{{Short description|Processor card for the Apple II}} {{distinguish|text=Softcard (formerly ISIS Mobile Wallet)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox information appliance | name = Z-80 SoftCard | aka = | logo = | image = Microsoft Softcard Z80 coprocessor for Apple II.jpg | caption = | developer = Microsoft | manufacturer = | family = | type = | generation = | release_date = {{Start date and age|April 2, 1980}}<ref name="neowinz80softcard">{{cite web |last1=Callaham |first1=John |title=A quick look back at Microsoft's first PC hardware product back in 1980, the Z80 SoftCard |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/a-quick-look-back-at-microsofts-first-pc-hardware-product-back-in-1980-the-z80-softcard/ |website=Neowin |access-date=1 April 2025}}</ref> | lifespan = | price = | discontinued = | units_sold = | units_shipped = | media = | os = CP/M | power = | system_on_chip = | cpu = Z80 | memory = | storage = | memory_card = | display = | graphics = | sound = | input = | controllers = | camera = | touchpad = | connectivity = | currentfw = | platform = Apple II | online_services = | dimensions = | weight = | top_game = | compatibility= | predecessor = | successor = Premium Softcard IIe | related = | website = }}

The '''Z-80 SoftCard''' is a plug-in Apple II processor card developed by Microsoft to turn the computer into a CP/M system based upon the Zilog Z80 central processing unit (CPU). Becoming the most popular CP/M platform and Microsoft's top revenue source for 1980, it was eventually renamed the '''Microsoft SoftCard''', and was succeeded by Microsoft's '''Premium Softcard IIe''' for the Apple IIe.

==Overview== Released on April 2, 1980 as Microsoft's first hardware product,<ref name="neowinz80softcard" /><ref name="lock19800506">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1980-05-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_004_1980_May_Jun#page/n7/mode/2up | title=An Apple Breakthru | work=Compute! |publisher=Small Systems Services|issn=0194-357X|oclc=637460999|issue=4| date=May–June 1980 | access-date=October 25, 2013 | author=Lock, Robert |page=6}}</ref> the Z-80 SoftCard is an Apple II processor card that enables the Apple II to run Digital Research's CP/M operating system. Although the computer in the 1980s already had among the largest software libraries,{{r|petersen19840206}} the card gives users access to WordStar and many more business applications, including compilers and interpreters for several high-level languages. CP/M, one of the earliest cross-platform operating systems, is easily adaptable to a wide range of auxiliary chips and peripheral hardware, but it requires an Intel 8080-compatible CPU, which the Zilog Z80 is, but which the Apple's CPU, the MOS Technology 6502, is not.<ref name = "Infoworld 1981">{{cite journal | last = Hogan | first = Thom| title = Microsoft's Z80 SoftCard | journal = InfoWorld | volume = 3 | issue = 4 | pages =20–21 | publisher = Popular Computing| date = March 3, 1981| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jT4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT14 | issn = 0199-6649}}</ref>

The SoftCard has a Zilog Z80 CPU plus some 74LS00 series TTL chips to adapt that processor's bus to the Apple bus. As CP/M requires contiguous freely usable RAM from address zero—which the Apple II does not have, since its own 6502 CPU's call stack and zero page and its text mode screen memory cannot be outside the lowest 4 KiB of RAM—addresses are translated in order to move reserved-RAM and non-RAM areas to the top of memory.<ref name = "Apple II Softcard CP/M Reference">{{cite web | title = Apple II Softcard CP/M Reference | url = http://mirrors.apple2.org.za/home.tiscali.se/pausch/apple2/Apple.CPM.ref.txt | access-date=August 14, 2020}}</ref> The circuity is otherwise very simple, and uses little power. Microsoft recommended putting the card in slot seven; if available, it uses 80-column cards such as Videx or Sup'R'Terminal.{{r|Infoworld 1981}} SoftCard was bundled with CP/M and the Microsoft BASIC programming language.{{r|Infoworld Apr 1980}} CP/M uses the Apple II disk format; users must convert data on non-Apple disks to the Apple format, or transmit it by cable from another CP/M system.{{r|pelczarski}}

