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Microsoft's Biggest Product in 1980: the Z-80 SoftCard for the Apple II
Before MS-DOS or Windows, Microsoft helped CP/M run on the Apple II.
May 13, 2024
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Back in 1980 — before the release of MS-DOS… and long before the release of Microsoft Windows — the biggest seller for Microsoft was, believe it or not, an add-on card for the Apple II computer which allowed the Apple II to run the CP/M operating system from Digital Research.

The Microsoft SoftCard added a Z-80 CPU to the Apple II, and included some additional CP/M software (including Microsoft BASIC).

A Microsoft SoftCard advertisement in Byte Magazine.

While Microsoft was initially uncertain of the market viability of the SoftCard, it turned into their biggest selling product of 1980 — moving over 5,000 units (priced between $349 and $399) in just the first three months.

From November, 1980 Infoworld:

“Unsure of the demand for the product, Microsoft took a prototype to the last West Coast Computer Faire. Unprepared to take orders for the then-unannounced product, Rayburn [who was then the President of Microsoft’s Consumer Products Division] collected over 1000 business cards from interested buyers the first day.”

Sales were good. Reviews were good. The Microsoft SoftCard (powered by Digital Research’s CP/M) was a hit.

From there the SoftCard would become so common that many software packages were shipped specifically for CP/M running on the Apple II. With Microsoft, themselves, shipping additional compilers for the SoftCard-equipped Apple II — including Cobol and Fortran.

The manual and disk folder for Microsoft Fortran-80

Fun Historical Tidbit: Because (at least in part) of the CP/M powered Microsoft SoftCard… IBM approached Bill Gates and company regarding licensing CP/M to run on the new IBM PC. This (after negotiations with CP/M creator, Digital Research, broke down) resulted in an agreement between IBM and Microsoft — just a few short months after the introduction of the SoftCard — where IBM would license a CP/M clone from Microsoft (which Microsoft purchased from a company in Seattle). Cutting Digital Research out entirely. Thus the legacy of MS-DOS was born.  Thanks, in large part, to a CP/M Z-80 card for the Apple II.

Here’s a few extra resources on the Microsoft SoftCard for those interested in this fascinating system. Thanks to the popularity of the SoftCard in the early 1980s, there is a wealth of documentation available (including scans of original documentation such as those included below).

An excerpt from the Microsoft Z-80 SoftCard brochure
 
 
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Interview: Redot, 1.5 Years After Forking from Godot

In 2024, the Godot game engine enacted a mass "Cleansing" of non-woke supporters. A group of developers responded by creating the Redot fork. How is that fork doing 1.5 years later?

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November 22, 2023
The futility of Ad-Blockers

Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.

It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.

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The futility of Ad-Blockers
November 21, 2023
openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"

Those in power with openSUSE make it clear they will not allow me anywhere near anything related to the openSUSE project. Ever. For any reason.

Well, that settles that, then! Guess I won't be contributing to openSUSE! 🤣

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openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"
September 13, 2023
"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

🤣

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This made me chuckle more than it probably should have.

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PLEASE BE TRUE!
RE: Patent Trolls to Get Epic Beat-Down from Valve

Valve Win Against Patent Trolls (Video)

Info: "Patent Troll Prevention Act" (Washington State) - Bad faith patent infringement claims impose a significant burden on businesses and undermine efforts to promote information technology and knowledge-based businesses.
https://www.atg.wa.gov/patents-bad-faith-enforcement

[Second Video] Same topic, but Asmongold with more "Colorful Language."

February 12, 2026
4th Wall Almost Full, $89 Lifetime Deal Ends Very Soon

Woo-hoo! The 4th Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscriber Wall of Shame Awesomeness is almost full!

  • That means that, within the next day or two, the massively discounted Lifetime Subscriptions will go back to their normal price. So if you wanted to snag the $89 / $99 Lifetime Sub (instead of paying $300), now’s your last chance.

