Monthly Archives: July 2017

Slow Season Again

As regular readers probably noticed, it’s the slow season once again. I’m traveling, with restricted Internet access and/or limited computer time. Which is not to say that there’s nothing to write about, just not enough time to do it. For … Continue reading

Posted in Site Management | 8 Comments

SYSENTER, Where Are You?

It has only recently been brought to my attention that Intel’s SYSENTER/SYSEXIT instructions have rather unusual past, and their origin is shrouded in mystery and confusion. One facet of the usage of these instructions is also a little unorthodox. Depending … Continue reading

Posted in Intel, PC history, Undocumented | 26 Comments

Of G-Men and Farmers

There’s an interesting story concerning this Midiman GMan General MIDI sound module. It involves Midiman (better known as M-Audio), the Farmers Insurance Exchange, and also Dream/Atmel, Crystal Semiconductor, and Roland. (Apologies for the beat-up specimen.) The story of course concerns … Continue reading

Posted in Crystal Semi, Dream, Legal, MIDI, Roland, Sound | 20 Comments

Would You Believe It?

The following article was printed in Computer Shopper, June 1992 issue (page 152). Commentary follows. The Big Squeeze Compression Scheme Shatters Storage Logjam Todd Daniel believes he has found a way to revolutionize data storage as we know it. DataFiles/16, … Continue reading

Posted in PC history, PC press | 65 Comments