==History== The SoftCard was Paul Allen's idea.<ref name = "Computerworld Oct 1980">{{cite journal | last = Raburn | first = Vern| title = Letters: Developed by Microsoft | journal = Computerworld | volume = 14 | issue = 43 |page=37| date = October 20, 1980| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=1Um4zkCCo38C&pg=PA37| issn = 0010-4841| quote =It was one of the founders of Microsoft, Paul Allen, who hit upon the idea of putting a Z80 processor into the Apple.}}</ref> Its original purpose was to simplify porting Microsoft's computer-language products to the Apple II.{{r|Infoworld Nov 1980}} The SoftCard was developed by Tim Paterson of Seattle Computer Products (SCP). SCP built prototypes,<ref name="Softcard Paterson">{{cite book|title=Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer|last1=Freiberger|first1=Paul|last2=Swaine|first2=Michael|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=2000|isbn=0-07-135892-7|location=New York, NY|page=329|quote=They brought in Tim Paterson of Seattle Computer Products, located across Lake Washington, to try to build a card for the Apple that would let it run Microsoft's 8080 and Z80 software. They called it the SoftCard. Paterson did a series of prototypes before Don Burdis took over the project.|author-link1=Paul Freiberger|author-link2=Michael Swaine (technical author)|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/fireinvalleymaki00frei_0/page/329}}</ref> Don Burtis of Burtronix redesigned the card, and California Computer Systems manufactured it for Microsoft.<ref name="pelczarski" /> Unsure whether the card would sell, Microsoft first demonstrated it publicly at the West Coast Computer Faire in March 1980.<ref name = "Infoworld Apr 1980">{{cite journal | title = Z-80 Board Puts CP/M on Apple | journal = InfoWorld | volume = 2 | issue = 6 |page=3 | publisher = Popular Computing| date = April 28, 1980| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Wj4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT2 | issn = 0199-6649 }}</ref><ref name = "Infoworld Nov 1980">{{cite journal | title = Seminar Spills Negotiating Secrets | journal = InfoWorld | volume = 2 | issue = 21 |page=24 | publisher = Popular Computing| date = November 24, 1980| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mT4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT23 | issn = 0199-6649 | quote = Unsure of the demand for the product, Microsoft took a prototype to the last West Coast Computer Faire}}</ref>

Microsoft also released a version for the Apple IIe, the Premium Softcard IIe. The card has functionality equivalent to the Extended 80-Column Text Card, including its 64&nbsp;KB RAM, so would save money for users who wanted CP/M capability, additional memory, and 80-column text.{{r|petersen19840206}} Its 2.26 BIOS has fewer bugs than the earlier card's, the CPU is three times faster, 32K of RAM is used as a CP/M print spooler, and the card uses its own firmware for 80-column display that is faster than Apple's.<ref name="arnow1985">{{Cite book |last=Arnow |first=Murray |url=https://archive.org/details/tacpmb/page/2/mode/2up?view=theater |title=The Apple CP/M Book |publisher=Scott, Foresman and Company |year=1985 |isbn=0-673-18068-9 |pages=122–125 |access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref>

==Reception== ''Compute!'' witnessed the SoftCard's debut in March 1980 at the West Coast Computer Faire, calling it "an Apple breakthru".<ref name="lock19800506"/> ''InfoWorld'' in 1981 called the SoftCard "a fascinating piece of hardware". While criticizing the "computerese" of the CP/M documentation, the magazine wrote "if you need a lightweight, portable Z80 computer, the Apple/SoftCard combination is a perfect pair."{{r|Infoworld 1981}} ''BYTE'' wrote "the Softcard [is] an excellent buy ... The price is reasonable, and it works".<ref name="pelczarski">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1981-11/1981_11_BYTE_06-11_Data_Base_Management_Systems#page/n153/mode/2up | title=Microsoft Softcard |magazine=BYTE | date=November 1981 | access-date=October 19, 2013 | author=Pelczarski, Mark | pages=152–162}}</ref>

