PDP-11
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| PDP-11 | |
| |
| Character Information | |
|---|---|
| Common Names | PDP-11 |
| Other Names | N/A |
| Human Name(s) | N/A |
| Faction | [[ ]] |
| Lineage | PDP |
| Rival(s) | Various minicomputers |
| Appearance | |
| Height | Lower-mid 5' range |
| Hair Color | Light brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Weapon(s) | N/A |
| Design | |
| First Appearance | Summer 2011 |
| Technical Information | |
| System Personified | Various PDP-11 models |
| Developer(s) | DEC |
| Debut | Circa 1970 |
| Latest release | Circa 1990 |
Technical details
First produced in 1970, the 16-bit PDP-11 minicomputer was one of DEC's most successful mid-range minis. Like the PDP-8, the PDP-11 was employed in a wide variety of business and academic sectors, used in various real-time applications and had a very long production span (1970-1990). Although the PDP-11 was much larger and more expensive than its "predecessor", it was a more advanced design and easier to program. In all, over 40 models of PDP-11 were produced; from the large, early and iconic Unibus models, to the smaller Q-bus models, the PC-sized Professional series, to special purpose designs like the MINC-11 laboratory system and various DEC terminal systems.
While the PDP-11 was a success in and of itself, it also influenced many other systems. The Motorola 68000 was inspired by its design, and on the software front, native PDP-11 OSes inspired popular microcomputer systems to come - in particular, CP/M and DOS. The language C is said to have been influenced by the programming environment of the PDP-11, and it was the second computer to ever run Unix, and the first system that launched it to stratospheric heights of popularity.
Unfortunately, later PDP-11 offerings - in particular the Professional line - were poorly-received by users, many of whom were already migrating to smaller and cheaper systems. DEC ended the PDP-11's production run in 1990, but the PDP-11 continues to be a popular hobbyist computer and many surviving installations exist.