Founded by Clive Sinclair, Sinclair Research produced the Sinclair ZX80 and the ZX Spectrum, which was the best selling computer in the United Kingdom, competing well against Amstrad and Commodore.
Originally, Sinclair's company was known as Westminster Mail Order, then Science of Cambridge, and Sinclair Computers, before becoming Sinclair Research in 1981.
Sinclair entered the computer market in 1980 with the Sinclair ZX80, which was released in January of that year. One of the first computers available in the UK, it sold for less than a hundred pounds and could be purchased as a kit or as a fully assembled computer. The ZX80 came with 1 KB of static RAM and 4 KB of ROM. There was no sound output. Designed around TTL chips, the only proprietary technology in the ZX80 was its firmware.
The ZX81 used a custom chip that combined the functions of the earlier hardware onto a single chip, reducing the number of chips from twenty-one to four. The hardware functions and system programs were very much the same. The ROM was enhanced and made available as an upgrade for the ZX80 as well. It contained the Sinclair BASIC programming language, an editor, and the operating system. BASIC commands were not entered by typing them out but were selected as in a programmable graphing calculator, in which each key had a few different functions that were selected by context and modes, as well as with the shift key.
The ZX80 and ZX81 were mounted in a small white plastic case with a one-piece blue membrane keyboard on the front. There was no fan and no ventilation slots, so the devices had problems with overheating.
The ZX81 was marketed in North America as the Timex Sinclair. Timex of Portugal also sold the Timex Sinclair models in Portugal and Poland. Timex Sinclair released four computers under the Timex Sinclair label: the TS1000, TS1500, TS2068, and TC2048. A TC3256 computer was proposed but never released.
Released in the UK in 1982, the ZX Spectrum was an 8-bit PC that was originally designed to be the ZX82. Produced from 1982 to 1992, the Spectrum line included eight different models, ranging from the 16 KB RAM entry-level model to the Spectrum +3, with 128 KB RAM. Together, more than five million ZX Spectrums were sold worldwide.
The Spectrum was one of the first mainstream home computers sold in the United Kingdom, with a reception similar to that of the Commodore in the United States. Its rivals in the UK were the Amstrad CPC, BBS Micro, Commodore 64, Dragon 32, Oric-1, and Oric Atmos.
The original Spectrum shipped with a rubber keyboard. Those who bought the 16 KB model could purchase an internal 32 KB upgrade, which consisted of a daughterboard. Later models required the fitting of eight dynamic RAM chips and a few TTL chips, but users could mail their 16 KB machines to Sinclair to be upgraded to 48 KB versions.
The Spectrum+ was released in late 1984. This 48 KB model came in a QL-style case with an injection-molded keyboard and a reset switch. Otherwise, the + model would fit into an original Spectrum case. A do-it-yourself conversion kit was offered to upgrade the earlier Spectrums to the Spectrum+.
Also released in 1984, the Sinclair QL was an upper-end counterpart to the Spectrum, aimed at professional and business markets. It was not commercially successful and was discontinued in 1986.
The ZX Spectrum 128 was similar to the +, but with a large external heatsink that replaced the internal heatsink in previous versions. Otherwise, the RAM was increased to 128 KB, an RS-232 serial port, an RGB monitor port, 32 KB ROM, a BASIC editor, and an external keypad. It was released in 1985.
In May of 1985, Sinclair sold its computer line to Amstrad. The sale did not include the company itself, just the products and the brand.
In 1987, Amstrad released the ZX Spectrum +2A and the +3. They were similar, except that the +3 came with an external disk drive. If an external drive were later added to the +2A, the OS menu would change its identification to a +3. The +3 also added two more 16 KB ROMs, one hosting the reorganized 128 ROM, while the other carried its operating system. This was a modified version of Amstrad's PCWDOS. The ZX Spectrum +2B and +3B were similar in design to the +2A and the +3, with changes to the audio output signal.
The focus of this category is on any of the Sinclair computers, including those made after its product line was sold to Amstrad. Sites whose chief topics are the Sinclair line of computers or subsections of sites featuring substantial information on the topic are appropriate here.
