Commodore 900

<p>The Commodore 900 (also known as the C900, Z-8000, and Z-Machine) was a <a href="/facts/Prototype/q0yPLYdb">prototype</a> <a href="/facts/Microcomputer/ETW22UTv">microcomputer</a> originally intended for <a href="/facts/Business_computing/apcSzFLh">business computing</a> and, later, as an affordable <a href="/facts/UNIX/0pNL2seI">UNIX</a> <a href="/facts/Workstation/h5tK4hTt">workstation</a>. It was to replace the aging <a href="/facts/Commodore_PET/08R12Xk4">PET</a>/<a href="/facts/Commodore_CBM-II/JQEW0QDC">CBM</a> families of personal computers that had found success in Europe as business machines. The project was initiated in 1983 by Commodore systems engineers Frank W. Hughes, Robert Russell, and <a href="/facts/Shiraz_Shivji/asWMoQq3">Shiraz Shivji</a>.
</p><p>In early 1983, Commodore announced an agreement with <a href="/facts/Zilog/sB6jH5vw">Zilog</a> to adopt the <a href="/facts/Zilog_Z8000/do1uTklA">Z8000</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Integrated_circuit/fjn6vg7C">integrated circuit</a> products. Zilog was to manufacture components for Commodore's computers, allowing Commodore to expand its own <a href="/facts/Semiconductor/zFf3mGTE">semiconductor</a> operation. Commodore had reportedly been developing its own 16-bit microprocessor, abandoning this effort to adopt the Z8000.
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Commodore 900 open-in-new

Commodore 900