy: oldcomputers.net
The result is an “8-Bit CPU” (on a big ole’ board) powering the world’s first personal computer.
Historical Argument Time: Whether or not the Datapoint 2200 qualifies as the first “personal computer” has been debated for decades. One thing is certain… it is the first mass produced, programmable computer terminal. You could program in BASIC and run your programs locally. And, considering the size of the machine, it fits the definition of a Personal Computer — before any others were mass produced — in the opinion of The Lunduke Journal.
Obviously, this approach to the CPU board had some down-sides.
The vast number of individual an unique components on the CPU board for the 2200 meant that shortages or changes in any individual part could cause delays, re-designs, or wild pricing fluctuations. Plus it meant that building each CPU board was a time-intensive process. Then there was the heat issue. That board generated a lot of heat.
A Datapoint 2200 with the case removed. Photo courtesy: oldcomputers.net
To resolve these issues, Computer Terminal Corporation began working with two companies. Both competing to shrink large portions of the Datapoint’s 2200 8-Bit CPU into as small a number of chips as possible.
Those companies: Intel and Texas Instruments.
The TMX-1795 & Intel 1201
Intel and Texas Instruments were in a fierce competition to build the first 8-Bit microprocessor… based (very, very closely) on the designs of the Datapoint 2200. Both companies were, quite literally, miniaturizing the 2200’s CPU board design into a single chip.
It was a race. And these companies needed to move fast.
The first company to complete a functional microprocessor was Texas Instruments, with the TMX-1795.
The TMX-1795 CPU. Photo courtesy: Computer History Museum
Unfortunately for Texas Instruments, Computer Terminal Corporation was disappointed by the performance of the TMX-1795 (as it performed far slower than the Datapoint 2200’s larger, custom CPU board).
A few months later, Intel would also cross the finish line: providing the Intel 1201 CPU for evaluation to be used in the Datapoint 2200.
The Intel 1201, just like Texas Instrument’s offering, was simply not performing well enough.
In the end, Computer Terminal Corporation opted to not use either microprocessor — sticking with their larger, in-house designed board for the final release of the Datapoint 2200.
Texas Instruments, which had accomplished something truly remarkable — the development of the world’s first 8-Bit microprocessor (based on the design of the Datapoint) — opted to shelve their TMX-1795 entirely. It never went into production and never got any public release… existing only as a handful of demo and prototype units.
Intel, on the other hand, had other ideas…
The deal with Intel
Not long after the Intel 1201 project had been dropped… Seiko approached Intel about the idea of using this new 8-Bit CPU in a desktop calculator. But… who owned the rights to the 8-Bit 1201 chip? Intel or Computer Terminal Corp?
Luckily for Intel, the deal with Computer Terminal Corporation was extremely vague. In fact, it existed entirely as notes on a purchase order. There was no other contract, whatsoever. Seriously.
One of the most critical deals in all of computer history exists as nothing more than a few lines on a purchase order. How crazy is that?
But, as luck would have it, we have an actual copy of that purchase order.
This purchase order was uncovered and preserved by the sales rep
Note the purchase amount: $3,000,000. That’s for 100,000 Intel 1201 chips… at $30 each.
Now here’s where everything gets a bit... funky. We're getting into brutal, cut-throat business here.
See that note scribbled at the top of the Purchase Order? “P.O. on hold - awaiting customer schedule.”
The reason for that note: Due to financial issues, Computer Terminal Corporation put a small delay on the CPU project. But then, when the project resumed, Intel missed the deadline (regardless of the delay). And the chip, when delivered, performed far slower than expected.
Plus… No Intel 1201 chips were ever delivered.
So… who owed who money? Based on the wording in the Purchase Order… it wasn’t at all cut and dried. This could have turned into a long legal battle to settle that question.
Intel used this opportunity to pressure Computer Terminal Corporation into giving the entire intellectual property of the 1201 chip to Intel… in exchange for simply dropping the matter entirely.
Intel would then, almost immediately, turn around and begin selling a slightly modified 1201 CPU (now called the “8008” for marketing purposes).
