[timschmidt]

I grew up with all the classic 8 bit micros, and to be honest, it doesn't feel like computing has changed at all since 1985. My workstation, while a billion times faster, is still code compatible with a Datapoint 2200 from 1970.

The memory model, interrupt model, packetized networking, digital storage, all function more or less identically.

In embedded, I still see Z80s and M68ks like nothing's changed.

I'd love to see more concrete implementations of adiabatic circuits, weird architectures like the mill, integrated FPGAs, etc. HP's The Machine effort was a rare exciting new thing until they walked back all the exciting parts. CXL seems like about the most interesting new thing in a bit.

[mazurnification]

Does GPU thingy count as something that has changed with computing?

[adolph]

It may go on to be as important as the FPU [0]. Amazingly enough you can still get one for a Classic II [1].

0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating-point_unit

1. https://www.tindie.com/products/jurassicomp/68882-fpu-card-f...

[timschmidt]

Yeah, I almost called that out. Probably should have. GPU/NPU feels new (at least for us folks who could never afford a Cray). Probably the biggest change in the last 20 years, especially if you classify it with other multi-core development.

[qznc]

Today a byte is 8 bits. That was not always the case back then, for example.

[timschmidt]

> I grew up with all the classic 8 bit micros

Meaning that all the machines I've ever cared about have had 8 bit bytes. The TI-99/4A, TRS-80, Commodore 64 and 128, Tandy 1000 8088, Apple ][, Macintosh Classic, etc.

Many were launched in the late 70s. By 1985 we were well into the era of PC compatibles.

[bluGill]

in 1985 PC compatibles were talked about, but systems like VAX, and mainframes were still very common and considered the real computers while PCs were toys for executives. PCs had already shown enough value (via word processors and spreadsheets) that everyone knew they were not going away. PCs lacked things like multi-tasking that even then "real" computers had for decades.

[timschmidt]

> in 1985 PC compatibles were talked about

My https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandy_1000 came out in 1984. And it was a relatively late entry to the market, it was near peak 8088 with what was considered high end graphics and sound for the day, far better than the IBM PC which debuted in 1981 and only lasted until 1987.