#COMPUTING WITH THE AMSTRAD

[retrocgads]

UK 1987

[vgadvisor]

[wormstarrcat]

edgar from electric dreams and a redesign for one of my older ocs, both done on magma :]

[yodaprod]

1984

[tricksterontheweb]

Tatung Einstein Computer

Amstrad CPC 6128

[yellowmanula]

We're launching another edition of limited postcards 👻👽 If you're interested, send me a DM

[techtimechronicles24]

🇬🇧 Immerse yourself in the captivating world of computing through the Sinclair ZX Spectrum—a groundbreaking microcomputer that captured the imagination of an entire generation!

🌟 In 1980, the visionary British entrepreneur and scientist, Sir Clive Sinclair, entered the home computer market with the ZX80 priced at £99.95, marking the era's most affordable personal computer in the United Kingdom. A year later, the ZX81 hit the high street, introducing home computing to a generation, with over 1.5 million units sold.

💻 Released in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd., the Sinclair ZX Spectrum swiftly became one of the most iconic home computers of its time. It dominated the UK's computer sales market, fiercely competing against Commodore and Amstrad. This compact and budget-friendly machine brought computing into countless households.

🕹️ Powered by the Zilog Z80A CPU running at 3.5 MHz and equipped with either 16 KB or 48 KB of RAM, the ZX Spectrum sported a sleek, compact design resembling a keyboard with rubber keys, making it innovative and approachable. Its graphics and sound capabilities were ahead of their time, enabling vibrant games and applications.

⌨️ One of the ZX Spectrum's standout features was its vast library of games. From classics like "Manic Miner" and "Jet Set Willy" to innovative titles developed by enthusiasts, the Spectrum's game collection remains a cherished part of gaming history. The computer's BASIC programming language also inspired users to create their own software.

🖥 Despite modest hardware specifications, the ZX Spectrum nurtured a lively community of developers and enthusiasts, serving as a gateway into the world of programming and digital creativity.

🚀 Over its lifespan, the ZX Spectrum evolved with new models, including the ZX Spectrum+, ZX Spectrum 128, and ZX Spectrum +2, each offering enhanced performance and features while retaining the beloved design.

📺 The ZX Spectrum's impact extended beyond its hardware, playing a pivotal role in the British computing scene, inspiring future generations of programmers and entrepreneurs. Its legacy resonates in modern computing and gaming through emulators and remakes that keep its spirit alive.

📊 At the peak of its success and largely inspired by the Japanese Fifth Generation Computer program, the company established the "MetaLab" research centre at Milton Hall near Cambridge to pursue advanced projects like artificial intelligence, wafer-scale integration, and formal verification.

💔 Financial difficulties in 1985, brought on by the failures of the Sinclair QL computer and the TV80 pocket television, led Sinclair to sell the rights to its computer products and brand name to Amstrad in 1986. Sinclair Research Ltd continued as a one-man company, marketing Clive Sinclair's inventions until his passing in September 2021.

[pixelfireplace]

Amstrad 6128 plus - 1990

source: PixelatedArcade

[basic-retro-programming]

Above you can see all computer models.

Post #266: Opinion Poll by "Basic Retro Programming", Question: Which home computer was or would have been your favourite between the 1970s and 1980s, 2023.

[technoplanet]

amstrad cpc (colour personal computer)

[pluralzalpha]

One last little run of classic games consoles? These are all 80s and early 90s machines, so we're coming into the era of things I was actually playing with first time round.

The Sega Master System of 1986, the western version of the Sega Mark III, and below, the somewhat cheaper 1990 Master System II. In my day, you were either a Sega or Nintendo household. We were resolutely Nintendo, but we played the Master System II at our neighbour's (that was permitted by the terms of rivalry).

The 1987 European model Atari 7800. Never used the Atari, they were waning by the time I was playing, but I love the design. They had backwards compatibility, which it took forever for the others to catch onto.

The Casio P1000. Short-lived, Japan only, but God, isn't it gorgeous? From 1983. I feel like you could climb inside and live TRON.

The Action Max by WoW from 1987. Beautiful looking bit of kit, but it played games on VHS tapes! You had to plug the Action Max into a VCR and the VCR into the TV. Some games were based on movies which must have led to some error purchases.

The Amstrad GX-4000, a British console released in 1990. Cheap but with great graphics, but the games were crap so it flopped.

VTech Socrates from 1988. Known in European markets as translations of Professor Know-It-All. This was an educational system with limited games but it's a lovely design.

The Systema TV Boy Mk. II (1992 I think). I had one of these, it was terrible. It had over 100 games programmed in, but they were shoddily ported knock-offs of Atari games.

The Sega Mega Drive, or the Genesis if you're American. The original version came out in Japan in 1988, we got it in 1990. I played a lot on these at friends' places after they upgraded from the Master System, until we got:

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, 1992 UK edition. Abbreviated lots of ways, we always called it the SNES. In Japan it was the Super Famicom, released 1990. The Mega Drive might have looked cooler, but the SNES had the very best games - OK, half of them were the same, but Sega didn't have Mario or Donkey Kong.

[retrocgads]

UK 1987

[arconinternet]

Cholo (In-browser, ZX Spectrum/C64/Amstrad CPC, Solid Image, 1987)

A robot-hacking FPS in 1987. You can play it in your browser here. Controls may include numpad and/or function keys.

[legacydevice]

Amstrad ALT-286

[yodaprod]

80s gaming.

[vinspixels]

Amstrad PCW 8256