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Ask HN: Are there any 8 bit computers still manufactured?
I'd like to buy a modern computer, i.e. one being manufactured in 2016, that uses an 8 bit Z80 CPU.
Is this possible?
I want to explicitly say I'm not looking for a hobby kit or to make my own. I'm interested to know if there is any sort of 8 bit computer still being made.
As I understand it the Z80 is still manufactured and used in a range of embedded systems - perhaps one of such systems can be bought and connected to with keyboard and screen?
If the answer is no, then what was the last Z80 computer actively manufactured?
- rman666 10y agoYes. I was recently at a Vintage Computer Festival and there were quite a few including the ELF.
- homarp 10y agoTi84 is closest. but not connectable to screen
- hoodoof 10y agoWow it's pretty amazing that this is a Z80 https://education.ti.com/en-GB/aus-nz/products/secondary-calculators/ti-84-plus-ce/tabs/overview https://education.ti.com/en-GB/aus-nz/products/secondary-cal... Yes the only missing thing is the ability to connect a screen.
- davelnewton 10y agoYou can still get Z80 boards from Zilog: http://www.digikey.com/catalog/en/partgroup/ez80-acclaim/15884 http://www.digikey.com/catalog/en/partgroup/ez80-acclaim/158.... Zilog is where I'd start looking for boards and variants. (These aren't my Z80s, these are modernized chips. I may actually grab one of these myself even though I have a few running Z80 systems.) If you're looking for something (I'd call) "more Z80-esque" I'd check these guys: http://www.sunrise-ev.com/z80.htm http://www.sunrise-ev.com/z80.htm It looks like it's still active, and I'll grab one of these. In any case, the embedded space is where you'll want to look for modern boards. You may pay a premium--supply and demand, and all that. Unrelated, but it's way, way easier to "hook up a keyboard and screen" using serial IO rather than building a display unit and/or USB.