To get into eZ8 programming you either need to build your own development board or buy one. The problem with making your own is that you need a Zilog USB smartCable to be able to use the debug features in the IDE (you program the chip via the debug interface, so you really need it) The kit is only $10 more expensive than the cable by itself which generally goes for about $30. I wound up getting the Devkit with the cable included for $40. A week or two later I found out about this little board that allows you to use a regular usb cable. This neat little devboard has the same layout as an arduino, but instead of an ATmega it has an Z8F042A encore! XP on it.
The exact chip number is not listed on the website, but it is a 28 pin IC. It has 23 I/O pins, 4KB of flash, 1KB of ram.
Read the original article:
http://8times8.host56.com/?p=275
Order one: http://www.rapidsignalph.com/shop/z8duino/[/s]