The 8008’s legacy
That new 8008 CPU would eventually lead to the 8080, 8086, 80286, and the full line of x86 processors that would almost totally define Intel and the PC industry for the next several decades.
While the 8008 was not the only 8-Bit CPU to exist — the Z80, the 6502, and so many others appeared in the years that followed — the impact that it had on the world of computing is truly mind-boggling.
And the company that did all the initial design — Computer Terminal Corporation — didn’t see a penny for it. They, literally, gave it to Intel. And, boy-oh-boy, did Intel run with it.
Because it deserves to be marveled at… here is a detailed die shot of the Intel 8008. Ain’t it purdy?
The world’s first 8-Bit CPU… really wasn’t the world’s first. Texas Instruments beat Intel by a few months… but they never went into production.
Historical Tidbit: Even though the TMX-1795 never went into production, Texas Instruments filed several patents on it over the course of the next few years. And, being as both the TMX-1795 and the 8008 were based on the exact same system (the Datapoint 2200)… this laid the groundwork for lawsuits galore.
And Intel isn’t really the company responsible for creating the instruction set and architectural design of the 8008 — which formed the basis of almost their entire processor line for decades. That honor goes to Computer Terminal Corporation… of San Antonio, Texas.
Wild, right?
Explains why this poor lady, from an original Datapoint 2200 advertisement, has the "I just got forced into giving away all of our hard work to Intel" look.
XFCE's Wayland "Preview Release" is Horribly, Expectedly Broken
The XFCE Linux & BSD Desktop Environment has spent a "significant portion" of their funds porting from X11 to Wayland... even though Wayland is missing key functionality.
XLibre, the "Vanity, Protest Fork" of Xorg, Has Yet Another Major New Release
Red Hat & Xorg tried to silence them, & GNOME leaders vandalized their wiki, calling them "Nazis". But XLibre 25.2 just released, containing more code commits than Xorg had for the entire year.
Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.
It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.
The “Commodore 64” and “Ubuntu 4.10” Lifetime Subscriber Walls will be full within the next day or two. Reminder: Lifetime Subscriptions are massively discounted through end of June (less than 5 days).
14 Retro “Lifetime” Walls! And Counting!
I want to offer a huge “Thank You” to everyone who has picked up a Lifetime Subscription to The Lunduke Journal.
Not only have you directly made it possible for The Lunduke Journal to continue to operate, completely free from Big Tech influence… but those of you who have added your names to the Lifetime Subscriber Walls have sent a loud message to the Tech industry (and the world of Open Source in particular).
14 walls (and counting), filled with the names of normal people, rejecting the crazy Woke politics invading so much of Tech, standing with the work of The Lunduke Journal.
That’s awesome. You are awesome.
For those of you yet to grab your own Lifetime Subscription, they are massively discounted through the end of June (for the next 4 days and change).
Scroll down for the details, grab one, enjoy the perks, and get on the Wall.
Three Retro Lifetime Walls Open
Which means there are 3 Walls currently available to put your signature on:
Commodore 64 : Only a few spots left
BeOS R5 : 1/2 full
Ubuntu 4.10 : 2/3rds full
Take your pick. There’s no wrong answer here. Three classic Operating Systems.
Support The Lunduke Journal & Get on The Wall
Grabbing a Lifetime Subscription to The Lunduke Journal — and getting your name on one of the Retro Computer Lifetime Subscriber Walls — is the best way to show your support for truly independent Tech Journalism.
Grab a Lifetime Subscription (1 name on 1 Wall per Lifetime Subscription), scroll down for the links.
Then Email Lunduke (“[email protected]”) with which Retro Computer Wall you would like to appear on (and what name you would like to use).
Your name will then appear on a Wall… on both Lunduke.com & during the end of Lunduke Journal shows.
Note: These fill up crazy fast. We’re talking days, not weeks. First come, first served. If you want to get on a specific Wall, don’t dilly dally.
Lifetime Discount Runs Through June
For the entire month of June, Lifetime Subscriptions are discounted down to $125 (regularly $300).
