blob@Apple.COM (Brian Bechtel) (01/09/90)
Okay, since this seems to be an appropriate group: Anyone else using the Z88 as a notepad? Connecting it to a Mac? Any good clues/tips/software reviews would be appreciated. --Brian Bechtel blob@apple.com
malis@bbn.com (Andy Malis) (01/09/90)
blob@Apple.COM (Brian Bechtel) writes: >Anyone else using the Z88 as a notepad? Connecting it to a Mac? Any >good clues/tips/software reviews would be appreciated. Yup, there are a bunch of folks scattered around with these. There's been some discussion in comp.sys.handhelds, but this is a more appropriate place for it. Here are some good resource phone numbers for you: Cambridge North America The "official" US resellers (800) 888-3723 also (207) 879-2200 FAX (207) 879-2217 and -2218 They are moving to new quarters tomorrow, and are very much alive. I've been dealing with Dean Barron - if you call, tell them I sent you (especially if you order something!). Sharp's (in Virginia) (804) 730-9697 FAX (804) 746-1978 They also sell lots of Z88 stuff. They seem to be the main seller in the US outside of Cambridge North America. Two BBSes (I haven't called either, so if you do, let me know if they have any good software, or you might want to upload it to this group): Virginia: (703) 968-9438 California: (213) 370-2754 I use mine with my Mac at work (I have the "Maclite" package). Very easy to move files back and forth, and do assorted conversions. I use my Z88 for writing and working while away from the office, personal financial spreadsheets, personal and work calendars (of course), and just plain hacking around. You MUST get the Z88 Basic reference guide, if you don't already have it - it's the best single Z88 book I've yet seen. If you plan on using the assembler, then the developer's notes are also essential. That's it for now - let's get lots of Z88 users out there. Andy Malis <malis@bbn.com> UUCP: {harvard,rutgers,uunet}!bbn!malis
rob@image.soe.clarkson.edu (Rob Logan) (01/11/90)
wow... while I was formating a CDC 766Meg disk for the new Sky-bolt machine sun (i860) I went to read rec.models.rc... and what did I see, a new newsgroup about laptops... neet!! and the first posting I read had to do with my dearest toy, the Z88!! anyway, I love the thing.. I have downloaded some stuff from the one of the BBSes so I guess I will stick some of it in the archive server.. > Virginia: (703) 968-9438 > California: (213) 370-2754 mail archive-server@sun.sun.soe.clarkson.edu requesting help. games: yahtz88.doc kingdom.bas yahtz88.bas catapill.bas bomber.bas wizard.doc wizard.cli maxit.cli z88tools.cli graphics for basic: patch2.doc patch2.bas star.bas patchdem.bas sound2.bas sound.doc graphall.bas house.bas patpcw.inf pat2pcw.bas info: fido.msg spelmstr.doc sharps.doc openup.doc cable.doc basic.doc z88.bbs uk.bbs z88-dos.doc prthex.doc makechar.doc linegrph.doc keycode.doc util: z88zfu.pd z88zfu.bas romdp5.cli epload.cli epload.bas ep-cat.bas crdfil.inf tabflt.cli crdfil.bas crdfil.doc fadder.cli sender.cli romdmp.doc addlf.cli llist.cli filcmp.cli epcat.cli disz88.doc disz88.bas outline.pd template.otl decide.cli finance.cli Rob
sandro@nlm-mcs.arpa (Michael D'Alessandro) (01/12/90)
I have a Z88 and use it in conjunction with my Mac and I love it. I got a piece of shareware (entitled Z88-Mac Import-Export) and use that along with a cable my friend made for $20 to transfer files between the two machines. I call the BBS in California regularly (213-370-2754) and find it to be very good. I paid $450 for my Z88 with 128K plug in RAM card by mailordering it from the UK, thus saving $150. -- Michael D'Alessandro M.D. The National Library of Medicine Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications Educational Technology Branch Internet: sandro@mcs.nlm.nih.gov
