Early-to-middle IBM-PC history (was: End-user uses for x86-64)

[Michael ODonnell]

> Extended memory (CPU-addressable memory above 1 MB) didn't see a
> lot of use before the 386, mainly because of the aforementioned
> inability of the 286 to switch out of protected mode once it got in.

Aww, shucks!  no need to let a little thing like that get in your way:

   http://blogs.msdn.com/larryosterman/archive/2005/02/08/369243.aspx

...and I was certainly obliged to commit my share of similarly
Unnatural Acts in those days.  The huge body of software that
eventually ran on the IBM PeeCee stands as a tribute to the creativity
and perseverance of the programmers who overcame all the pointlessly
idiotic obstacles placed in front of them and made code run despite
(what seemed to most of us to be) the best efforts of Intel/Microsoft.