ZiLOG Z80 Handbook page 250

CHAPTER 18
Other Z-80 Microcomputer Systems
The Zilog MCB series and Z-80 Development System discussed in
the previous chapter are primarily oriented toward the commercial
user of Z-80 hardware. The systems are designed to provide powerful
tools in Z-80 hardware and software development. In many cases,
the user will design his own specialized Z-80 System around the Z-80
microprocessor chip, using the Z-80 Development System for re-
search and development, or for new versions of firmware, or soft-
ware, for production systems. In other cases, modules of the MCB
series will be incorporated in new designs.
The manufacturers discussed in this chapter have a somewhat
different orientation. While the systems discussed here are being
offered to the commercial user or OEM (Original Equipment Man-
ufacturer), they also are being offered to the computer hobbyist. As
a result, many of the system components are available as kits in addi-
tion to fully assembled modules. Many of the recent hobbyist kit
manufacturers have produced products that have not come up to
commercial standards in design, production, documentation, or sup-
port. The four manufacturers discussed here all provide quality
products that are well designed, produced to commercial standards,
and, in some cases, quite innovative. Other manufacturers of Z-80
equipment also are producing quality components and the discus-
sion of these four manufacturers is not meant to imply that other
units are not equal in quality.
The four manufacturers described in this chapter are Technical
Design Labs, Inc.; Cromemco, Inc.; The Digital Group, Inc.; and
Radio Shack. The products produced by Technical Design Labs and
Cromemco are S-100 bus compatible. The S-100 bus has become a
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