Sinclair ZX80

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The Sinclair ZX80 was a home computer brought to market in 1980 by Sinclair Research of Cambridge, England. It was notable for being the first computer available in the UK for under £100 (a price tag of £99.95 for the ready-built model). It was available in kit form, where purchasers had to assemble and solder it together, and as a ready-built version at a slightly higher cost for those without the skill or inclination to build their own unit. The ZX80 was very popular straight away, and for some time there was a waiting list of several months for either version of the machine.

The ZX80's name comes from the computer's Z80 microprocessor which runs at 3.25MHz. The computer featured 1K of RAM and 4K of ROM. The computer was housed in a small plastic case and at the rear had a 44-pin edge connector and four sockets - mic, ear and power, and phono socket for a coaxial lead to connect your computer to a TV.

The ZX80 was the first computer from Sinclair to use Sinclair Basic, a version of the Basic programming language. Sinclair Basic was developed for the ZX80 by John Grant and Steve Vickers from Nine Tiles and was used in the Sinclair ZX80, ZX81 and ZX Spectrum. The Basic commands were not entered by typing them out but instead by pressing one of the keyboard keys, each which had a command associated with them.

Manufacturer: Sinclair
Date: 1st June 1980

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Sinclair ZX80 Manuals:

Item Manufacturer Date
Sinclair ZX80 Assembly Instructions and ZX81 Additions Sinclair 1980

Magazines RELATED to Sinclair ZX80 in our Library

Item Manufacturer Date
Personal Computer World - April 1980 Apr 1980
Computer Age - February 1981 Computer Age Feb 1981
Personal Computer World - August 1981 1 Aug 1981
Personal Computer World - November 1981 Nov 1981

Other Systems Related To Sinclair ZX80:

Item Manufacturer Date
Prototype of MK14 Sinclair 1977
Science of Cambridge MK 14 + Original Keyboard Sinclair 1977
Science of Cambridge MK 14 - Original Kit Sinclair 1977
Science of Cambridge MK14 + Memory Expansion in wooden case Sinclair 1977
Science of Cambridge MK14 Sinclair 1977
Sinclair ZX80 8K Basic Sinclair 1980
Sinclair ZX81 with Basic EPROM Sinclair 1980
Sinclair ZX80 Prototype PDZ 4732 Basic ROM - Nine Tiles Sinclair 1980
Sinclair ZX80 Updated to ZX81 Sinclair 1980
Sinclair ZX81 Kit Sinclair 1981
Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype Sinclair 1981
Sinclair ZX81 Sinclair 1981
Sinclair ZX81 - Signed by Rick Dickinson Sinclair 5th March 1981
Sinclair ZX81 with Custom Case/Keyboard Sinclair 5th March 1981
Argentinian Sinclair Spectrum Sinclair 1982
Sinclair Spectrum with Homemade Keyboard Sinclair 1982
White Replica ZX Spectrum (Millionth Edition) Sinclair 1982
Early Sinclair ZX Spectrum Computer Sinclair 1982
Timex Sinclair 1000 Sinclair 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum Console Sinclair 1982
ZX Spectrum Issue 2 With ULA Modification Sinclair 1982
Timex Sinclair 1500 Sinclair 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K (BBC) Sinclair 1st March 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum Case (Signed) Sinclair 1st March 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum Computer - Early Issue Sinclair 23rd April 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k Sinclair 23rd April 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum 16K Sinclair 23rd April 1982
Sinclair Spectrum (Assembled in Portugal) Sinclair 1983
Sinclair QL + Schön Keyboard Sinclair 1984
Sinclair QL (German) Sinclair 1984
Sinclair QL (Signed) Sinclair 1984
Sinclair QL (US) Sinclair 1984
Sinclair QL (Property of Sinclair) Sinclair 1984
Sinclair QL Sinclair 1984
Sinclair ZX Spectrum+ Sinclair 1st June 1984
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2 Sinclair 1986
Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128 Sinclair January 1986
Cambridge Z88 All In One Pack Sinclair 1987
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +3 (Currys Box) Sinclair 1st June 1987
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +3 Sinclair 1st June 1987
Sinclair PC200 Sinclair 1988
Cambridge Z88 With PC Link Kit Sinclair 1988
SJL 68008-PC Sinclair 1988

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH423. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

 

Sinclair ZX80

  Software Archive   [2]
  Peripherals   [5]

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