''InfoWorld'' in 1984 also favorably reviewed the SoftCard IIe, approving of its ability to also replace the Extended 80-Column Text Card. The magazine concluded that it "is a good system among several good systems on the market", especially for those who wanted to run Microsoft BASIC or wanted functionality beyond CP/M.<ref name="petersen19840206">{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gC4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64 | title=Premium Softcard IIe |magazine=InfoWorld | date=February 6, 1984 | access-date=January 25, 2015 | author=Petersen, Marty |pages=64, 66}}</ref>

===Sales=== The SoftCard's immediate success surprised Microsoft. Although unprepared to take orders at the West Coast Computer Faire, a Microsoft executive accepted 1,000 business cards from interested parties on the first day;{{r|Infoworld Nov 1980}} ''Compute!'' reported that the company was "inundated" with orders.<ref name="lock19800506"/> The SoftCard became the company's largest revenue source in 1980,<ref>{{cite web|last=Ballmer|first=Steve|title=Microsoft Surface Keynote|website=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jozTK-MqEXQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/jozTK-MqEXQ |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|access-date=June 19, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> selling 5,000 units in three months at $349 each, with high sales continued for several years. For a while, the SoftCard was the single most-popular platform to run CP/M,<ref name="bunnell19820203">{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_OhaFDePS4C&pg=PA16 | title=The Man Behind The Machine? / A PC Exclusive Interview With Software Guru Bill Gates |magazine=PC Magazine | date=Feb–Mar 1982 | access-date=February 17, 2012 | author=Bunnell, David | page=16}}</ref> and Z-80 cards became very popular Apple II peripherals.<ref name="markoff198405">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1984-05/1984_05_BYTE_09-05_Computers_and_the_Professions#page/n283/mode/2up | title=The Apple IIc Personal Computer |magazine=BYTE | date=May 1984 | access-date=October 23, 2013 | author=Markoff, John |page=282}}</ref> By 1981 Microsoft, Lifeboat Associates, and Peachtree Software published their CP/M software on Apple-format disks,{{r|pelczarski}} and Microsoft stated in 1982 that one fifth of all Apple IIs used the Microsoft SoftCard.<ref name="libes198206">{{Cite magazine |last=Libes |first=Sol |date=June 1982 |title=Bytelines |url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1982-06/page/n440/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=2025-03-17 |magazine=BYTE |pages=440–450}}</ref>

==Alternatives== Following Microsoft's success, several other companies developed Z80 cards for the Apple II as well, including Digital Research with {{ill|Apple CP/M|de}} and a CP/M card developed by Advanced Logic Systems (ALS) named "The CP/M Card" (with a 6&nbsp;MHz Z80 and 64&nbsp;kB RAM) and Digital Research's CP/M Gold Card for CP/M Pro 3.0 (with 64 or 192&nbsp;kB RAM).<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102645991 |title=CP/M Gold Card {{!}} 102645991 | website=Computer History Museum|year=1984 }}</ref><ref name="pcn19840616_goldcard">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/NH2021_PersonalComputerNews065-16Jun1984.pdf/page/n24/mode/1up | title=Golden Opportunity | magazine=Personal Computer News | last1=Wheelwright | first1=Geof | date=16 June 1984 | access-date=3 March 2023 | pages=23–24 }}</ref> Clone cards are not necessarily compatible with the Microsoft original.<ref name="becker198401">{{Cite magazine |last=Becker |first=Loftus E. |date=January 1984 |title=The PCPI Appli-Card |url=https://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n1/100_The_PCPI_AppliCard.php |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=Creative Computing |page=100 |volume=10 |issue=1}}</ref> Microsoft sued ALS in February 1982 for copying its BIOS.<ref name="markoffmace19820416">{{Cite magazine |last1=Markoff |first1=John |last2=Mace |first2=Scott |date=1982-04-16 |title=Microsoft sues competitor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YjAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1 |access-date=2025-03-16 |magazine=InfoWorld |pages=1,7}}</ref>

