Lmst

#zxcomputing magazine, spring 1987: Clive Sinclair is back with a new machine

Well, that's the prototype of the Z88 Babel working.
Translate the fixes to Kicad and cut a fresh board.
But not today.

A Z88 computer with a Z88 Babel attached. The Z88 shows. "How are you gentlemen". The display behind shows "All you bases, are belong to us."

Based on the docs/design from @rc2014, and having built a RS232 adapter previously, designed this little ... translator for the Z88.

Will ping it through the CNC shortly and see how it fares.

#z88

Finally managed to get around to some small jobs on the Z88 from @kestral. Replaced the battery cover with the linked file printed in PETG, and quickly designed a replacement left shift key in FreeCAD out of TPU, foam and copper tape. Not enough squidge to comfortably use as a day to day shift key, but enough to turn the machine on and off (and not cause accidental shifting/power). The key has a brim and just slots in to place.

Didn't dry the TPU prior to print, so it's quite rough. Fine for now.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4173662

#z88 #3dprinting #FreeCAD

Replacement shift key on a Z88 computer.

Printed replacement battery cover on a Z88

Tributo al #Z88, el último ordenador lanzado por #CliveSinclair y posiblemente el que mejor le salió, porque para empezar estaba muy bien construido. Aunque Sir Clive tenía "prohibido" dedicarse al negocio de la informática tras vender #SinclairResearch a #Amstrad, el taimado Clive aprovechó un resquicio legal para intentar reverdecer laureles... sin éxito. La difusión del Z88 fue tan escasa que las publicaciones o libros sobre él, como este, son verdaderas rarezas.

So, you want more #RetroChallenge #RC2024 updates? Ok, the RC2014 blog has some updates on the #ZX81 module schematics, and the #Portfolio and #Z88 serial connections to the #RC2014

And for those of you that use RSS, you can subscribe so you always have the latest updates
https://rc2014.co.uk/3259/retro-challenge-2024-10-talking-the-talk-at-9600/

I'll just leave this here.

#RetroChallenge #RC2024 #RC2014 #Z88

@hypertalking @thelastpsion
I'm hoping one day to open a box in my loft and find my #CambridgeZ88 or my #Series7. I never throw out old still-functioning tech but those two have disappeared without trace over the years…

#Z88 was one of the most usable portable machines ever, imo. Solved all sorts of comms issues with a 9-25 converter and a bit of creative bodgery, and a silent keyboard you could use in meetings without disturbing anyone. Happy days.

The Cambridge Z88, an A4-sized portable computer with a full-size membrane keyboard and 8-line LCD display. Capable of 20 hours of use from four AA batteries.

Picture courtest of Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_Z88

@ramokromok. there is also a port for the Cambridge #Z88 https://worldofspectrum.org/z88forever/rom-manicminer.html

Il

As we wind down our holiday I'm trying to find space to do some writing sadly it seems my #z88 is sick - I've not explored further, but replacing the batteries didn't fix whatever was ailing it...

The little writing I did manage was on my phone which, it turns out, is a shite way to write. The Z88 is upsettingly good (upsetting because I worked out it was great while testing it and then finding it would randomly die and lose everything after 10-30 minutes).

Oookay, so I finally made it through unpacking. Second round of laundry is on and running... And my prize was to test the #Z88 (courtesy of a tip from @stepleton)...

...I put batteries in it and...

Apart from the scent of storage and some polystyrene stuck to the sleeve it's basically cosmetically mint, and it works! All the keys work :)

Now I was under the impression it had a word processing app, but I can't see it so I need to look at the manual.

#RetroComputing