Digitalker, SP0256, and SC-01 speech chips

[Brent Hilpert]

Chuck Guzis wrote:
> > Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:54:01 -0500
> > From: Dave McGuire
> > > As one who has had the extreme displeasure of programming both the
> > > 8X300 and an 8X305,
> >
> >    Are they really that bad?  How so?
> 
> Brain-dead in the extreme, although the model might be interesting
> for the "1900 Computer" thread.  You had 8 registers, a shifter and
> an ALU.  R0 was the implied source for binary operations, but not
> implied as an accumulator.  The instruction set was 8 instructions:
..
> 
> By any measure, the PIC1640 was miles ahead in terms of ease of
> programming.

Just to mention, the SMS300 (and the CPC1600, but not the PIC1640) is
covered in the Osborne book ("Intro. to Microcomputers, Vol. II,
Some Real Products)".

Reading the Osborne book some time ago I got the impression the SMS300
might be considered the first (micro-)DSP. Extracts:

  "The SMS300 is described by its manufacturer as a "microcontroller"
   rather than a "microprocessor". This distinction draws attention to
   the very unique capabilities of the SMS300 which make it the most
   remarkable device described in this book."

  "The SMS300 is designed to serve as a signal processor, operating
   at very high speed. The SMS300 can handle applications of this type
   at more than 10 times the speed of any other device described in
   this book."

  "If yours is a high speed signal processing application, then give
   the SMS300 serious consideration; otherwise, the SMS300 is probably
   not for you."