dread high bit disease

dread high bit disease

   <character> A condition endemic to {PRIME} (also known as
   "PR1ME") {minicomputers} that results in all the characters
   having their high bit (0x80, see {meta bit}) ON rather than
   OFF.  This complicates transporting files to other systems and
   talking to true 8-bit devices.  Folklore had it that PRIME
   adopted the convention in order to save 25 cents per {serial
   line} per machine; PRIME old-timers, on the other hand, claim
   they inherited the disease from {Honeywell} via customer
   NASA's compatibility requirements and struggled heroically to
   cure it.  Whoever was responsible, this probably qualifies as
   one of the most cretinous design tradeoffs ever made.  A few
   other machines have exhibited similar brain damage.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (2002-04-09)