Sinclair ZX Spectrum

Launched in 1982, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum really started the home computer revolution, and was many peoples first experience of home computing.
Easily the most successful of Sinclair's computers, in its various revisions, the Spectrum sold in its millions.
The follow up to the ZX81, the Spectrum introduced colour graphics and sound, done before, but not on a computer at this price.

Originally with a huge 16KB of RAM and the infamous rubber keyboard, which although a great step up from the touch-sensative keyboards of the ZX80 & ZX81, it was still rather naff for typing on.
The things that could be done with a Spectrum were endless. It was also the easiest machine to program (and there has probably never been an easier one since), and as such, everyone tried their hand at writing games, and new software houses were popping up virtually every day.

Next was an upgraded rubber keyed Spectrum with 48K of RAM. This was followed in 1984 by the SPectrum+ which had a better and extended keyboard.
The next version of the Spectrum+ in 1985 had 128K of RAM, and dedicated three-channel sound chip rather than single beeps.
In 1986, Amstrad bought Sinclair's computer side of the business, and in 1987 released the Spectrum +2. For the first time a Sinclair computer had a proper keyboard, and also had a built in cassette recorder called a "datacorder"
Amstrad next released the Spectrum +3 with a 3" Floppy Disk Drive to replace the cassette recorder

I got my first 16KB Spectrum in 1982, and can still remember the day it arrived. Over the years due to breakdowns I had various models, next was a 48KB Spectrum (I think I had a couple of those!) and ended up with a Spectrum+, never reaching the dizzy heights of 128KB!

Quite a few pictures for the ZX Spectrum, all the screenshots are from a ZX Spectrum plugged into the TV card of my PC, not an emulator in sight!

 
Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K in excellent condition. This one stays in the box.
 
Sinclair ZX Spectrum with manuals and Horizons introduction tape.
 
Box for the ZX Spectrum.
 
A look inside the box.
 
My second ZX Spectrum, for use.
 
All plugged in...
 
...and it still works.
 
Sinclair ZX Spectrum+ slightly better than the rubber keys!
 
ZX Interface 1 with ZX Microdrive.
 
Sinclair ZX Spectrum+ with a Microdrive.
 
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2.
 
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2 box.
 
The +2 boot screen.
 
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +3 with Floppy Disc Drive.
 
Spectrum +3 boot screen.
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_manic_miner_loading
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_manic_miner_1
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_manic_miner_2
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_jet_set_willy_1
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_jet_set_willy_2
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_jet_set_willy_3
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_jet_set_willy_4
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_jet_pac_1
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_jet_pac_2
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_hungry_horace_1
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_hungry_horace_2
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_program
 
sinclair_zx_spectrum_run
  

Processor: Zilog Z80A (3.54 MHz)
Screen Resolution: 32 columns by 22 rows text, 256 by 192 pixels
Memory: 16K/48K/128K RAM
Colours: 8: blue, red, magenta, green, cyan, yellow, white and black, each with 2 levels of brightness
Sound: 16K/48K: 1 channel, 5 octaves from built in speaker
128K: 3 channel, 7 octaves from TV speaker
Storage: 16K/48K/128K: External cassette recorder
+2/+2A: Internal cassette recorder
+3: Internal 3" 180KB floppy disk drive