The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):
PDP-20
n.
The most famous computer that never was. PDP-10 computers running the
TOPS-10 operating system were labeled ?DECsystem-10? as a way of
differentiating them from the PDP-11. Later on, those systems running
TOPS-20 were labeled ?DECSYSTEM-20? (the block capitals being the result
of a lawsuit brought against DEC by Singer, which once made a computer
called ?system-10?), but contrary to popular lore there was never a
?PDP-20?; the only difference between a 10 and a 20 was the operating
system and the color of the paint. Most (but not all) machines sold to run
TOPS-10 were painted ?Basil Blue?, whereas most TOPS-20 machines were
painted ?Chinese Red? (often mistakenly called orange).
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):
PDP-20
The most famous computer that never was. PDP-10 computers
running the TOPS-10 operating system were labelled
"DECsystem-10" as a way of differentiating them from the
PDP-11. Later on, those systems running TOPS-20 were
labelled "DECSYSTEM-20" (the block capitals being the result
of a lawsuit brought against DEC by Singer, which once made a
computer called "system-10"), but contrary to popular lore
there was never a "PDP-20"; the only difference between a 10
and a 20 was the operating system and the colour of the
paint. Most (but not all) machines sold to run TOPS-10 were
painted "Basil Blue", whereas most TOPS-20 machines were
painted "Chinese Red" (often mistakenly called orange).
[Jargon File]
(1994-12-21)