Storied Windows dev reminisces about Microsoft's first hardware product 45 years ago — the Z-80 SoftCard was an Apple II add-in card

Microsoft's first hardware product, the Z-80 SoftCard, was released around 1980 for Apple II users to access CP/M software. Raymond Chen, a Windows developer, shared insights on the challenges of integrating the Zilog Z80 with Apple II's 6502 processor. Despite difficulties, the SoftCard was a major success for Microsoft, generating significant revenue in its launch year and continuing sales for years. The article also outlines Microsoft's hardware milestones, from the Z-80 SoftCard to products like Xbox, Surface, and HoloLens, leading up to its official transition to a "software and devices" firm in 2013.