VDict - Definition of dread high bit disease

Computing (FOLDOC) dictionary

dread high bit disease

character A condition endemic to PRIME (also known as

"PR1ME") minicomputers that results in all the characters

having their high bit (0x80, see meta bit) ON rather than

OFF. This complicates transporting files to other systems and

talking to true 8-bit devices. Folklore had it that PRIME

adopted the convention in order to save 25 cents per serialline per machine; PRIME old-timers, on the other hand, claim

they inherited the disease from Honeywell via customer

NASA's compatibility requirements and struggled heroically to

cure it. Whoever was responsible, this probably qualifies as

one of the most cretinous design tradeoffs ever made. A few

other machines have exhibited similar brain damage.

(2002-04-09)

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