A reader says that one of the best decisions ever made in the chip business was the decision to put a complete computer core on an IC (Intel's 4004) and suggests expanding the list of The Ten Best Decisions Ever Made in the Semiconductor Industry http://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/david-manners-semiconductor-blog/2007/03/ten-best-decisions-ever-made-i.html to the 15 Best Decisions Ever Made . . . . . .
OK, so, in chronological order, here are the best fifteen decisions ever made in the semiconductor industry.
Bell Labs' decision to sell licenses for transistor manufacturing technology
Akio Morita's decision to buy a transistor manufacturing license from Bell Labs.
William Shockley's decision to hire Bob Noyce and Gordon Moore
Fairchild's decision to make ICs.
The decision to invest $3m in founding Intel
Intel's decision to make silicon gate MOS memory.
The decision to put a complete computer core on a chip (Intel's 4004).
The 1970s decision by Monolithic Memories to make bipolar PALs which kick-started the programmable logic industry.
Taiwan's purchase of CMOS technology from RCA in 1976.
The 1976 decision by Japan to embark on the VLSI Project.
Chips and Technologies' decision to clone IBM PC chip-sets.
The 1983 decision by Philips and Siemens to set up the Megaproject (which morphed into Jessi and Medea).
The decisions by Altera and Xilinx to found the fabless semiconductor industry business model.
Philips' decision to co-found TSMC with the Taiwan government and kick-start the foundry industry.
The 1987 decision by the US to embark on Sematech.
On Thursday: The Ten Worst Decisions Ever Made in the Semiconductor Industry.
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