Incredible value for the money and extremely well-designed
For Zeal 8-bit Computer (Z80 based)
After watching Ben Eater's videos on making a breadboard 6502 computer (EXCELLENT BTW), I decided I wanted to do the same thing, but with a Z-80. I have been programming for over 40 years and my first love was electronics so I felt right at home making my own. However, I decided to check on YouTube to save myself from any GOTCHAs before starting my build and found a few specifically for Z-80's.
However, I saw the Zeal 8-bit Computer video's and I was amazed at the level of effort and dedication demonstrated in the project. The design started simple but gradually improved with each revision. The overall choice of parts, layout of the PCB, and attention to detail convinced me that I should scrap my version and go with Zeal's design.
What really impressed me though was the amount of support put into the computer. The documentation on the site was every bit as good (even better in some ways) than the old-time manufacturer's documentation. Theory of operation and design considerations are well documented with good diagrams -- making it easy to follow how to interface with the design and make custom peripherals. The board itself is very expandable - connectors for all the main address, data, IO, and communication lines are available through onboard connectors. The memory model and NOR flash makes controlling the board and writing a custom OS and multiple applications very convenient.
All that would be a great value for the price even without all the software that is available for free on GitHub. Zeal OS, Zeal File System, Zeal Bootloader, Video SDK, and a complete web-based emulator for testing and debugging code before flashing -- all of this is free along with the source code to see how it is done.
Honestly, buying this board was a no-brainer for me. I think it is worth a lot more than it is being sold for. If you have a desire to revisit the old days of low level hardware and software design, or you are new to 8-bit retro computers with a modern, up-to-date component twist... get yourself one of these and start taking advantage of the wealth of hard work that has gone into this system.
Then hop on over to the discord server - where the designer answers questions and comments daily. It is an entire community you get when you buy one of these boards. And if you want to build it yourself, you can save $10 and get the kit version. Either way, you won't be disappointed.
Response from Zeal8bit | June 24, 2024
Thanks a lot Nigel for your review and for choosing Zeal 8-bit Computer!
With this project, my priority is to provide a complete retro-modern experience, not just working hardware.
Such a comment, coming from someone with your experience, really motivates me to continue on this path and develop more features.
Thank you for being part of the community!
