Sinclair ZX81

Sinclair ZX81The Sinclair ZX81 was released in 1981 by Sinclair Research. It was the follow-up to the Sinclair ZX80 and video output was to a television set, and saving and loading programs was via a tape recorder to audio cassette. Like its predecessor it used a 'Star Trek' keyboard membrane which gave a nice futuristic touch-pad keyboard, the only down-side having you to press quite hard on the keys once the membrane started wearing down.

The base system as supplied had 1KB of RAM. This RAM was used to hold the computer's system variables, the screen image, and any programs and data. The screen was text only: 32 characters wide by 24 high. A 16K add-on was available to boost the available memory, allowing you to create larger programs.

Blocky graphics with a resolution of 64 by 48 pixels were possible by the use of the PLOT command, which selected among a set of 16 very basic graphics characters.

The ZX81 was surprisingly small in size and extremely light. If you come across one I guarantee you will be surprised at the size of this little, but stylish computer!

Sinclair ZX80

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU Zilog Z80
SPEED 3.25 Mhz
RAM 1k
GRAPHICS 64 x 48
WEIGHT 12 ounces
I/O PORTS Memory, Cassette, 9VDC, TV
PRICE £49.95 kit, £69.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sinclair ZX Spectrum +

ZX Spectrum +"Two years after the original rubber-keyed Spectrum came out, 1984 saw the release from Sinclair of the Spectrum +."

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Sinclair Spectrum 128

"In 1986 the humble Spectrum was back! This time in the form of the Spectrum + 128k! But it wasn't just the memory which had been improved over the original + model."

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Spectrum 128 +2

Spectrum +2"When Amstrad bought the Sinclair computer range in 1986 the Spectrum +2 was the latest Spectrum model to hit the shops."

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Featured Models

Sinclair ZX80

ZX80"The Sinclair ZX80 appeared in 1980. It is recognised as being the first computer available in the UK for less than £100. The ZX80 was available in kit form, where customers had to assemble and solder it together."

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Sinclair ZX81

ZX81

"The Sinclair ZX81 was released in 1981 by Sinclair Research. It was the follow-up to the Sinclair ZX80 and video output was to a television set, and saving and loading programs was via a tape recorder to audio cassette."

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Sinclair ZX Spectrum

ZX Spectrum"One of the most popular micro computers in the 80's, the ZX Spectrum was born in April 1982 with a proud Sir Clive Sinclair as the father. It featured high-resolution graphics, 8 colours (could be made to do 16 colours) and sound. "

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Spectrum +3

Spectrum +3"The last ever Sinclair Spectrum model, brought to the UK market in 1987. It was the top of the range model, everything that the Spectrum should be, with a disk drive capable of reading 3" double sided disks, the same as the Amstrad CPC-6128."

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