Spectrum (1982 - 1993?)
The ZX Spectrum (originally codenamed ZX82) was launched
in April 1982 and is based on a 3.5 MHz Z80. It was
originally available in two models: 16KB RAM (£125) and
48KB RAM (£175). You could also get an upgrade from 16KB
to 48KB for £60.
The Spectrum featured a number of improvements over its
predecessor, the ZX81. Among them were color
high-resolution graphics and a sound generator.
Later models introduced in this series were Spectrum plus,
Spectrum 128K (1986; 128KB RAM and a new sound chip),
Spectrum +2 (1987; rather like the 128K) and Spectrum +3
(1988; had a 3" disk drive that could read disks from Amstrad CPC and Amstrad PCW and could
run CP/M (but CP/M had to be bought separately)). The
Spectrum name was purchased by Amstrad and therefore the
+3 uses Amstrad circuit boards and other items. More
information about
the Spectrum.
There were also American clones produced. The
Timex-Sinclair 2068 was a ZX Spectrum with some extra
extensions (a new sound chip, more graphic modes,
rewritten ROM) and 72KB RAM. More information about
the clones. Clones like the Pentagon 128 and software
are still (1998) produced.
There are 828 games listed for Spectrum in this list.
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