FPGA VAX update

[Roger Merchberger]

Rumor has it that Chuck Guzis may have mentioned these words:
>On 10/24/2005 at 11:03 AM Peter C. Wallace wrote:
>
> >Transmeta is gone....
>
>Huh.  I hadn't noticed that.  Their news page reads:

"Gone" is an oversimplification, but they're certainly not the same company 
they were 2-3 years ago, especially WRT hardware. :-/

>Funny that they still list the Efficeon and Crusoe processors on their web
>site, so it might still be possible get them.

It's still possible to get Motorola 6809's, but Motorola hasn't made any 
for quite some time.

I guess it'll just depend on:
1) how long the NOS stuff will hang around, and/or
2) if anyone purchases licenses to build new VLIW/Crusoe processors. Maybe 
VIA will start making 'em after the C3 series dies (think: Cyrix).

The last time I checked (last year) the eval boards for Crusoe/Efficeon 
chips were rather expensive for the hobbyist. It'd be cheaper to pick up a 
Crusoe-based laptop mobo or machine, and use that for a possible platform, 
altho I'll admit that it's certainly not the *ideal* hacking platform 
available. Sometimes, one must balance function with cost...

Laterz,
Roger "Merch" Merchberger

--
Roger "Merch" Merchberger  --  SysAdmin, Iceberg Computers
zmerch at 30below.com

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