davidh@dent.Berkeley.EDU (David S. Harrison) (01/12/90)
I seem to be out of it as far as laptops are concerned. Just what is a Z88 and what does it offer for $450? This price sounds too good to be true. David Harrison UC Berkeley Electronics Research Lab (davidh@ic.Berkeley.EDU, ...!ucbvax!ucbcad!davidh)
blob@apple.com (Brian Bechtel) (01/12/90)
Jerry Pournelle had a good review in the June 1989 Byte magazine. The Cambridge Scientific Z88 is a notepad computer, designed by Clive Sinclair, designer of several notable British computers. The Z88 is not a DOS machine; the CPU is a Z80, the OS is something written specifically for this machine. It's light (under 2 pounds, I believe), reasonably compact (11 3/4 inches by 8 1/4 inches by 1 inch) with a small screen (about 8 lines by 106 characters, if I remember correctly.) Think of it as the replacement for your notepad and you won't be too far wrong. Among its strengths are long battery life (~20 hours on 4 AA batteries), reasonable keyboard (the feel is slightly rubbery; people tend to swear by it or at it) instant access (turn it on and it's exactly where you left it; no booting DOS) and easy connection to Macintosh or IBM PC class machines (you can take notes on a Z88, and easily transfer them to your favorite program on the Mac, for instance.) It has the ability to run as many programs as will fit into memory; you suspend one program to go into another, but everything stays the way it was when you left. For more information, you can contact Cambridge Scientific North America at (800) 888-3723, or (207) 879-2200, FAX (207) 879-2217 and (207) 879-2218, or Sharp's at (804) 730-9697, FAX (804) 746-1978. See the June 1989 Byte for more details, as well. --Brian Bechtel blob@apple.com "My opinion, not Apple's"
SLSW2@cc.usu.edu (Roger Ivie) (01/13/90)
In article <6140@internal.Apple.COM>, blob@apple.com (Brian Bechtel) writes: > Jerry Pournelle had a good review in the June 1989 Byte magazine. The > Cambridge Scientific Z88 is a notepad computer, designed by Clive > Sinclair, designer of several notable British computers. All of the reviews I've seen have ignored the one issue of importance to me: sure it's got a Z80, but can it run my CP/M stuff? I guess noone cares anymore. =============================================================================== Roger Ivie 35 S 300 W Logan, Ut. 84321 (801) 752-8633 ===============================================================================
foy@aerospace.aero.org (Richard Foy) (01/16/90)
In article <11038@nlm-mcs.arpa> sandro@nlm-mcs.UUCP (Michael D'Alessandro) writes: > >I have a Z88 and use it in conjunction with my Mac and I love it. .....> >I paid $450 for my Z88 with 128K plug in RAM card by mailordering it from >the UK, thus saving $150. > >-- >Michael D'Alessandro M.D. Please post an address and/or phone number for the source in UK. Does any one have experience with using the Z88 in connection with inputting data to an Amiga? I have an Amiga 2000. What is necessary to input ASCII data? Thanks in advance. foy@aerospace.aero.org (Richard Foy)
dchapman@portia.Stanford.EDU (David Chapman) (01/17/90)
In article <16631@cc.usu.edu> SLSW2@cc.usu.edu (Roger Ivie) writes: |In article <6140@internal.Apple.COM>, blob@apple.com (Brian Bechtel) writes: |> Jerry Pournelle had a good review in the June 1989 Byte magazine. The |> Cambridge Scientific Z88 is a notepad computer, designed by Clive |> Sinclair, designer of several notable British computers. | |All of the reviews I've seen have ignored the one issue of importance to |me: sure it's got a Z80, but can it run my CP/M stuff? | |I guess noone cares anymore. | It doesn't run CP/M. Send me E-mail at vlsisj!fndry!davidc@decwrl.dec.com if you want more details. David Chapman