The Mad Cumbrian's ZX Spectrum Web Site
The ZX Spectrum History
This section is my attempt to present the History of the ZX Spectrum. This has been done to the best of my knowledge. If you find anything that is incorrect, please e-mail me (bottom of the page) and I will rectify it.
The ZX Spectrum (nicknamed the Speccy), in all it's guises, was an 8-bit home computer games system that enabled the late 1970's arcade games to be played cheaply in the home. With the exception of the MK14, ZX Spectrum's were initially produced by a Company named Sinclair Research, headed by the famous "Sinclair C5 Clive" - sorry Clive, but it rhymed! (Clive Sinclair - Sir Clive, the British inventor of the ZX Spectrum).
The entire ZX Spectrum family, ranging from the humble beginnings of the MK14 (A bizarre late 1970's contraption) and the ZX81 (released in 1981, strangely enough!), to the 128k +3 were, in my opinion (I'm sure you'll all agree) the best of all 8 bit machines (including Commodore, Atari and Amstrad), competing in the UK home computer market in the 1980's (why else would I put all this time and effort into dedicating a web site to it ?).
It has been pointed out to me (Many Thanks to Chris Millard, webmaster of the RetroMadness web site), that the ZX80 machine was in fact NOT a member of the ZX Spectrum family (shocked and stunned, jaw hit the floor revelation! - Seriously!!). I will research this when I have time - can you survive the suspense ? Also, the MK14 and the ZX80 were produced by a Company called Science Of Cambridge - Sir Clive's pre Sinclair Research era.
Not to be outdone by Commodore, the ZX Spectrum's main competitor, Sir Clive released the ZX Spectrum 16k (£125), followed by the 48k (£175) in April 1982.
The mighty 48k even came with free games. This, incidentally, was my first Speccy (Here come the quite technical bit):
The 48k ZX Spectrum Specification
In addition to the computer, you also needed a cassette player, a Kemston Joystick (had to be a kemston) and a TV (and a colour one at that if you were posh!)
This is basically how it worked:- Data was stored on cassette tapes (or 360k Microdrives) are were read into the computers memory by the CPU - There, simple.
Amazing, isn't it ? How the hell could that provide such quality entertainment ? For years ?!!??!? When you compare the specification of the Spectrum to today's PC's, the mind boggles. I mean, 48kb is about the size of an average Microsoft Word document!
I don't remember anything about the releases of the ZX80 or ZX81 systems, or even the 48k for that matter. However, I do remember my cousin Julie violently puking at a family party after tampering with the old vodka! However I digress - back to the main issue :)
Did you know, over the pond, there was a Company called Timex, an American Company that manufactured and released a range of home computers called the T/S1000, 2000 and 2048. These machines were the equivalent of the ZX81, 16k and 48k machines respectively (T/S - Timex/Spectrum - did you guess it ? If so, give yourself a pat on the back. If not..........ah well, s*it happens!). They were 100% compatible with their British counterparts. Timex folded in the spring of 1984.
So, with the Commodore breathing down the Spectrum's neck, Sinclair Research brought out the ZX Spectrum 48k+, the main difference, to my knowledge, being the change of keyboard from rubber to plastic (a la today's keyboards). It was around 1984 when Sir Clive launched the QL (Quantum Leap) via his new Company, Cambridge Computers. It was aimed at the business market, running Psion exchange, providing Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Database and Graphics packages. Yep, you guessed it, another failed idea. And what a stupid one it was too. I mean, the concept will just never catch on, will it...............
In 1985, the ZX Spectrum 128k machine was released. The increase in memory size meant that multi-load games could be loaded into memory in one go. It also meant better graphics to compare, if not compete, with the arcade games of the mid 1980's.
However, before the 128k release, Sir Clive sold the rights to produce the Speccy to Mr Alan Sugar of Amstrad (who were 3rd in the home PC market at the time). Why did Sir Clive do this, I hear you cry. Well, pull up a pugh and I'll tell you..........
As far as I know, it was either because Sir Clive had sunk a fortune into the cushdy C5 (the "merger" with Amstrad coincided with the C5 catastrophe), or because Sir Clive realised that the ZX Spectrum (Sinclair Research) required a desperate boost to maintain their number 1 home PC market position. It could have been a mix of the two. Either way, looking back, it was a blessing in the end because the modifications Amstrad made to the 128k machine, in my opinion, contributed to it's prolonged life (with the obvious help of the people who already owned a Spectrum, the reduction in games prices and the quality of ZX Spectrum magazines such as Your Sinclair and Crash).
It's only fair to mention at this point, the Z88 'laptop'. Again ahead of it's time (sort of), the Z88 ran for approx 20hrs on 4AA sized batteries (that's all I know, sorry).
In the mid to late 1980's, the Speccy 128k +2, +2A and +3 machines were released. The major modification in the +2 was the in built tape drive, and the grey case colour. Apparently, the first +2 had several tape deck problems. Amstrads goose in the design process completely shafted the loading of certain games. The +2A worked OK.
It's only since I began researching the history of the ZX Spectrum that I (now you) learned about the +2's problems. No bloody wonder me mates Advanced Soccer Simulator wouldn't load on to my machine. I'd always blamed me WHSmiths data Loader :)
My 48k broke (too much use) and I was bought a +3 (with the 3" disk drive). The disks had an A & B side - each holding up to 173kb. It came with a free Dixons Games Pack (e-mail me if you would like this sent to you in *.zip format). All was well and good, but I preferred me 48k.
By the end of the 1980's, Amstrad released a computer called the Sinclair 200. It's design was based on the Amstrad PCW (in built keyboard and monitor). We've actually still got one at my place of work in the Level 2 room. This was not a true Spectrum.
By the early 1990's, the Spectrum era had almost ended. The whole games console crack was just around the corner. That was it, knackered! No more (nostalgic sigh!). Speccy fans can look back with pride on what their machine achieved in it's "Decade Of Dominance". It was such ground breaking technology of the 80's, that nothing has matched it ever since, and the effects are still with us today (the quality of home computing, free software with new machines and magazines etc).
If you bear in mind how quickly both PC's and games consoles become obsolete today, isn't it amazing that the Speccy lasted at the top for 10 years ?
Happy Days or what! Then what happened ? The 80's revival happened - repeats of classic 80's TV shows, 80's bands made comebacks, American rappers included 80's song lyrics in their raps, not to mention the classic 80's theme nights, where you all dress as either Madonna or Bon Jovi (or Boy George if you're that way inclined!) - just like when you used to go to the old school disco's (I preferred the Bon Jovi type kit - couldn't get used to the Madonna type pop socks or lacey bra's. Only kidding!). Not to be outdone, in true ZX Spectrum style, the flagship 80's "games console" also made a comeback. The Lord of the computer world is resurrected!! Long live Retrogaming. LONG LIVE THE SPECCY!!!!
