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The Cambridge Z88 was an A4-size, lightweight, portable Z80-based computer with a built-in combined word processing/spreadsheet/database application called Pipedream, along with several other apps/utilities, such as a Z80-version of BBC BASIC.
The machine was designed by Sir Clive Sinclair and released by his company Cambridge Computers in 1987 (Sir Clive having been unable to market the computer as the Sinclair Z88 after selling Sinclair Research's computer business to Amstrad in 1986).
Technical description
The Z88 is a portable computer based on a low-power CMOS version of the popular Z80 microprocessor. It comes with 32Kbytes of internal RAM and 128Kbytes of ROM containing the Operating System (called OZ), but can be amplied up to 3.5Mbytes of RAM, which is non-volatile thanks to the batteries.
Despite the lightness of the Z88—it weighed 0.9 kg—its construction was surprisingly robust, including its membrane/chiclet keyboard which was both comfortable and almost inaudible (an optional electronic "click" could be turned on if it proved too quiet for the user's taste).
Powered by four AA batteries (giving up to 20 hours of use), the computer had three memory slots; each of which could be used for RAM expansion, removable mass storage, and proprietary program use. Since the slots used RAM, EPROM and ROM for their data transfer, the transfer speeds were usually very high. Although RAM cards of up to 1 MB capacity were available, they were expensive. Most users used one or two 128K cards.
Though the LCD display had only eight lines, it was clear and surprisingly effective. In Pipedream, a miniature view of a whole page appeared to the right of the display, giving a good feel for the overall layout, and compensating for the inevitable "letterbox" effect.
Living on in the new millennium
The Z88 had something of a cult following, and is still used by a few enthusiasts. A variety of software is available including games and utilities. Also, there is a 1MB Flash EEPROM now available which provides convenient non-volatile storage. Once written to the card, files are safe and not reliant on a power supply. Unlike traditional EEPROM cards, this one can be erased and reformatted in the computer.
External links
"Cambridge Z88"