MicroPro offered its StarCard for free to purchasers of WordStar and InfoStar.<ref name="micropro198408">{{Cite magazine |date=August 1984 |title=MicroPro announces the great Apple CP/M board giveaway. |url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalSoftwareMagazineAugust1984AppleIIIBMPCC64TRS80Mac/page/n24/mode/1up |access-date=January 19, 2026 |magazine=Personal Software |page=42 |type=advertisement |volume=2 |issue=8}}</ref> Other independent designs came from Applied Engineering, PCPI (with their 6&nbsp;MHz Appli-Card), Cirtech, and IBS. There were also about a dozen SoftCard clone manufacturers.

Microsoft announced a SoftCard for the Apple III in June 1982, stating that it would be available in October.<ref name="markoff19820628">{{Cite magazine |last=Markoff |first=John |date=June 28, 1982 |title=Card lets you run CP/M on Apple III |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZTAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1 |magazine=InfoWorld |publisher=IDG |pages=1, 5 |volume=4 |issn=0199-6649 |oclc=1105237334 |number=25}}</ref>

The Xedex Baby Blue CPU Plus card provides similar functionality to the IBM PC, allowing that computer to run CP/M-80 software like WordStar;<ref name="lsn198205">{{Cite journal |date=May 1982 |title=20,000 programs adaptable to IBM Micro, says Xedex |url=https://librarytechnology.org/document/3806 |journal=Library Systems Newsletter |volume=2 |issue=5 |pages=37}}</ref><ref name="morgan198206">{{Cite magazine |last=Morgan |first=Chris |date=June 1982 |title=West Coast Computer Faire Report |url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1982-06/page/n7/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=2025-03-16 |magazine=BYTE |pages=6–22 |department=Editorial}}</ref><ref name="magid1982junjul">{{Cite magazine |author-link=Larry Magid |date=June–July 1982 |title=Baby Blue |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_OhaFDePS4C&pg=RA3-PA48 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318054554/https://books.google.com/books?id=w_OhaFDePS4C&lpg=RA2-PA50&ots=cWqvhfFKjb&pg=RA2-PA49 |archive-date=2015-03-18 |access-date=2025-03-17 |magazine=PC Magazine |pages=49 |volume=1 |issue=3 |author-last=Magid |author-first=Lawrence J.}}</ref><ref name="xedex198206">{{Cite magazine |date=June 1982 |title=20,000 Programs Are Now Available For The IBM Personal Computer! |url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1982-06/page/n173/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=2025-03-16 |magazine=BYTE |pages=172–173}}</ref> Baby Tex is the TI Professional version.<ref name="rosen19830222">{{Cite news |date=1983-02-22 |title=Pegasus Trots |url=https://cdn.oreillystatic.com/radar/r1/02-83.pdf |access-date=2025-06-05 |work=The Rosen Electronics Letter |pages=1–3}}</ref> The first version of the Diamond Computer Systems Trackstar, an Apple II emulation card for the PC, includes a Z80 and also supports CP/M.<ref name="trackstarv1">{{Cite web |last=Cobb |first=Brandon |title=Trackstar: The Apple II clone inside an IBM PC |url=https://www.diskman.com/presents/trackstar/tsv1.htm |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Diskman Presents}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.applelogic.org/PeripheralCards.html AppleLogic website], showing peripheral cards for the Apple II, including the Microsoft Softcard

{{Microsoft hardware}}

Category:Apple II family Category:Compatibility cards Category:Computer-related introductions in 1980 Category:Microsoft hardware