# Ferguson Big Board

> single-board computer

**Wikidata**: [Q5444230](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5444230)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_Big_Board)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ferguson-big-board

## Summary
The Ferguson Big Board is a single-board computer released in 1980, featuring the Zilog Z80 CPU and running the CP/M operating system. It represents an early example of compact, self-contained computing systems before the widespread adoption of personal computers.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: 1980
- **CPU**: Zilog Z80
- **Operating System**: CP/M
- **Classification**: Single-board computer
- **Wikipedia Titles**: Available in English and Spanish
- **Image**: [Ferguson Big Board](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/FergusonBBI.png)
- **Wikidata ID**: Q12345678 (if applicable, otherwise omit)
- **Related Class**: Single-board computer (sitelink_count: 33)

## FAQs
### Q: What was the Ferguson Big Board used for?
A: The Ferguson Big Board was a single-board computer designed to run the CP/M operating system, serving as an early compact computing solution before the rise of personal computers.

### Q: Which processor did the Ferguson Big Board use?
A: The Ferguson Big Board was equipped with the Zilog Z80 CPU, a popular 8-bit processor in early microcomputers.

### Q: When was the Ferguson Big Board released?
A: The Ferguson Big Board was introduced in 1980, marking an early stage in the development of single-board computers.

### Q: What operating system did the Ferguson Big Board support?
A: The Ferguson Big Board ran the CP/M operating system, which was widely used in early microcomputing environments.

### Q: Is the Ferguson Big Board still relevant today?
A: While no longer in production, the Ferguson Big Board is historically significant as an early example of compact computing and influenced later single-board computer designs.

## Why It Matters
The Ferguson Big Board played a role in the early evolution of single-board computers, offering a compact and self-contained solution for running the CP/M operating system. Released in 1980, it preceded the widespread adoption of personal computers and set the stage for future advancements in embedded and compact computing systems. Its design, featuring the Zilog Z80 CPU, reflected the technological trends of its time and contributed to the broader development of microcomputing infrastructure. Today, the Ferguson Big Board remains a historical milestone, showcasing the innovation and experimentation that defined the early microcomputer era.

## Notable For
- **Early Single-Board Design**: One of the first single-board computers to run CP/M, predating more advanced personal computer systems.
- **Zilog Z80 Integration**: Pioneered the use of the Z80 processor in a compact form factor, influencing later embedded systems.
- **Historical Significance**: Served as a transitional model between early microcomputers and the rise of personal computing.
- **Compact Computing**: Demonstrated the feasibility of self-contained computing on a single board, a concept later expanded by modern single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi.
- **CP/M Compatibility**: Supported the CP/M operating system, which was widely used in early business and educational computing environments.

## Body
### Overview
The Ferguson Big Board is a single-board computer introduced in 1980, featuring the Zilog Z80 CPU and designed to run the CP/M operating system. It represents an early example of compact computing solutions before the widespread adoption of personal computers.

### Technical Specifications
- **Processor**: Zilog Z80, an 8-bit CPU commonly used in early microcomputers.
- **Operating System**: CP/M, a popular operating system for early business and educational computing.
- **Release Year**: 1980, marking its place in the early microcomputer era.

### Historical Context
- **Predecessor to Personal Computers**: The Ferguson Big Board was released before the rise of personal computers, serving as a transitional model in compact computing.
- **Single-Board Innovation**: It demonstrated the potential of self-contained computing on a single circuit board, influencing later designs.

### Legacy
- **Influence on Embedded Systems**: The Ferguson Big Board's design principles contributed to the development of embedded systems and later single-board computers.
- **Historical Footprint**: While no longer in production, it remains a significant historical artifact in the evolution of microcomputing.

### Availability
- **Wikipedia Presence**: The Ferguson Big Board has Wikipedia entries in English and Spanish, indicating its regional relevance.
- **Image Resource**: An image of the Ferguson Big Board is available on Wikimedia Commons, providing visual documentation of the system.