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MZ-80B software

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:56 pm
by alo2004
Hello,
I hope this forum is still alive, due to the age of our venerable machines... :-)
I'm searching for software for sharp MZ-80B, especially Language tape such as pascal or assembler pack, but games are also welcome! :-)
Doe anybody have some wav files to share about that?
Have a good time everybody with your old computer!

Re: MZ-80B software

Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 10:50 am
by mz-80a
It feels like this is one of the least well documented and preserved of all the MZ-80 machines. I never see any software. You can get the games from Yahoo auctions in Japan though.

Re: MZ-80B software

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 10:08 am
by UncleBod
The MZ80 B is also the least MZ80 in the group.

Re: MZ-80B software

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 10:56 pm
by arnuphis
UncleBod wrote: Wed Apr 21, 2021 10:08 am The MZ80 B is also the least MZ80 in the group.
Can you expand on this? I have a working MZ-80b on the way and would love to know more. Always wanted one as it's (in my opinion) the most beautiful all in one classic computer ever made.

Re: MZ-80B software

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 2:34 pm
by alo2004
I agree with arnuphis, for me it is the most beautiful one, even comparing to actual standards, the design is simply amazing.
I already have made an interface card with a teensyduino 4.1 to allow access to usb, sd card, flash memory. It's already communicating
properly, but i need some more documentation and tools to reverse engineer the way the disc is accessed. I already made the emulation of the
floppy disc controller chip, but without a copy of the assembler, disassembler, linker, and other tools, it's difficult to debug and progress.
But generally, i search any software that could run on it...
The card i am designing will also fit normally 800, and 2000 models

Re: MZ-80B software

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 7:57 pm
by hlide
You don't understand. He probably means as it's not from series K, B softwares are very hard to find out in comparison K softwares.

Re: MZ-80B software

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:36 am
by mz-80a
The most beautiful 80 is the 80A, quite obviously :D The 'B' is too clunky and square looking, IMO

Re: MZ-80B software

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:37 am
by UncleBod
The MZ-80B was a sidestep from the serie. MZ-80K, MZ-80A and MZ-700 are in many parts compatible to each others. Programs written for MZ-80K will run on the other computers in many cases. I have run MZ-80K assembler/editor/linker written for MZ-80K (The Sharp official version) on a MZ-700.
For that to run on a MZ-80B you probably need to write your own Monitor program. Even then the memory map differs very much.
And, if I remember correctly, the tape speed is 1400 baud on MZ80B, in contrast to 1200 baud on the other MZ80 computers and the MZ-700.

The MZ80B was a nice try to get into the commercial bracket. I think it is the first Sharp computer that could run CP/M without non standard expansions. And CP/M was the thing in those days.

Re: MZ-80B software

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 9:32 am
by hlide
I think the hardware of MZ-80 B is even cleaner than MZ-80 K's: no custom IC, pretty clear schematics. I/O devices are handled through I/O ports. MZ-2500 is certainly the best of all. Its hardware is quite outstanding.

Re: MZ-80B software

Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 7:44 am
by UncleBod
Considering what I remember of the flyers that were made back in the days ( I worked at the Swedish distributor of Sharp equipment in Sweden between semesters while in school once) the MZ-80B looked to be much more directed to the business segment than the home segment. Since the computer was released in april 1980, CP/M was probably the most used operating system for business in common use (MS-DOS was released August 1981).
I suspect that the lack of software (except the CP/M boot disk that you see on E-bay now and then) is partly the business and CP/M connection. You were supposed to get CP/M running on it and use all that you could get that way.
Also, the entry points in the IPL ROM in MZ-80B differs from the entry points in the MZ-80K ROM, so programs can't run directly, even if they are nicely written.
The MZ-80B is my favourite in the line up, but I never got my hands on one. When I had enough money to buy my own computer the MZ-700 was just released, and the rest is history.