> I remember the first 64 bit cpu being a surprise.
MIPS III?[1] DEC Alpha?[2] They were both developed as a response to the 1989 release of Intel's failed i860[3], so I'm not sure who else was surprised. DEC Alpha was legendary, briefly survived the sale of DEC to Compaq in 1998, but was killed finally in 2001 when Compaq sold Alpha technology to Intel.
MIPS III?[1] DEC Alpha?[2] They were both developed as a response to the 1989 release of Intel's failed i860[3], so I'm not sure who else was surprised. DEC Alpha was legendary, briefly survived the sale of DEC to Compaq in 1998, but was killed finally in 2001 when Compaq sold Alpha technology to Intel.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R4000
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEC_Alpha
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_i860