The Zilog Z80 has turned 50
Summary
This article commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Zilog Z80 and traces its development from the Datapoint 2200 lineage through the 8008 and 8080, detailing architectural features, bus improvements, and the Z80’s enduring impact on embedded and hobbyist computing. It weaves in historical context, technical explanations, and references to primary sources, concluding with the Z80’s discontinuation in 2024.