Date   : Wed, 04 Mar 1987 09:28:30 GMT
From   : pur-phy!piner@h.cc.purdue.edu (Richard Piner)
Subject: Re: Z-80 CP/M Machines

In article <858@crash.CTS.COM> kevinb@crash.CTS.COM (Kevin J. Belles) writes:
>In article <4720@brl-adm.ARPA> 7GMADISO%POMONA.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.EDU writes:
>> 
>>To: Robert Lewis Harker
>>look into a used Tandy Model 4.  It will indeed run CP/M, and a
>>very nice version at that (Montezeuma Micro).  In addition, under
>>its proprietary DOS (LS-DOS 6.3), it runs **THE** best Z-80
>>assembler I've ever seen, called Pro-MRAS, from a company called
>>Misosys.  For an 'obsolete' machine, the amount of support the
>>Model 4 has has to be seen to be believed!!
>
>   I woudn't suggest a Tandy Model 4 for programming usage. It has the
wierdest
>memory banking system I've ever seen, the source code for the BIOS is quite
>difficult to get, and the hard disk subsystem is unusually expensive. It also
>comes with 2 single-sided 5-1/4" floppies, where I recommend at least DSDD
>floppies for programming work (.PRN files and macro libraries can get quite
>large). There's only one serial port available for it, and no real applications
> ETC.
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, while we are on the subject, there is yet another Z-80 machine around.
Namely, the MAX-80 by Lobo. I'm not a big fan, but if you have to have a
Z-80 machine, this one is worth checking out. It runs CP/M or LDOS.
Outputs are, 5-inch floppy, 8-inch floppy, SASI harddisk, Centronics
parallel, 2 RS232 ports (Zilog PIO chip),  and composite video. The
RS232 ports can be set up to generate interupts, so it can run serial
I/O at 19K baud. It has a real keyboard, with ALL the keys and a good
feel, for those touch typist. I have a 3.25 inch floppy drive on one of them
that holds 750K and the drive only cost $175. The MAX is fairly cheap to
expand since the controllers are smart. It doesn't have high-res graphics.
It does have programable fonts. For more information, you can contact
Lobo Systems, 7334 Hollister Ave., Suite J, Coleta, CA 93117.
Phone 805-968-6929. I have a couple of their machines and they run fine.
Warranty service has been quick and when they fix a machine, it stays fixed.
Usual disclaimers go here.
                                       Richard Piner
                                       piner@galileo.physics.purdue.edu.UUCP