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Introduction
The Z88 when it was introduced had two ways of saving files.
- RAM pack
- EPROM card.
The RAM pack is good. It is convenient and quick to use. The downside of it is that if the Z88 goes wrong or the batteries go flat, the files saved there will have gone. EPROM packs are really useful. They can store the files, which remain there even when the RAM has lost them. The disadvantage was that to erase the files, they needed to be exposed to UV light. This meant that 20 minutes, a mains supply and an EPROM Eraser was required.
When the Flash chip appeared it could save files like the EPROM but it had these advantages.
FAST ERASING - takes less than ten seconds to erase 1024K bytes.
FAST SAVING - takes three seconds to save a 20K file.
LOW POWER - takes a tenth of the power used by a standard EPROM.
The History of how it came about and the commands are covered in separate sections, but it cannot be stressed enough, that without the Flash chip and the dedication of the people involved has allowed development of OZ.
Flashstore is in two forms, standalone or with OZ 4.3. The OZ 4.3 version is slightly faster in its operation as the software required is written within the operating system. Applications like the Filer, now recognise the Flash cards.
Why can't the Z88 use SD cards?
Quite simply both the hardware and the software would require a massive amount of work done.
On the hardware side the Z88 uses a parallel means of operation whilst the SD cards uses the serial method.
The Z88's filing system is not compatible to what the SD card uses.
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