Changes

The Sinclair '''ZX Spectrum''' is a home [[computer]] that was popular in the early and mid 1980's, developed by Sinclair Research, in Cambridge, [[United Kingdom]] as an evolution of the earlier ZX81.  

The Sinclair '''ZX Spectrum''' is a home [[computer]] that was popular in the early and mid 1980's, developed by Sinclair Research, in Cambridge, [[United Kingdom]] as an evolution of the earlier ZX81.  

It is based around the Zilog Z80 CPU clocked at 3.5Mhz, which was initially developed for pocket calculators, where Sir Clive Sinclair had originally begun his entry into mass market electronics. The Z80 is still in production, and remains used in many scientific and graphical calculators. The use of this CPU allowed both he ZX81 and the Spectrum successors to undercut other brands on price in the fiercely competetive 80's home computer market. All Spectrums use the CP/M operating system.

It is based around the Zilog Z80 CPU clocked at 3.5Mhz, which was initially developed for pocket calculators, where Sir Clive Sinclair had originally begun his entry into mass market electronics. The Z80 is still in production, and remains used in many scientific and graphical calculators. The use of this CPU allowed both he ZX81 and the Spectrum successors to undercut other brands on price in the fiercely competitive 80's home computer market. All Spectrums use the CP/M operating system.

== Family ==

== Family ==

* Spectrum +2: A cost reduced version of the 128k with a built in tape deck, still a common external data storage medium at the time for home computers. The keyboard from the Amstrad CPC range was also used instead of the previous Sinclair design. Came in a grey case, rather than the normal Sinclair black.

* Spectrum +2: A cost reduced version of the 128k with a built in tape deck, still a common external data storage medium at the time for home computers. The keyboard from the Amstrad CPC range was also used instead of the previous Sinclair design. Came in a grey case, rather than the normal Sinclair black.

* Spectrum +3: As above but with a unusual 3" disk drive format, as used by Amstrad on the CPC and PCW range of computers instead of the tape deck, and in a black case.

* Spectrum +3: As above but with an unusual 3" disk drive format, as used by Amstrad on the CPC and PCW range of computers instead of the tape deck, and in a black case.

== Peripherals ==

== Peripherals ==

== Popular Culture ==

== Popular Culture ==

The Spectrum is widely and fondly remembered in [[Britain]] by those who grew up in the 1980's, and many of the games developed for the system by home programmers paved the way for many of the leading European software houses of today. It also taught a generation the basics of computer science and programming, due to the popularity of "program your own game" articles in Spectrum fan magazines, as well as numerous contests. In addition due to the limited functionality of the basic machine, many users "hacked" their computer to add additional functionality.

The Spectrum is widely and fondly remembered in [[Britain]] by those who grew up in the 1980s, and many of the games developed for the system by home programmers paved the way for many of the leading European software houses of today. It also taught a generation the basics of computer science and programming, due to the popularity of "program your own game" articles in Spectrum fan magazines, as well as numerous contests. In addition due to the limited functionality of the basic machine, many users "hacked" their computer to add additional functionality.

== Soviet and Eastern Bloc Clones ==

== Soviet and Eastern Bloc Clones ==

Spectrum compatible machines were widely produced in the Eastern Bloc and [[Soviet Union]] up until the mid 1990's. They were produced by various different enterprises, often only semi-officially. The clones served in a much wider variety of uses than in Europe, and were used in schools and other institutions as well as for home use, and as such some were considerably more advanced than the basic low-cost models in Europe, including models clocked at up to 25Mhz. Due to this several attempts were made to import them once the iron curtain came down, as they had considerable appeal to hardware enthusiasts who did not want to abandon the Spectrum platform for the "conformity" of the PC. However, copyright issues prevented this.  

Spectrum compatible machines were widely produced in the Eastern Bloc and [[Soviet Union]] up until the mid 1990s. They were produced by various different enterprises, often only semi-officially. The clones served in a much wider variety of uses than in Europe, and were used in schools and other institutions as well as for home use, and as such some were considerably more advanced than the basic low-cost models in Europe, including models clocked at up to 25Mhz. Due to this several attempts were made to import them once the iron curtain came down, as they had considerable appeal to hardware enthusiasts who did not want to abandon the Spectrum platform for the "conformity" of the PC. However, copyright issues prevented this.