The z180-based pocket computer (I have an essentially identical one called the "") is indeed a neat bit of kit.? Plenty of disk space, and so wonderfully fast compared to the 4 MHz Cromemco I spent so much time on the the 80s.? I wrote the BIOS on that so that it would support multiple terminals; a ^C typed at the command line while at the CCP prompt would transfer control to that terminal, and I had four of them of various types scattered throughout my little two-bedroom apartment.? Not quite a multi-user system, but close enough for a sole occupant.
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I keep the SC131 on the large USB hub that my laptop plugs into when I'm in town (nearly all the time now, finally).? Often, when I need a break, I'll power it up and play with the tools I used then.? Frankly, I'm not convinced that my productivity is that much better with modern tools.? OK, a sophisticated IDE like Visual Studio on a 4k monitor does bring something to the table, for sure, but for embedded work a purely text-based world is still eminently functional.? At that time, I used Turbo Pascal a lot, because it was very fast, was a capable language, and the editor matched the WordStar control character set that my left hand knew (and still knows) so well.
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I never used C on CP/M, but now I'm inspired to give it a try.? And I agree with your assessment of the Andy Laird book - it's still sitting on the shelf behind me.
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Mark
