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THE CAPTAIN IS BACK

by Tom Cantrell

Start ı Roots ı ı180s Turn ı eZ Way Out ı Captain at the Crossroads ı Sources

ROOTS

As a hands-on guy, I couldnıt help getting misty eyed (OK, so I get weepy after a few drinks) as Federico related that day long ago when he and Ralph plugged in their hot-off-the-fab newborn chip and got the ">" prompt. Thatıs the rush that ultimately makes all the blood, sweat, and tears worth it. Given that itıs the companyıs 25th anniversary, itıs ironic that the chip thatıs going to play a big role in the new Zilog traces its roots all the way back to that first Z80.

Of course, when I say Z80, I donıt mean that actual circa-ı70s chip, though Iım sure theyıre still selling them into ancient sockets somewhere. Rather, itıs the later ı180 derivatives. Now, Zilog has announced that the eZ80 is going to be the companyıs workhorse.

Not that Zilog doesnıt have other areas of strength. Thereıs the Z8 MCU and some interesting DSPs, plus the TV and modem chips, that have been their strength in the recent past. Zilog has just announced a dual-DSP Wave chip targeting spread-spectrum RF apps that deserves a close look. In addition, Zilog is making intriguing deals with the likes of Tensilica, Production Languages Corp., Seattle Silicon, emWare, and so on, that hint at changes going well beyond mere evolution.

It would certainly be overstating the case to say, "As it goes for the Z80 (ı180, eZ80, etc.), so it will go for Zilog." Nevertheless, as the chip that both put Zilog on the map and still remains popular and recognized in the market, the Z80 is a horse that Zilog can, should, and will try to ride into the future.

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