Send $115 worth of Bitcoin (or more) to the following address:
bc1qyjakve8fywm8pz2v99v57yhjj0vzr2vjze6fcq
Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the following information: What time you made the transaction, how much was sent (in Bitcoin), and the email address you use (or plan to use) on Locals.com or Substack.com.
The Great Linux/BSD Display Server War(tm) continues to rage on!
This week, Valve’s SteamOS finally finished its transition to Wayland by default (demoting Xorg), a move that SteamOS had put off for the last two years. And, just a few days earlier, Slackware (the oldest actively maintained Linux distro) began officially testing XLibre as a replacement for Xorg.
The trend is clear: Xorg is being tossed into the dumpster (at the encouragement of the Xorg team and Red Hat), with Wayland and XLibre each gaining marketshare.
It will be interesting to see how these changes impact overall X11 (in general) vs Wayland marketshare… which has been staying steady at roughly 50/50, across all Linux distros, for a few years now.
This is all happening at the same time as Linux is becoming increasingly developed by AI bot, with over 10% of all code submissions to the kernel being written by AI during the previous week.
The world of Linux is changing… and changing rapidly.
Some of those changes seem great. Others are terrifying.
Sometimes… well… they are both.
Ubuntu 4.10, C64, & BeOS Walls
The support shown to The Lunduke Journal, from all of you, continues to amaze me.
We are now up to 14 (fourteen!) Retro Computer Walls, filled with the names of Lifetime Lunduke Journal Subscribers who want to show their support to the world.
Here are the major stories from the last week, with direct links to X and Substack. You can also watch / listen on a bunch of other platforms (Rumble, RSS Audio Podcast, etc.), listed on Lunduke.com.
OpenAI Buys Seat on Rust Board for $600K (X, Substack)
Ubuntu 4.10, C64, & BeOS Lifetime Walls are now available for Lifetime Subscribers to put their names on! Plus: Lifetime Subscriptions are massively discounted through end of June (roughly 10 days).
Ubuntu 4.10 Lifetime Wall
Remember when Linux was fast, light, and required only 64 MB of RAM?
Let’s celebrating those good old days by adding a new “Lifetime Subscriber Wall” of the very first version of Ubuntu (4.10), released all the way back in 2004.
This brings the total number of Lifetime Subscriber Walls up to 14 (fourteen!), with 11 Walls completely, totally filled with the names of Lunduke Journal supporters.
That’s wild!
Three Retro Lifetime Walls Open
Which means there are 3 Walls currently available to put your signature on:
Commodore 64 : Half full
BeOS R5 : 1/3rd full
Ubuntu 4.10 : Just opened
Man. Look at that Ubuntu 4.10 screenshot. So very… GNOME 2… and brown. That, right there, is how I like to remember Ubuntu.
Support The Lunduke Journal & Get on The Wall
Grabbing a Lifetime Subscription to The Lunduke Journal — and getting your name on one of the Retro Computer Lifetime Subscriber Walls — is the best way to show your support for truly independent Tech Journalism.
Grab a Lifetime Subscription (1 name on 1 Wall per Lifetime Subscription), scroll down for the links.
Then Email Lunduke (“[email protected]”) with which Retro Computer Wall you would like to appear on (and what name you would like to use).
Your name will then appear on a Wall… on both Lunduke.com & during the end of Lunduke Journal shows.
Note: These fill up crazy fast. We’re talking days, not weeks. First come, first served. If you want to get on a specific Wall, don’t dilly dally.
Lifetime Discount Runs Through June
For the entire month of June, Lifetime Subscriptions are discounted down to $125 (regularly $300).
Send $115 worth of Bitcoin (or more) to the following address:
bc1qyjakve8fywm8pz2v99v57yhjj0vzr2vjze6fcq
Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the following information: What time you made the transaction, how much was sent (in Bitcoin), and the email address you use (or plan to use) on Locals.com or Substack.com.
There are some options. For both subscribing and donating. They're all on this page.
Bonus: At the bottom of this page you will find the invite link to the super-secret Lunduke Journal Discord Chat Server. This is only available for full subscribers, which makes it a nice place to hang out. No riff-raff.
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