ZX Spectrum is a small personal computer put on the market at the the United Kingdom in 1982. Based on the processor Zilog Z80 turning to 3,5 MHz, Spectrum was sold with either 16 or 48 kilobytes of memory (an extension was also available to pass from 16 to 48 kilobytes).

History

Sold for 125 pound sterling (GBP) for the model 16 Kio and 175 GBP for the model 48 Kio, Spectrum was the first personal computer general public in Great Britain, similar in importance to the Commodore 64 with the the United States (which was also a rival of Spectrum in Europe). A slightly modified version of Spectrum, in a body silver plated with hard plastic keys, was sold with the the United States by Timex under name TS2068. It had a ROMANIAN extension of 8 Kio additional, a port for cartridges, two ports for joysticks and a microprocessor audio AY-3-8912; and of the orders additional BASIC to order this material (STICK, SOUND).

In the following models, one finds ZX Spectrum +, with an improved keyboard, and ZX Spectrum 128, with a better sound and 128 Kio of RAM. After the purchase by Amstrad of Sinclair Research in 1986, two additional versions transfer the day: ZX Spectrum +2 with a recorder of cassettes included in the machine, and ZX Spectrum +3 with a Disk drive S 3 inches included.

A certain number of developers of important plays today began their career on the ZX Spectrum, like Ultimate Play The range (today Rare, Inc), Peter Molyneux (ex- Bullfrog Games), and Shiny Entertainment.

Several clone S was produced, particularly in Europe of the East (Elwro, HC85) and in South America. Some are always in production the such Didaktik and the Sprinte R of Peters Plus Ltd.

Description

The video out was done on a Télévision with a posting color. A rubber keyboard with above the membrane (similar to that of a computer) of the inscriptions pointing out the key words of the BASIC. Thus, in programming method, the support on the key “G”, for example, inserts the order BASIC GOTO . The programs were recorded on a traditional Magnétophone. Particularly slow taking into consideration current technology, it was not rare to have to charge a program during 20 mn before being able to use it, which pushed the manufacturer has to develop his own system of safeguard.

The video posting of Spectrum, although rudimentary compared to the current standards, was perfect at the time for posting on portable television stations and with the development of Video games was not a brake.

The text mode is of 32 columns out of 23 lines with a choice of eight colors in a mode either normal, or shining, which gives sixteen colors. The graphic resolution is of 256×192 with the same limitations of colors. The Spectrum has an interesting method of management of the colors; the attributes of colors are in a grid of 32 by 24, separated from the graphic data and text, with a limitation with only two colors per cell. That brought to what was called color clash or attribute clash (collision of colors or of attributes) which caused odd effects in the plays of style arcade.

With regard to the sound, simple a beeper after a fashion managed to emit rudimentary sounds. As information, order BEEP accepted only 2 parameters: the frequency and duration of the sound beep. No the envelope or of volume, the ZX Spectrum left this kind of sophistications to competition. However the shooting was corrected later on the ZX Spectrum 128 by the addition of Yamaha AY-3-8912 (identical to the MSX, Amstrad CPC, etc).

Peripherals

Several peripherals for Spectrum were put on the market by Sinclair Research: the printer was there already since Spectrum could use the printer of ZX81. The interface 1 added a port RS-232 standard, a port for lan and the possibility of connecting Microdrive S , tiny cassettes containing a magnetic band buckles some which were also used on the Sinclair QL. Sinclair also delivered the Interface 2 which added two ports of Joystick and a port for ROMANIAN cartridge.

( To insert here information on the peripherals sold by thirds. )

(see also ZX80, ZX81, Sinclair QL, Sinclair Research, SAM Cut, Personal computer).

Russia Sites

http://zxaaa.net - Zx Spectrum Demonstrations (3000) & Gems (5000), ftp Arhive

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