Cambridge Computers Z88 (1988)

Features

CPU: CMOS Z80A 3.2768MHz
RAM: 32 KB, 128 KB or 512 KB depending on models (the Z88 can address up to 4Mb of memory, subdivided into 256 banks of 16K each)
ROM: 128 KB (up to 1 MB)
Text Modes: 104 chars. x 8 lines
Graphic Modes: 640 x 64 (the screen is typically shared between a text area of up to 104 x 8 characters on the left and a graphics area of up to 256 x 64 pixels (on the right). Additionally there is a 16 x 64 pixel status information window at the far right)
Colors: 3 shades of gray
Sound: Miniature loudspeaker, used for alarms or warnings.
I/O Ports: RS232, 3 Expansion ports (RAM or EPROM), Z80 Bus
Keyboard: 64 rubber-key QWERTY arrangement, including full-size spacebar.
OS: OZ
Built In Language: Diary, PipeDream (combined wordprocessor/spreadsheet), Terminal, Printer Editor, BBC BASIC, Index (application/card manager), Filer (file/EPROM manager), Calendar, Calculator, Clock, Alarm, Import/Export (file transfer) and Panel (control settings).

This system requires full keyboard emulation to work correctly. At startup, full keyboard emulation mode is enabled by default. Whilst in full keyboard emulation mode, some key associated functionality may be disabled (like the ESC key for EXIT). The keyboard emulation mode is toggled using the “Scroll Lock” key (by default).

Original Keyboard: QWERTY rubber keyboard, 64 keys

ESC   1!   2@   3#   4$   5%   6^   7&   8*   9(   0)   -_   =+   \|     DEL

                                                                       -----
 TAB     Q    W    E    R    T    Y    U    I    O    P    [{   ]}    |   E | 
                                                                       -  n |
                                                                        | t |
 DIAMOND    A    S    D    F    G    H    J    K    L    ;:   '"   £~   | e |
                                                                        | r |

    SHIFT      Z    X    C    V    B    N    M   ,<   .>   /?    SHIFT    Up

                                                      CAPS
INDEX  MENU HELP SQUARE              SPACEBAR         LOCK    Left Right Down

Known Issues

The emulation of this system is Preliminary.

History and Trivia

The Z88 is a portable system with a LCD screen display and good sized keyboard.

Amstrad bought the rights to use the Sinclair name on computer products. However, while Sir Clive Sinclair (the creator of the ZX 80, ZX 81, ZX Spectrum and QL) retained ownership of Sinclair Research, he couldn't use the Sinclair name. Sir Sinclair therefore created a new company called Cambridge Research, with the intention of realizing an old project, the Pandora Project. The result of this work was the Z88 (it was achieved in 1988). Sir Sinclair at the time thought it was a revolution and said that this computer would be one of the best commercial successes. Actually it was Clive Sinclair's last contribution to the computer world!

This small machine was quite powerful; its operating system could exceed the 64 KB limitation of the Z80 with a good memory manager. It could also divide the memory into 16 KB pages, so the RAM could be expanded up to 3 MB thanks to 2 expansion ports. RAM cartridges of 32 KB and 128 KB were available. It had a built-in EPROM programmer available on the 3rd expansion port, so data could be saved directly on 128 KB EPROMs.

The ROM contained a lot of software: Pipedream (spreadsheet, word processor and database), the Z80 version of the BBC Basic (the Basic of the BBC or Electron), a diary, a calendar, a clock, a conversion tool, a VT 52 terminal emulator, Filer (the file manager of the Operating System) and a utility to transfer data to a PC compatible via a RS232 link. This transfer utility exported text and spreadsheet files into Wordstar or Lotus 1-2-3 formats.

The BBC Basic in the Z88, although very powerful, lacks an essential feature: there is neither an editor nor debugger! This means that mistakes in a line can only be corrected by typing the whole line again! (reported by Jan M.L. Bosmans)

(info from old-computers.com)