  • If you are already a Lifetime Subscriber and want to be added to the 4th (or the start of the 5th) wall, email me (bryan at lunduke.com). There are only a couple of spots left on Wall 4.

  • The new Lifetime Wall designs are locked and loaded, and will make their grand debut at the end of all new shows starting either Friday or Monday.

I also wanted to take a moment to thank all of the non-Lifetime Subscribers. The Lifetime Subs may get a little extra attention at the end of the shows… but every subscriber (Monthly & Yearly) helps to make this work possible.

All of you rule.

-Lunduke

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February 08, 2026
79 Million Views in 6 Months for The Lunduke Journal

Welcome to February, all of you amazing nerds!

January was a fun month for The Lunduke Journal (thanks to all of you). For those interested in a little Inside Baseball, I’ve pulled together some stats and charts below.

The short version: Great month. Crazy news stories. Solid growth. Can’t complain!

Revamped Lifetime Wall

Oh! And the “Lifetime Subscriber Wall” is getting a “retro” facelift.

This is what the four Lifetime Walls currently look like:

 

Once that 4th Wall is filled (a little over 75% of the way there as of this morning), I’ll be introducing the new designs (for all the walls) along with the starting of Wall Number 5.

Each Wall now has its own, distinct look and theme. Very Retro Computer-y. You’re going to dig it.

To make that “Wall Number 5” get here as fast as possible, I’ve gone ahead an reinstated the “$89 Lifetime Subscriber” deal. But only until Wall Number 4 is full.

Want to be on the Wall? If you don’t have a Lifetime Subscription, grab one. If you already have one, email me (bryan at lunduke.com) to let me know how you want your name to be displayed.

Once Wall 4 is full, the Super-Mega-Ultra Discounted Lifetime Subscription goes back to regular price. And, the next day, the new Lifetime Wall design appears at the end of new shows.

At the current rate, I expect that to happen in the next couple days.

Stats for January, 2026

Now let’s look at the stats for January.

Can’t lie. I’m pleased.

  • 30 new shows (just shy of one new show every day)

  • 15.2 Million views (including podcast downloads)

  • 2,326 new subscribers

The most popular story of January, 2026:

Taking a high level view: This means that, in the last 6 months (Aug ‘25 - Jan ‘26), The Lunduke Journal has had:

  • 79.4 Million views

  • 21,694 new subscribers

Bonkers, right?

Here’s a chart of “views” for last 6 months:

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The long-term trend continues to be solidly upward, with February (in the first 7 days, so far) currently tracking slightly ahead of January.

For those interested in the specific platforms: The Lunduke Journal is seeing the most growth on X and the Audio Podcast.

Here’s a combined subscriber chart for January (up 2,326 subscribers from the month prior):

Image
 

Wild. It is truly amazing to me how widely these stories are spreading nowadays.

Over 15 million. In one month.

These are numbers that most of the big, “Main Stream” Tech Journalists could only dream of.

The reach of The Lunduke Journal, thanks to all of you, is now wildly exceeding any other publication I have ever worked with.

Even though most “Main Stream” Tech Journalists are refusing to cover some of the biggest stories in Tech… those stories are still getting out there.

They are being seen. Far and wide.

Thanks to all of you.

-Lunduke

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January 31, 2026
$89 Lifetime Offer Ends at Midnight!

I’ll make this quick: The $89 Lifetime Subscription offer for The Lunduke Journal ends at midnight tonight (Saturday, January 31st).

Once the calendar reads “February” — poof — the deal is gone.

If you wanted to save 70% on a Lifetime Subscription, these are your final hours.

A huge thank you to everyone who has signed up during this crazy deal. We are this close to filling up the 4th Lifetime Subscriber Wall (there’s a possibility it might fill up in the next few hours).

Far beyond anything I was expecting. All of you are absolutely amazing. The Lunduke Journal would not be possible without you.

If you were on contemplating grabbing that Lifetime Sub, I’d jump on it right now. The price goes back up to normal ($300) in about 12 hours or so.

Get it while it’s cheap!

-Lunduke

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