Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype • Hacker News Board

Re: Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype

#21

Post by Zardoz84 » Tue, Mar 05, 2019, 12:05 PM UTC

jtanworth wrote: post #12

techbubble wrote: post #3

All the Spectrum computers were awesome computers that somehow crammed a lot into a very compact package. The Sinclair ZX Spectrum+ was my first computer and I recently snagged one on eBay. With the right transformer and HDMI converter, I had it hooked to the living room TV in no time. It took less than 30 mins for my 11-year-old daughter to figure out how to draw basic rectangles and circles in various colors on the…

Do you have a link to the HDMI converter you were using? I still have a 128k +2 which would love to try and test out again sometime.

Same! I try a composite video to VGA (works like a charm with a Play Station 2), but can't sync with the Spectrum +2 video

Re: Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype

#22

Post by C1sc0cat » Tue, Mar 05, 2019, 12:07 PM UTC

codeulike wrote: post #17

christkv wrote: post #2

Brilliant just finished watching micromen and loved it even though I was in the commodore camp myself. The spectrum next project is really cool for a 8bit remake computer. I hope to get one for the kids when it’s generally available.

The end credits/epilogue of MicroMen is a lovely bit of visual poetry https://youtu.be/XXBxV6-zamM?t=4900

And so sad :-(

Really ought to have a HN meet up in the pub where the famous fight between Sinclair and Curry Happened.

Re: Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype

#23

Post by protomyth » Tue, Mar 05, 2019, 12:25 PM UTC

moomin wrote: post #16

I realise the ZX Spectrum might not be the most important computer in the history of computing, but it is 100% the most important computer to me. That thing changed my life.

I think the 8-bit generation of computers were very important to a lot of folks, and Sinclair was amazing for packing so much in such a low cost computer. A lot of folks wouldn’t be in computing without Sinclair.

Re: Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype

#24

Post by drej » Tue, Mar 05, 2019, 12:30 PM UTC

I can recommend this recent podcast episode on coding for the ZX Spectrum - in this instance commissioned by the authors of Black Mirror. https://hanselminutes.com/670/coding-for-the-zx-spectrum-and...

Re: Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype

#25

Post by userbinator » Tue, Mar 05, 2019, 12:30 PM UTC

The custom gate array it uses was reverse-engineered and is described in detail in this book:

http://www.zxdesign.info/book/

(Incidentally, it's GFDL so you can also find a legal PDF of it, but only buying a physical copy will support the author.)

Re: Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype

#26

Post by Angostura » Tue, Mar 05, 2019, 12:38 PM UTC

For anyone feeling a little nostalgic: Hey, hey 16K https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts96J7HhO28

Re: Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype

#27

Post by rsneekes » Tue, Mar 05, 2019, 12:45 PM UTC

stevekemp wrote: post #18

moomin wrote: post #16

I realise the ZX Spectrum might not be the most important computer in the history of computing, but it is 100% the most important computer to me. That thing changed my life.

It was the computer that started me programming, and so I feel much the same. (Largely because the tape-player in our bundle didn't work, so instead I was "forced" to read the manual(s) instead..)

For me too, got one for my 10th birthday (and got it working again a couple of years ago). For me it was my father who "forced" me to read the Basic manual before I was allowed to use it by my self.

Re: Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype

#28

Post by pjmlp » Tue, Mar 05, 2019, 1:06 PM UTC

andymurd wrote: post #20

moomin wrote: post #16

I realise the ZX Spectrum might not be the most important computer in the history of computing, but it is 100% the most important computer to me. That thing changed my life.

The Spectrum (and ZX81) had a big effect on a whole generation of Brits. I know my folks could not have afforded a C64 or BBC Micro but they did manage fifty quid in Currys to start my lifetime of coding.

Including Portuguese and Spanish as well, it was the most relevant 8 bit computer in the Iberian Peninsula.

Re: Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype

#29

Post by pjmlp » Tue, Mar 05, 2019, 1:08 PM UTC

stevekemp wrote: post #18

moomin wrote: post #16

I realise the ZX Spectrum might not be the most important computer in the history of computing, but it is 100% the most important computer to me. That thing changed my life.

It was the computer that started me programming, and so I feel much the same. (Largely because the tape-player in our bundle didn't work, so instead I was "forced" to read the manual(s) instead..)

A neighbour of mine, the father forbade him to buy games and gave him a pile of programming books instead.

You know, those packed with game listings back then.

Re: Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype

#30

Post by darrenf » Tue, Mar 05, 2019, 1:49 PM UTC

andymurd wrote: post #20

moomin wrote: post #16

I realise the ZX Spectrum might not be the most important computer in the history of computing, but it is 100% the most important computer to me. That thing changed my life.

The Spectrum (and ZX81) had a big effect on a whole generation of Brits. I know my folks could not have afforded a C64 or BBC Micro but they did manage fifty quid in Currys to start my lifetime of coding.

Likewise. At the time my folks could just about stretch to a ZX81 plus 16k RAM Pack[0], but not a wobble stopper[1] - so we fashioned one out of corrugated cardboard and gaffer tape. A few years later I scored an upgrade to the ZX Spectrum+ which was an absolute revelation - what with stuff like colour and sound.

I learnt BASIC through typing out listings from ZX Computing Monthly, Sinclair User, Your Sinclair, and others, borrowed from the local library. I forget the name of the magazines which had multi-platform listings, for the Electron and Vic-20 and MSX and others.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAM_pack [1] https://web.archive.org/web/20110614170203/http://www.sincus...