Fans of alternative micros might be interested in this extensive and well-researched article by Ken Shirriff:
The Texas Instruments TMX 1795: the first, forgotten microprocessor
(Of course, in discussions about priority you do have to define your terms carefully.)



Starting from Datapoint's 2200 who got both TI and Intel to make a one-chip version of their TTL CPU, then gave away the rights. But also mentioning Four-Phase Systems with their AL1, effectively predating Intel's offerings and TI's patent claims, but not rated as a true microprocessor by Ken. Also mentioning Viatron's System 21 product idea, a spectacular startup crash-and-burn from 1968, coining the term microprocessor but not containing a one-chip CPU. Likewise Holt's CADC processor is a multi-chip effort.

HN discussion at
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9520210

Some extra materials in Ken's album at
https://plus.google.com/photos/10633856 ... 6392223281

I'm very much looking forward to the next instalment: implementation and circuitry details of the TMX 1795.
(The linked pdf of Boysel's EECS presentation was very good too, although I think I've read it before)

More on the Datapoint 2200 at https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities ... /datapoint

A very informative article by Ken Shirriff, thanks for posting. I pushed it to the Wayback Machine to make sure it stays out there..

-Tor