Low-profile 16-bit micro has 8085 and 8088 onboard Two versions of Zenith's 16-bit desk- top computer have been announced - a 'low profile' computer which is less than 7 in high and an 'all-in-one' version with built-in VDU.

The Z100 series features both 8-bit

(8085) and 16-bit (8088) micropro- cessors, a five-slot S100 expansion channel, a choice of either two built-in 320k 5¼-in floppies or one 5 Mbyte Winchester disc with floppy backup. It has 128k of RAM which is expand- ible up to 768k and high resolution (225 x 640) graphics with eight colours.

By using both the 8- and 1B-bit processors, the microcomputer enables users of 8-bit machines to run currently available 8-bit software from two to ] 0 times faster, according to Zenith. It also allows users access to upgrade to the memory and power of a 16-bit machine. The machines will run MS-DOS and CP/M 85 making much of the software written for the IPM personal computer available to Zenith users. (Zenith Data Systems, Heath Electronics (UK) Ltd, l l b Bristol Road, Gloucester, Glos GL2 6FE, UK. Tel: (0452) 2945 I)

The 'low profile' Zenith micro- computer has 8- and 16-bit chips to make use of both 8- and 16-bit so ft ware

68000-based micro runs UNIX operating system A multiuser range of 16-bit micro- computers is now available in the UK from Cambridge Micro Computers. The Codata CTS and CTW computers use the Motorola 68000 micropro- cessor and run the UNIX operating system.

The two versions available from Cambridge Micro are a selfcontained unit including keyboard, VDU and two disc drives; and an OEM machine which includes CPU board and a user-selectable combination of Winchester discs, 51A-in floppies or cartridge backup. Prices are in the region of £ 10 000. (Cambridge Micro

Codata's computer is based on the 68000 and runs the UNIX operating system. It can run either hard or floppy discs

Computers Ltd, Cambridge Science Park, Mfton Road, Combs CB4 4BN, UK. Tel: (0223) 314666)

Bus foundation module for Multibus computers A general-purpose bus foundation module for Multibus computers has been announced by MDB Systems. The module consists of basic Multibus logic elements plus wirewrap positions for up to 48 ICs using low-profile sockets or can handle direct mounting of between 14 and 40 pin ICs. (MDB Systems, Inc., 1995North Batavia Street, Orange, CA 92665, USA. Tel: (714) 998 6900)

2 MHz versions of CMOS single-chip micros 2 MHz versions of Hitachi's HD630X family of CMOS single-chip micro- computers have been introduced. In CMOS, this is considered fast and operates at about twice the speed of most CMOS chips. Additional features on the new chips include operating power of 35 mW which can be reduced to 5 mW in sleep mode or 50/~W in standby mode. It can operate in either multiplexed or nonmultiplexed modes

Faster Black,Box has 1 Mbyte of RAM available I Mbyte of RAM is the main offering of the latest Black Box from Rair Computer Corp. in the US. Model 3/50 operates 70 per cent faster than the previous top of the line 3/30 and has integral disc drives, a 20 Mbyte 5¼-in Winchester and a I Mbyte 5¼-in floppy, unformatted.

The RAM is made up of a maxi- mum of four 256k MOS memory boards which use 64k dynamic RAM chips. Eight serial RS232C ports and an IEEE-488 bus adaptor are included as standard, allowing the machine to interface with a wide variety of terminal, peripheral and data communications equipment. Up to 16 serial devices can be connected.

Model 3•50 runs the multiuser MP/M II operating system which provides features such as file and record locking, ti?ne and data stamp- ing and the use of multiple printing terminals. The box uses an 8085 microprocessor. (Raft Computer Corp., 4101 Burton Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA. Tel." (408) 988 1790)

The latest Black Box, 3/50 offers some 70 per cent more speed than Rair's previous top-of-the-line model, the 3/30

in single or multichip systems. The two faster versions in the

630X family are the 63B01 for use in single and multichip systems and the 63B03, a simpler version for use in multichip systems. The chips pro- vide a 16-bit timer, 4k of RaM, 128 byte of RAM and a serial com- munications interface with 29 parallel I/O lines. It can support up to 65 kword of memory. (Hitachi Elec- tronics Components (UK) Ltd, Hitec House, 221--225 Station Road, Harrow, Middx HA 1 2XL, UK. Tel: 01-861 1414)

396 microprocessors and microsystem5