History of Read only memory

	Revision 2 . . September 27, 2001 4:18 am by (logged).253.100.xxx
	Revision 1 . . September 27, 2001 4:11 am by Stephen Gilbert [moved from ROM]

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Difference (from prior major revision) (no other diffs)

Changed: 1c1

Read only memory or ROM is used as a storage medium in computers. Because it cannot (easily) be written to, its main uses lie in the distribution of software that is very closely related to a certain hardware, and not likely to need upgrading. For example a graphics card may implementing some basic functionality through software contained on a ROM.

Read only memory or ROM is used as a storage medium in computers. Because it cannot (easily) be written to, its main uses lie in the distribution of software that is very closely related to a certain hardware, and not likely to need upgrading. For example a graphics card may implement some basic functionality through software contained on a ROM.

Changed: 3c3

There is a trend to put less and less software into static ROMs, and more on disk storage, making changes easier. Home computers in the 1980s came with their complete operating system in ROM. Upgrading to a newer version meant taking a soldering iron, and replacing the old ROM chip with a new one. By the 2000s operating system are not generally on ROM anymore. They may still rely on some software in ROMs, but even that is more likely to reside on a Flash-ROM (see below). [Mobile phones]? are likely to have software in ROM (or at least flash ROM). Some types of video game consoles use ROM based software: the SNES, the N64, and the Game Boy. Such ROMs are sealed into plastic cases suitable for handling and repeated insertion, known as cartridges or "carts" (or [Game Pak]? if you are Nintendo). By extension ROM is also sometimes used to mean a data file that contains an image of the software normally distributed in a ROM, such as a copy of a video game cartridge (often a violation of copyright).

There is a trend to put less and less software into static ROMs, and more on disk storage, making changes easier. Home computers in the 1980s came with their complete operating system in ROM. Upgrading to a newer version meant taking a soldering iron, and replacing the old ROM chip with a new one. By the 2000s operating system are not generally on ROM anymore. They may still rely on some software in ROMs, but even that is more likely to reside on a Flash-ROM (see below). Mobile phones are likely to have software in ROM (or at least flash ROM). Some types of video game consoles use ROM based software: the SNES, the N64, and the Game Boy. Such ROMs are sealed into plastic cases suitable for handling and repeated insertion, known as cartridges or "carts" (or [Game Pak]? if you are Nintendo). By extension ROM may also be used in refrence to a data file that contains an image of the software normally distributed in a ROM, such as a copy of a video game cartridge (often a violation of copyright).