I have a Basis (apple ][ clone) with a cpm card built on the main board….
George > On Oct 21, 2018, at 11:09 AM, systems_glitch via cctalk > <cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > > I'd heard, but have no sources for said hearsay, that the most common CP/M > machine in volume was the Apple II. > > There were definitely knockoffs of the Microsoft Z80 Softcard. One of my > IIe systems has one from SPACE BYTE, the other is no-name. I've personally > seen more knockoffs than actual Microsoft cards. The two I have currently > are definitely "photocopy" type knockoff/clone cards, the layout is nearly > identical to the real Microsoft card I've got. That of course doesn't speak > for what was actually deployed. > > Some Apple II compatibles also came with CP/M compatibility out of the box, > I don't personally know if that was MS Z80 Softcard compatible or something > else. > > Thanks, > Jonathan > > On Sat, Oct 20, 2018 at 5:54 PM Fred Cisin via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > wrote: > >>>> The Softcard was a Z-80 based single-board >>>> computer >> >> On Sat, 20 Oct 2018, Eric Smith via cctalk wrote: >>> It wasn't. It was only a processor card. >>> No version of the Softcard had it's own video output. It used normal >> Apple >>> video output. If you wanted 80x24, you had to use a separate third-party >>> 80-column card, or (later) and Apple IIe, IIc, IIc+, or IIgs. >>> I'm not sure what you're referring to by "etc.", but the vast majority of >>> Softcards and their clones did not have their own RAM, and used that of >> the >>> Apple II. >>> The PCPI Applicard and it's clones had their own RAM. Some very late >> models >>> of the Softcard had their own RAM. >> >> I remember hearing, at one point, a statement (not necessarily reliable), >> that said that 20% of Apple computers had a Softcard. >> What was the approximate percentage in 1980/1981, when IBM contacted >> Microsoft? >> (or number that had been sold, which would include ones not actually in >> use) >> >> What was the PEAK percentage? >> (or number that had been sold, which would include ones not actually in >> use) >> >> Were there other brands, or imitations, available then (1980/1981)? >> >> Later, what percentage were imitations? >> >> Speculatively, how much were they used V use of the machine in non-Z80 >> ways? (How many people bought it just ot have the capability, without >> necessarily being active CP/M users?) >> >> >> This is definitely not the first time that I have heard that IBM had >> assumed that CP/M was a Microsoft product. >> >> >> >>
