Unfortunately, the Intersil part still has only minimal output current. If Lynn could cook up an output buffer that would match, at least, HC outputs, and, better attain the 24 mA outputs of popular CMOS buffers.

Without the increased output, it has all the same problems that kept me from designing it into applications back then. It is too costly for application-specific designs, and too limited in its output current for nearly anything useful. The parts necessary to buffer the 8255 outputs to drive a cable, LED, or relay can make the 8255 redundant. If you need Schmidt-triggered inputs, you can leave the 8255 input port out and use a tristate Schmitt buffer like the '245 (Not all '245's have hysteresis, so watch out). Likewise, if you need to drive a terminated cable, the 8255 isn't the device for the job, and the '573 or '574 will do the job much better. (Again, a look at the device datasheet is needed, since they won't all drive the cable termination. The 8255 simply won't do it, ... ever.)

When you get into the handshaking, then a few flipflops and a few gates will do that, too, so long as you know what is required.

Without significantly greater speed (on the order of 25 ns) and much higher Iol and Ioh (on the order of 16-32 mA, to either rail), I can see no room on the market for such a part.

RE