The Digital Group Z80 card was the first functional computer to use a Z80 chip. This according to one hobbyist newsletter at the time (which I will have to find again and add here!) and confirmed by me with Dr. Robert Suding in conversation, March of 2004. Dr. Suding had a working Z80 system only two days after receiving the first chips, and was demonstrating Z80 based Digital Group computers at the National Computer Conference (June 11th, 1976) in New York City two weeks later (See flyer #7)--one full month before the chips were available for sale. According to the good doctor, "Frederico never had a chance to try out his own product, so each morning before the show opened, I showed him how a Z-80 worked."

Most of the CPU boards I have acquired were in poor condition, sometimes due to poor assembly techniques or frustrated repair attempts, or often to an accumulation of small modifications poorly done or rushed. Combined with the effects of time, most of my boards require some restoration to make them operate again. Coupled with the fact that DG used the cheapest of the cheap IC sockets available, nearly every board made has intermittent problems that can often be cured only by replacing all of the aging sockets.