Uffenbeck intends this textbook for use by instructors teaching hardware computer principles, most likely in an intermediate college electronics course. He centers it around the Intel 8080 and 8085 and the Zilog Z-80 CPU chips.
The book consists of 12 chapters:
Introduction to the Microprocessor
Introducing the 8080, 8085 and Z-80 Microprocessors
Programming the Microprocessor
Building the Microcomputer, Part 1: The Buses
Building the Microcomputer, Part 2: Adding Memory
Building the Microcomputer, Part 3: Input/Output
Special-purpose Support Devices: The 8080/85 Family
Special Support Devices: The Z-80 Family
Serial I/O Techniques
Floppy and Hard Disk Drives
Microcomputer Control Applications and Troubleshooting Techniques
Introduction to the 8085 16 Bit Microprocessor
Each chapter ends with a summary of the key concepts that have been introduced, an extensive set of suggested lab projects, and a comprehensive set of questions and problems. Answers to selected problems appear in the back of the book. Also in the back of the book are a glossary of selected terms and a set of appendices containing manufacturers’ technical specifications. The index seems adequate. The only references are to chip manufacturers. I found no typos and, indeed, the typesetting is of high quality, as is the paper. The book includes numerous appropriate illustrations. The author’s style is clear and simple, friendly but rigorous. He uses a commendable introductory “key concept” approach, wherein each section has some statements with blanks to be filled in after the student has read and understood that section. Answers are given at the end of each chapter. This technique is probably an excellent way to reinforce concepts.
The first edition of this book was published in 1985. This second edition is dated 1991--six years later. Much has occurred since 1985. I would not use this textbook for a class for three major reasons. First, it simply does not seem appropriate to have less than 5 pages (out of nearly 700) devoted to the 8088, 80286, 80386, and 80486 chips. Second, the author makes no mention of RISC or any other emerging technology. Third, the author’s selection of CP/M as a representative (and the only) operating system seems inappropriate today. You might also give thought to the following two questions: Would this text be useful to your student after she or he completes the course? Are you willing to impose its price on your students? If you are a digital computer electronics instructor, you buy the author’s premise that you do not need to use state-of-the-art equipment to teach principles, and the price tag does not faze you, then this book is undoubtedly your text.
