As I pointed out in my review of the previous edition [1], the book title is misleading: there is no single “Motorola family” as such, but rather separate 6800, 6809, and 68000 microprocessor families, as well as 6801 and 6805 microcontroller families. What has changed from the two earlier editions to this third edition? As with the earlier editions, the first nine chapters use the MC6800 microprocessor to introduce basic microcomputer concepts. These chapters have not been changed except to modernize examples, references, and problems where appropriate. I/O is covered in chapter8, but is limited to the 6821 PIA and 6850 ACIA peripheral support chips.

Chapter 10 introduces new members of the 68HC11 and 68HC05 microcontroller families (covered in chapter 11 of the second edition). System debugging is explained by way of evaluation boards in the new chapter 11. Chapter 12 has been expanded to include a more thorough discussion of the system design process, including logic analyzers and 68HC05 microcomputer development systems. Chapter13 covers the same real-world applications and interfacing concepts as in the second edition, but has been expanded and modernized. Nevertheless, it focuses primarily on hardware; few programming examples are included. The new chapter14 (previously chapter 15; the old chapter 14 has been deleted) describes the 68000 microprocessor family. Chapter15 (formerly chapter 16) updates developments in later members of the 68000 family. Finally, chapter 16 discusses the newer 16-bit and 32-bit microcontroller families (HC16 and 68300), including system development boards, built-in background debugging modes, and modular microcomputer development systems.

I believe the authors have erred in attempting to cover virtually all the plethora of 6800-based microcontroller devices. In doing so, they have not done justice to any specific family member (apart perhaps from the basic 6800 microprocessor). Much of this detail is simply repeated from Motorola data books. A more useful contribution would have been to include many more programming examples of how to apply these devices to real-world problems (rather than the largely trivial examples included throughout the text).

This book still primarily covers 6800 microcomputers, with additional material on 6800-based microcontrollers. The 68000 material still reads as an afterthought or add-on. As explained in a previous comparative review (see <CR>, review 8912-0854), better 68000 books are available.