Concept
The MZ-2500, also known as the Super MZ, is an 8-bit personal computer released on 1 October 1985 as part of the Sharp MZ series. It is a successor to the MZ-2000/2200 and a direct successor to the MZ-80B From the previous generation. The MZ-2000 was a model that was given significant functions along with a faster processing speed. It is also the final model of the entire 8-bit MZ series with its architecture. It is sometimes referred to as the best 8-bit machine along with the 6809 FM77AV and the MB-S1. In Japanese computer magazines, the MZ-2500 was also called 'The Phoenix'. Its successor was the Sharp MZ-2861 which has a compatible mode and a newly developed 16-bit mode. The development code is LEY and can be found in the circuit diagram. Clean Design As with the standard MZ model, the main unit does not have the system program on onboard ROM. However, while the old model included only the IPL, a program for controlling advanced hardware is included as an IOCS and several repairs have been made. One of the functions can call a specific location, so an incompatible element is specified for an application that addresses the module in the ROM and calls it directly without calling the function as a reference. 2 types of BASIC attached The instruction set BASIC-S25, which the typical MZ user was familiar with, and the BASIC-M25, which has a Microsoft- type instruction set that was already at the forefront of the BASIC environment at that time, was prepared. It is not a conventional model, and Hu-BASIC was adopted in the company's departmental series but has become another implementation of BASIC. CPU clock improvement The MZ-2500 is equipped with the Z80A and operates at 4 MHz, but the MZ-2500 is equipped with the Z80B, and except for some, it has 6 MHz operation with one wait during the M1 cycle. Memory management enhancements While the old model only allowed one to assign a specific address to another space by bank switching to open a window with text and graphics VRAM, the MZ-2500 is equipped with a memory controller like the MB-S1, etc.