There was a microprocessor arms race in the early seventies. Both Intel and Motorola lead the way, but that all changed in 1975. MOS Technology (MOS) introduced us to the 6502 microprocessor – the world’s first affordable 8-bit microprocessor. An interesting fact about the 6502 is that the designers were ex-Motorola employees.
The trusty 6502 became the brains of seminal computer systems like the Apple II, the Commodore PET, the BBC Micro, and the Commodore VIC-20. It was also the precursor to the Commodore 64’s 6510 microprocessor!
The 6502 microprocessor also went on to power a very famous fictional machine: Bender Bending Rodriguez, or simply just, Bender – the belligerent robot from the sci-fi animated comedy Futurama.
Long live the 6502!
Image source: Futurama TM and © 2009 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation