Sinclair ZX Spectrum 16/48k
 
The 16k and 48k Speccy were the first version of the Speccy with another 6 to follow. It was released in 1982 costing £125 for the 16k model and £175 for the 48k model. The 16k Spectrum, could be upgraded to 48k, at a cost of around £60. When Sinclair dropped the price the 16k Speccy sales dropped because more people bought the 48k model which had 48k already installed. When the Speccy was released in 1982 it was a revolution in the home computing market. It has a Z80A processor running at a massive 3.5MHz. It is limited to 8 colours, but you could get more by using the BRIGHT command. It has a resolution of 256x192 pixels, the main problem with the display was that it could not display more than 2 colours in any 8x8 square. This led to the famous colour clash. With it`s rubber keyboard ( which other 8-bit computer users slagged off), it`s slow but easy to use basic and poor sound capabilities the Speccy dominated the 8-bit computer market in Britain for over 10 years.

 
Released:  1982
CPU:      3.54 MHz Zilog Z80A CPU
Memory: 16K / 48K RAM
16K ROM
Display:  32 x 22 character text display
256 x 192 pixel resolution
Colours: 8 colours
Sound:  1 channel, 5 octaves
I/O:   Z80 bus, tape, RF television
Storage:   External tape recorder or microdrives

Sinclair ZX Spectrum +
 
The Spectrum + was a small update on the original 'Rubber Key' Spectrum. At the time of release, you could purchase a kit of parts to convert your own machine or send your machine back to Sinclair. The conversion was very simple and only required moving the main circuit-board from the old case to the new one and soldering the reset switches leads to a capacitor. It was a definite improvement on the original keyboard but more for the new keys like 'EDIT and 'EXTENDED MODE' which cut out some of the key jabbing required beforehand. It definitely helped with the tortuous Microdrive commands. Unfortunately, it also caused a few problems with certian joystick and other interfaces because of the deeper back

 
Released:  1984
CPU:      3.54 MHz Zilog Z80A CPU
Memory: 48K RAM
16K ROM
Display:  32 x 22 character text display
256 x 192 pixel resolution
Colours: 8 colours
Sound:  1 channel, 5 octaves
I/O:   Z80 bus, tape, RF television
Storage:   External tape recorder or microdrives

Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128k
 
The Spectrum 128 is the successor of the Spectrum +. It was done just before Amstrad bougth the right to use the Sinclair name in computer products. The 128 is the first 'real' evolution of the old Spectrum 16. It has a lot of new features : 128 KB ram, new sound chip, RS232 / Midi and a RGB output. The Spectrum displays a menu when it is switched on : "Tape Loader" to run softwares on tape, "Calculator" to enter operations without typing 'print' before, "Tape Tester" to test the input level of the tape recorder, "Basic 48" and "Basic 128". The Spectrum 128 can use two Basics : the Basic 48 is just for the compatibility with the previous models and can't use the new features. The Basic 128 mode has a fullscreen editor and the user can enter the basic keywords in words instead of pressing keys combinations. It has new keywords to use the extended memory as a RAM disk and to handle the new sound chip and the MIDI out. The spectrum 128 has a short career and was replaced with the Spectrum 2 plus.

 
Released:  1985
CPU:      3.54 MHz Zilog Z80A CPU
Memory: 128K RAM (Incl RAM Disk)
32K ROM (16K Rom for 48K-mode, 16K ROM for 128K-mode)
Display:  32 x 22 character text display
256 x 192 pixel resolution
Colours: 8 colours
Sound:  AY-3-8912A, 1 channel, 5 octaves
I/O:   Z80 bus, tape, RF television, numeric keypad, RS232- Midi Out, RGB
Storage:   External tape recorder or microdrives

Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128 +2,+2a
 
Once the Speccy was bought by Amstrad as far as i am concerned, as are many. The Speccy died. The first upgrade was a built in tape deck, the Spectrum +2. Anybody who had previously owned a Speccy hated it.Next Amstrad updated the processor, the Spectrum +2A. This gave all sorts of problems when trying to run older Speccy games.Amstrad then added it`s own 3" floppy disk drive. These disks cost a lot more
than a standard 3 1/2" disc and put the general public off. If Amstrad had released this machine earlier with a 3 1/2" disk drive, then the Speccy may have been able to compete with the 16-bit machines that were taking over the market. £250 for a 8-bit computer, compared to £400 for an Atari ST or a Commodore Amiga was a little too much.


 
Released:  1987
CPU:      3.54 MHz Zilog Z80A CPU
Memory: 128K RAM (Incl RAM Disk)
32K ROM (16K Rom for 48K-mode, 16K ROM for 128K-mode)
Display:  32 x 22 character text display
256 x 192 pixel resolution
Colours: 8 colours
Sound:  AY-3-8912A, 1 channel, 5 octaves
I/O:   Z80 bus, tape, RF television, RS232, RGB
Storage:   Internal tape recorder

Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128 +3

Released:  1988
CPU:      3.54 MHz Zilog Z80A CPU
Memory: 128K RAM (Incl C/PM RAM Disk)
2 x 32K ROM (incl. plus3-DOS)
Display:  32 x 22 character text display
256 x 192 pixel resolution
Colours: 8 colours
Sound:  AY-3-8912A, 1 channel, 5 octaves
I/O:   Z80 bus, tape, RF television, RS232, RGB
Storage:   Internal 3" Disk Drive

 
 
 
 
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