DREAD HIGH BIT DISEASE
\dɹˈɛd hˈa͡ɪ bˈɪt dɪzˈiːz], \dɹˈɛd hˈaɪ bˈɪt dɪzˈiːz], \d_ɹ_ˈɛ_d h_ˈaɪ b_ˈɪ_t d_ɪ_z_ˈiː_z]\
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A condition endemic to PRIME (also known as"PR1ME") minicomputers that results in all the charactershaving their high bit (0x80, see meta bit) ON rather thanOFF. This complicates transporting files to other systems andtalking to true 8-bit devices. Folklore had it that PRIMEadopted the convention in order to save 25 cents per serialline per machine; PRIME old-timers, on the other hand, claimthey inherited the disease from Honeywell via customerNASA's compatibility requirements and struggled heroically tocure it. Whoever was responsible, this probably qualifies asone of the most cretinous design tradeoffs ever made. A fewother machines have exhibited similar brain damage.
By Denis Howe
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Nearby Words
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