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What was the significance of the ZX81 computer?
The ZX81 marked the point when computing in Britain became an activity for the general public rather than the preserve of businessmen and electronics hobbyists. It produced a huge community of enthusiasts, some of whom founded their own businesses producing software and hardware for the ZX81.
What was the original price of the Sinclair ZX81?
Sinclair launched the ZX81 in the United States in November 1981 at a price of $149.95 assembled and $99.95 in kit form, initially selling directly to the American market by mail order. To be useful the computer needed an extra 16 KB RAM pack which cost $49.95.
What’s the difference between slow and fast on the ZX81?
The ZX81’s designers adopted an improved approach, involving the use of two modes called SLOW and FAST respectively. In SLOW mode, also called “compute and display” mode, the ZX81 concentrates on driving the display.
Which is more flexible the spectrum or the ZX81?
The ZX81’s commercial success made Sinclair Research one of Britain’s leading computer manufacturers and earned a fortune and an eventual knighthood for the company’s founder Sir Clive Sinclair . [The ZX81] is more flexible than the Spectrum, because you can do much more on the screen, using relocation techniques.
What makes the zigzag stripes on the ZX81 screen?
Another hardware quirk produced one of the most distinctive aspects of the ZX81’s screen display – during loading or saving, moving zigzag stripes appear across the screen. The same pin on the ULA is used to handle the video signal and the tape output, producing the stripes as an interference pattern of sorts.
When did the Sinclair ZX81 home computer come out?
Developer Sinclair Research Manufacturer Timex Corporation Type Home computer Release date 5 March 1981; 40 years ago ( 1981-03-05) Introductory price £49.95 kit, £69.95 assembled (£193–270/$
How does the ZX81 audio cassette recorder work?
Two 3.5 mm jacks connect the ZX81 to the EAR (output) and MIC (input) sockets of an audio cassette recorder, enabling data to be saved or loaded. This stores each data bit as a number of pulses followed by an inter-bit silence of 1300 µs. Each pulse is a 150 µs ‘high’ then a 150 µs ‘low’.