The DECSYSTEM-20 was a
DEC PDP-10 computer running the
TOPS-20 operating system.
PDP-10 computers running the
TOPS-10 operating system were labeled DECsystem-10 as a way of differentiating them from the PDP-11. Later on, those systems running TOPS-20 (on the KL10 PDP-10 processors) were labeled DECSYSTEM-20 (the block capitals being the result of a lawsuit brought against
DEC by Singer, which once made a computer called "system-10"). The DECSYSTEM-20 was sometimes called PDP-20, although this designation was never used by DEC.
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The most famous computer that never was.
PDP-10 computers running the
TOPS-10 operating system were labelled "DECsystem-10" as a way of differentiating them from the
PDP-11. Later on, those systems running
TOPS-20 were labelled "DECSYSTEM-20" (the block capitals being the result of a lawsuit brought against DEC by Singer, which once made a computer called "system-10"), but contrary to popular lore there was never a "PDP-20"; the only difference between a 10 and a 20 was the
operating system and the colour of the paint. Most (but not all) machines sold to run
TOPS-10 were painted "Basil Blue", whereas most TOPS-20 machines were painted "Chinese Red" (often mistakenly called orange).
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Jargon File]
(1994-12-21)
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