>> PIC has more robust i/o drive amongst other things.
>
>Really?


Going from data sheet claims only at this stage.
Robust is a technically rather loose term.  :-)

PIC claims same 25ma per pin max allowable current source and sink
but substantially more per whole port.
eg 16F84: 80/50 ma sink/source for PORTA and 150/100 ma for PORTB
Z8+: 40/40 ma for either port.

Also, PIC and Z8 spec Vout hi and lo at different currents and
voltages but extrapolating it seems that PIC claims to have more
capable drivers (ie , lower voltage drop away from supply rail for a
given i/o current).

What the reality is for the Z8 I've yet to find out :-)
I know PIC is generally very forgiving - Yes Virginia, you can use a
5v Vcc PIC to drive LEDs directly without drive resistors :-).
Not that anyone would do such a thing of course.



regards

            Russell McMahon