Z88 Specifications

Picture of Z88
Dimensions
A4-size notepad (294mm x 210mm x 23mm). Weight 900g.
Power supply
4xAA alkaline cells, providing up to 20 hours of use. AC mains adaptor (6.5v DC @ 500mA) recommended for heavy indoor use. Internal capacitor provides power while batteries are being replaced.
Processor
CMOS Z80A running at 3.2768MHz
Memory
The Z88 can address up to 4Mb of memory, subdivided into 256 banks of 16K each. Internally there is 128K ROM and 32K, 128K or 512K RAM. Three card slots at the front of the machine each allow up to 1Mb of ROM or RAM to be added.
Screen
640x64 pixel LCD display with adjustable contrast. The screen is typically shared between a text area of up to 104x8 characters (on the left) and a graphics area of up to 256x64 pixels (on the right). Additionally there is a 16x64 pixel status information window at the far right.
Keyboard
64 rubber-key QWERTY arrangement, including full-size spacebar.
Sound
Miniature loudspeaker, used for alarms or warnings.
Operating system
OZ, providing task-switching between multiple instances of applications. Any application can be suspended at any time and re-entered when required. Machine may be switched off at any time without loss of data.
Applications
Five full applications are provided: Diary, PipeDream (a combined wordprocessor/spreadsheet package), Terminal, Printer Editor and BBC BASIC. Further applications may be added on ROM cards and will be fully integrated by the operating system.
Popdowns
Eight applets (or popdowns) are provided; these may be called up at any time and cancelled when finished with. Included are Index (application/card manager), Filer (file/EPROM manager), Calendar, Calculator, Clock, Alarm, Import/Export (file transfer) and Panel (control settings). As with applications, further popdowns may be added on ROM cards.
Interfaces
9-pin RS232 port supporting rates up to 38400 baud. Cables available to connect to printers (serial & parallel), modems and desktop computers. Expansion bus at right side of computer available, but usually sealed.
Expansion slots
Three slots at the front of the machine can take RAM, ROM, EPROM or Flash EPROM cards of up to 1Mb in size. Only slot 3 can write to EPROMs and Flash EPROMs, although they can be read in any slot.
Cards available

Built-in applications and popdowns

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