Microprocessor Design and Application

During the past year, as more and more microprocessors (as well as information about microprocessors) have become available, the competition for the market has become fierce. The potential user now has a choice of many CPU's varying widely in computing power and price. The price of the low-cost CPU's even in small volume is now below $10 and for the powerful microprocessors ranges from $50 to $100. As the price of the microprocessor decreases toward the $2 to $12 range, the cost of the microcomputer system resides predominantly in the memory and I/O circuitry. This means that additional processors can be added and computing power can be given to applications which might have been uneconomical in the past. This issue of Computer deals with some of the problems that must be dealt with in applying these incredibly low-cost computing elements.