The Incredible, Foldable Modern 8-Bit Computer

If you spend time in our community, you’ll hear people toss around terms like “8-bit computer.” In reality, that just refers to the size of the individual data blocks (like integers) that the computer understands and puts into registers. The maximum value of an 8-bit integer is 255, which is why computers moved on — modern 64-bit computers understand integers in the quintillions (both positive and negative). But working with 8-bit computers is a great way to learn the fundamentals of low-level computing, which is why the MicroBeast foldable 8-bit computer is so cool.

When we say that an 8-bit computer only understands integers up to 255, that doesn’t mean that it can’t work with higher values. That just means that to do so, it has to work with multiple data blocks. For example, an 8-bit computer would have to utilize two data register addresses to remember a value of 257. While general users didn’t have to think about these things while using most software in the 8-bit era, it is worthwhile for those interested in computer science to learn about these kinds of low-level functions. The basics of moving information in and out of data registers and Boolean operations make up the foundation that all modern computing builds on.

MicroBeast gives you the ability to learn and experiment on a device that is a little more practical than an actual vintage computer. Like many popular computers from the 8-bit era, it contains a Z80 processor. But that runs at 8-10MHz, which is more than twice as fast as the clock speed of the Z80 used in the iconic ZX Spectrum. Similarly, it features 512KB of RAM (32 times as much as the first version of the ZX Spectrum). It has 512KB of flash ROM and unlike the ROM of the 8-bit era, users can flash new firmware if they like. MicroBeast is setup for CP/M 2.2, but one could flash something else if they chose to.

Other features improve usability over vintage computers. It has a built-in 48-key keyboard and a 24-character display made up of 14-segment digits. The real-time clock has coin cell battery backup. There is a USB-C port for power and data. Users get a GPIO header with 12 available I/O pins, along with an FTDI port, speaker, auxiliary power input, I2C header, and RC2014 expansion bus.

The full MicroBeast computer fits onto a single large PCB, but is designed to fold into a small box when not in use. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to learn fundamental computing principles without dealing with vintage hardware headaches. It isn’t available yet, but you can follow Andy Toone on Twitter to stay updated on its release.