Andy Kunz wrote:

> This also explains the Y2K problems.  Those applications were
> obviously not written by assembly programmers, who would have used
> 16-bit values for dates because they KNOW that they wouldn't want to
> have to come back to the program at then end of every millenia.

> Seriously, though,

  Seriously though, it's not as if it's even necessary to use 16-bit
data values for year dates.  Since these things (microcomputers) did not
exist prior to 1970, and the PC till 1980, a two-digit BCD value
provides compatibility through to 2070 or 2080, and seven bits through
to 2098 at minimum.  For each chip or application, it's pretty obvious
how to do it; you just write the code and it works!

  Cheers,
        Paul B.