The Sinclair ZX Spectrum, arguably the first real computer for games for a lot of people my age turns 30!
The Spectrum came in two – £125 for a 16k machine and £175 for a 48k machine.
The biggest competitor to the Spectrum was the BBC Micro, but it was more expensive and had a lot less games. All this is detailed in the BBC film Micro Men, which if you haven’t seen is well worth watching.
Even Google has a nod to the Spectrum today on their page (along with a St George as it’s also St George’s day here in the UK):
I loved my Spectrum. It was the first computer I had myself. As a family we had a BBC Micro B, but the Spectrum as all mine!
I remember trying to convince my parents that it would be really useful for me for school work – yeah, that old argument! I am sure we all used the same argument to get one!
That said, it did help with my typing skills!
My first Spectrum was the 16k version, and a few months later I got the 48k ram pack. Eventually I got the “proper” 48k version.
Many, many (and I mean many) hours were spent on my Spectrum.
The BBC has a really interesting article on reuniting the two chief designers of the Spectrum. You can read it here.
Tell us your memories of the Spectrum.
Check out the once in a lifeday day at ARM celebrating the BBC Micro at 30
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