The 650x series were originally designed by a team of former Motorla guys who struck out on their own and formed MOS Technology, where they first produced a version, the 6501, which was, pretty clearly, a "stalking horse" for the Motorla lawyers. It was a version that was pin-compatible with the MC6800, and, since a judge can see the external differences but can't comprehend the internal ones, they (MOS Technology) were forced to take it off the market. It was, of course, replaced with the 6502, and several other smaller pin-count versions that quickly captured market share due to their low cost.

MOS technology was eventually acquired by Commodore, with whom I'd guess many of you young "whippersnappers" are familiar. Like just about all 8-bit microprocessors (as opposed to microcontrollers/single-chippers, it has gone the way of the dodo bird, though there might be one remaining manufacturer still shipping, though perhaps from existing stock.

You can contact the guys at www.6502.org for more info.

For the real gluttons-for-punishment, there's also the Denver Area 6502 group site, www.6502group.org for your mental masturbation pleasure. There are a bunch of really smart guys in that group, but, AFAIK, there's been nothing of any real use that's come out of that group for over 15 years. I was once a rabid participant in the group, but it's no longer doing anything with 6502's and has wandered off into PIC culture. The main thrust is apparently "items of curious interest" but having no practical use. They have accumulated a wealth of knowledge about an incredible range of things, but don't seem to apply them any longer, hence, I haven't been to a meeting in years.

RE