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ACCESS Computer (Actrix)

The Access computer, later renamed to Actrix due to copyright infringement issues, was a CP/M machine based on the Z80 architecture. The computer had a built in amber colored screen measuring 9.5 inch, two 5.25 inch disk drives, a 300 baud modem, and an Epson MX-80 printer built into the top of the unit.

The machine came with a host of CP/M software, including:

  • Perfect Word word processor
  • DBase database
  • Calc spreadsheet
  • Communication Software
  • C-Basic
  • Speller, Filer, Perfect Writer

Zilog Z80 CPU Family

The Z80 quickly became popular in the personal computer market, with many early personal computers, such as the TRS-80 and Sinclair ZX80, using the Z80 as their central processing unit (CPU). It was also widely used in home computers, such as the MSX range, SORD, and the Amstrad CPC, as well as in many arcade games. Additionally, it was also used in other applications such as industrial control systems, and embedded systems. The Z80 was widely used until the mid-1980s, when it was gradually replaced by newer microprocessors such as the Intel 80286 and the Motorola 68000.

The Z80 microprocessor was developed by Zilog, a company founded by Federico Faggin in 1974. The Z80 was released in July 1976, as a successor to the Intel 8080. It was designed to be fully compatible with the 8080, but also included new features such as an improved instruction set, more powerful interrupts, and a more sophisticated memory management system.

The Z80 quickly became popular in the personal computer market, with many early personal computers, such as the TRS-80 and Sinclair ZX80, using the Z80 as their central processing unit (CPU). It was also widely used in home computers, such as the MSX range, SORD, and the Amstrad CPC, as well as in many arcade games. Additionally, it was also used in other applications such as industrial control systems, and embedded systems. The Z80 was widely used until the mid-1980s, when it was gradually replaced by newer microprocessors such as the Intel 80286 and the Motorola 68000. The design was licensed to Synertek and Mostek as well as the European SGS.

The Z80s instruction set is binary compatible with the Intel 8080, so that 8080 code such as the CP/M Operating System and Intel's PL/M compiler for the 8080 can run unmodified on the Z80. The Z80 had many enhancements over the 8080 such as 16-bit data movement instructions, block copy and block I/O instructions, single bit addressing of all registers, IX/IY offset registers, better interrupt system and a complete duplicate register file for context switching during an interrupt.

Source: WikiPedia
Technical Details
Released 1982 Brand ACCESS Computer Type Various Other Computers Name ACC Access CPU Class Z80 CPU Zilog Z80A Memory RAM: 64kB Sound Chip none Sound beeper Display Chip none Display 80x24 text Best Color monochrome Best Graphics Text Only Sprites n/a System OS CP/M Storage Two 5.25 internal Disk Drives.
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Related Media
 
Z80 CPU
Collection of books on the Z80 8-bit CPU used in various home-computers
World Wide Web Links
 
Wikipedia: The Z80 CPU
Wikipedia page on the very popular Z80 8-bit CPU used in many computers of the 1980's era.