(349896) 88-08-08  01.53 /17 lines/ @uwovax: brent
Subject:  WHY ARE (were) THERE 36 BITS?

   Some time ago there was a video called "Why are there 36 bits?"
(or someting like that) shown at DECUS.  I never saw it - too many
other things going on I guess.  Anyone remember it?
...
Brent.

(349904) 88-08-08  02.01 /12 lines/ @BU-IT.BU.EDU: budd
Subject:  Re:  WHY ARE (were) THERE 36 BITS?

I was once asked a similar question when I was at a party of VMS types
and it came out that I worked for LCG.  Someone asked "what do you use
the extra 4 bits for?".  Before I could compose a better answer some
semi-enlightened soul shouted "no-ops!!"

                        -Phil

(351114) 88-08-09  10.55 /26 lines/ @HPSVAX.DEC: Powell (Reed Powell)
Subject:  Re: 36-bit Tape

From:   HPSVAX::POWELL       "Reed B Powell HPS Mktg"
Date:   8-AUG-1988 08:57
Subj:   RE: WHY ARE (were) THERE 36 BITS?

The direct answer to your question is "so we could store 2 addresses
in one word for handling linked lists in LISP, and 18-bits was enough
to hold the highest possible address anyone would ever conceivably
want to address."  Remember that a lot of the motivation for the
architecture was from LISP needs.

-reed
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