Z80 SoftCard release | First hardware for Microsoft | Techday, April 2nd
On this TECHDAY in history, on April 2nd 1980, Microsoft announces their Z80 SoftCard, their first and (for a long time) only hardware product, a microprocessor that plugged into the Apple II personal computer, with a retail price of 349.00 dollars. The SoftCard allowed programs running under the CP/M operating system to run on the Apple II with only minor modifications. For some time, SoftCard was considered one of Microsoft’s more profitable products. The production discontinued in 1986.
was one of the first hardware products released by Microsoft. It was designed to allow users of the Apple II, which used the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, to run software designed for the Z80. This was useful because many popular software programs at the time, such as the CP/M system, were written for the Z80.
The card plugged into the Apple II’s expansion slot and contained a Z80 microprocessor, as well as 64 KB of memory. It was compatible with most software for the Z80. Some programs, though, may have required additional hardware or modifications to run properly. The Z80 SoftCard was well-received by users and was considered a useful accessory for the Apple II. It allowed Apple II users to run software that was not available for their own computer, and also allowed them to use the more powerful Z80 processor for tasks such as compiling code.
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Author: PC-GR
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