X68000 Z2: 8-inch retro monitor with CRT design launches
The Zuiki X68000 Z2 is a brand-new monitor based on an 8-inch LCD with a 4:3 aspect ratio. It also features a curved acrylic screen and a relatively thick housing to make it look and feel like an old-school CRT monitor. While the LCD panel might have slower response times, it potentially offers better color reproduction and power consumption.
The screen further has a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and a 60Hz refresh rate. It connects via either USB-C or HDMI, but power is always supplied via USB-C. If the port on the computer or laptop can provide 15 watts of power, no additional power adapter is needed. Buttons on the monitor can be used to adjust brightness, contrast and the volume of the built-in stereo speakers. The manufacturer has yet to confirm the remaining technical specifications.
The monitor's design is supposed to match the X68000 Z Super, which is a mini PC that’s being crowdfunded as well. That said, this mini PC draws inspiration from Sharp's X68000 series from 1991 and is offered for prices starting around $425 in Japan. Due to its ARM Cortex-A7 quad-core processor and 512MB of RAM, it only provides enough performance for older retro software.
Price and availability
The Zuiki X68000 Z2 is currently crowdfunding on the Japanese website Kibidango, where the monitor can be preordered for the equivalent of $239. The matching Zuiki X68000 Z Super mini PC costs around $425. The manufacturer has not revealed if these products will ever launch globally.
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