Recommended Resources
Dilwyn Jones Sinclair QL Pages
Dedicated to the Sinclair QL and compatible computers and emulators, the site offers an overview of the computer and the system developers, along with manuals and ROM images, software downloads, zip files, and PC/QL file transfers. Its documentation section includes articles, manuals, and general information about the QL and related machines. QL emulators may be downloaded from the site, and PDF files of QL- related magazines from various sources are included.
http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/
Focused on information about the Q40 and Q60, successors to the Sinclair QL that are more than a hundred times faster, with thousands of colors, high-resolution graphics, stereo sound, fast hard disks, and modern peripheral capabilities, yet with QL compatibility. Three different operating systems are available and defined here: SMSQ/E, QDOS Classic, and 68k Linux. Manuals, hardware documentation, and programs are available for download, and links to other resources are included.
http://www.q40.de/
QUANTA began in 1984, shortly after the Sinclair QL was released, as a membership organization of Sinclair QL enthusiasts, and enjoyed a peak membership of more than two thousand, largely serving as a source of information and support for the computer, and later expanding to include compatible systems and QL emulators. Its membership benefits and sub-groups are highlighted, and a library of information and resources is included, along with archives of its newsletters.
https://quanta.org.uk/
The retro production company specializes in products for classic Sinclair Spectrum computers and retro-clones, including cases for the Omni desktop and laptop, ZX Spectrum 16k/48k reproduced cases and sets, laser cut ZX Spectrum cases and reproduction sets, ZX Spectrum 16/k/48/k faceplates and keyboard mats, keyboard membranes, and accessories, as well as ZX Spectrum 128/k external keypads, the RetroRadionics joysticks, and several other products.
https://retroradionics.co.uk/
Set up in 1986 to help improve the range of software developed for the Sinclair QL home computer at the time, the company has expanded its range of products to encompass new technologies, while keeping its roots in the realm of retro and vintage computers, offering support for a range of vintage computers, game consoles, and industrial equipment, and particularly the Sinclair line. Its product line includes items for Sinclair owners and other vintage machines.
http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk/
SUMO is the unofficial archive of Sinclair User, which ran longer than any other commercial magazine devoted to the Sinclair computers, publishing one hundred and thirty-three issues, from April of 1982 through April of 1993. Arranged by Dave Foreman, the site features the content of each issue in HTML format, as well as links to other Sinclair-related magazine archives, Sinclair user groups, retro magazines online, and other online Sinclair resources.
https://www.sinclairuser.com/
The Spectrum Next is an updated and enhanced version of the ZX Spectrum that maintains compatibility with the original, but utilizing the major hardware developments of the years since, and packed inside a design by the original designer, Rick Dickinson. Spectrum Next’s hardware is highlighted here, along with full documentation in a wiki format, links to software and developer sites, downloads of utilities, drivers, and firmware, information about the next distribution, and a user forum.
https://www.specnext.com/
The online discussion forum is dedicated to users of the Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81 computers, and their clones. Powered by phpBB forum software, the forum content is viewable by anyone, although only registered members can participate in discussions. Forum content includes a variety of topics, including emulators, games, ZX BASIC, development, hardware, sales, and software, as well as the Lambda 8300 and Power 3000 computers and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum.
https://sinclairzxworld.com/
Using the open-source ZXDB database, created by Einar Saukas for use by the ZX Spectrum community, the site’s creators seek to maintain a freely accessible archive of software for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum computer. Credits for those who have contributed to the archive are given, and included titles may be found by title, alphabetically, or through an advanced search feature, using a variety of variables. Updates and recent releases are included, and a user forum is available.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/
Using phpBB forum software, the online discussion forum is focused on the Sinclair QL computer, featuring tips and guides for new users, general QL chat, QL hardware, software, and programming issues, QL emulation, and QL compatible machines. Owners of Sinclair QL hardware, components, software, or documentation may offer it for sale, and those who are looking for items may post that. Links to QL services and other online resources are also posted.
https://www.qlforum.co.uk/
Maintained by David Anderson, who received a Timex/Sinclair 1000 from his mother when he was a child, the site is dedicated to the Timex/Sinclair machines and related devices, such as the Sinclair ZX80, Sinclair ZX81, Timex/Sinclair 1000, Timex/Sinclair 1500, Timex/Sinclair 2068, Sinclair QL, MicroAce, and the Cambridge Z88, as well as Sinclair Research and Timex Computer Corporation, its hardware, software, books, periodicals, documentation, and user groups.
https://www.timexsinclair.com/
Although the main section of the World of Spectrum hasn’t been updated in a few years, its forum has recent posts, although its online chat room isn’t working. Other resources include a collection of software developed for the Spectrum, most of which can be played online using Java Spectrum emulators, which may be downloaded from the site, along with Spectrum documentation, and profiles of people who were important in the development of the Sinclair Spectrum.
https://www.worldofspectrum.org/
Featuring some of the best-known games that were created for the Spectrum ZX Spectrum, sorted by name, although they may also be found through a search form or from a tag cloud. For each listed game, the publisher, year of release, and several screenshots are presented. Included are not only games that were available for the original Spectrum computers but others that have been created since. Links to other online resources for Spectrum or retro game content is included.
https://zxspectrumgames.com/
