Commodore 900
The Commodore 900 (also known as the C900, Z-8000, and Z-Machine) was a prototype microcomputer originally intended for business computing and, later, as an affordable UNIX workstation. It was to replace the aging PET/CBM families of personal computers that had found success in Europe as business machines. The project was initiated in 1983 by Commodore systems engineers Frank Hughes, Robert Russell, and Shiraz Shivji.
| Also known as | C900, Z-8000, Z-Machine |
|---|---|
| Developer | Commodore |
| Manufacturer | Commodore |
| Type | Desktop |
| Units shipped | Fifty prototypes built |
| Media | 1.2 MB 5.25" floppy disks |
| Operating system | Coherent |
| CPU | Zilog Z8001 @ 10 MHz |
| Memory | 512 KB RAM |
| Storage | 20 MB hard drive |
| Display | 1024×800 |
| Graphics | MOS Technology 8563 |
| Sound | None |
| Predecessor | Commodore PET |
In early 1983, Commodore announced an agreement with Zilog to adopt the Z8000 family of processors for its next generation of computers, conferring rights to Commodore to manufacture these processors and for Zilog to manufacture various Commodore-designed integrated circuit products. Zilog was to manufacture components for Commodore's computers, allowing Commodore to expand its own semiconductor operation. Commodore had reportedly been developing its own 16-bit microprocessor, abandoning this effort to adopt the Z8000.