Museum-Grade 1980 Microsoft Z80 SoftCard Apple II - Early 1st-Gen Production w/ Dual 07050 Disks Overview

Up for sale is an incredibly rare piece of computing history: an authentic, first-generation 1980 Microsoft Z80 SoftCard for the Apple II computer line. This was Microsoft’s historic first hardware product, famously designed to allow the Apple II to run the CP/M operating system and industry-standard business software like WordStar.

This specific set is an absolute collector's dream, featuring highly coveted early-production markers, iconic first-party components, and its original dual-sector software media.

Hardware Details & Collector Provenance

• First-Generation PCB Layout: Manufactured during Microsoft's initial 1980 launch window by California Computer Systems (CCS), featuring the distinct hand-drawn copper trace layout unique to Revision 1/2 boards.
• Microsoft Consumer Products Branding: Features the early, short-lived "Microsoft Consumer Products" division text, which was phased out shortly after launch.
• First-Party Zilog CPU (Date Code 8021): Features a genuine, original Zilog-branded Z80 CPU (not a third-party clone or second-source Mostek chip). The 8021 date code confirms the central processor was manufactured in the 21st week of 1980 (May 1980), placing this card squarely in Microsoft's initial retail launch window.
• Surplus TI Logic Chips (Date Code AHA7745): The card is populated entirely by its original, period-correct Texas Instruments logic chips featuring "El Salvador" factory stamps. Strikingly, these support chips carry the AHA7745 date code, verifying the silicon was manufactured in the 45th week of 1977—proving this board was built using pristine "new old stock" components during the absolute earliest 1980 factory assembly run.
• Metal Component Stamp: The lower-left metallic component features an authentic, etched factory-tracking sequence (07267) authenticating its vintage pedigree against modern generic clones.

Included Software Media

• Dual 5.25" Floppy Disks: Includes both matching 5.25" floppy disks featuring the period-correct layout identifier code 07050.
• Dual Sector Variants: Contains both the 13-Sector (original Apple DOS) and 16-Sector (later Apple Pascal/DOS 3.3) variants, allowing for complete compatibility across early and revised Apple II disk controller environments. Magnetic media is intact with clean, unpeeled original labels.