Actually, it is good to see that a mention of the 30+ year old computer that is the Sinclair ZX81 gets such a good reaction.
Recent years have seen an upsurge in interest in the computer, and it still remains a good tool for teaching good programming practices (lots of people like the challenge of squeezing good software into 1K or 16K) and even basic electronics as the Z80A processor is good for linking in your own devices.
I am amazed that having started selling replacement keyboard membranes in late 2008, I have sold nearly 1000 membranes for the ZX81 !
I also launched the ZX80/ZX81 forums http://www.rwapservices.co.uk/ZX80_ZX81/forums/ a couple of years ago and this has helped inspire new software and hardware.
From a software point of view, 2011 saw plenty of launches of classic games, such as Virus, Miner Man and even Nanako in Classic Japanese Monster Castle '81 by the Mojon Twins. Even the Quill Adventure Writer has been adapted to run on the machine.
Hardware development also increased during 2011 with the launch of the ZXpand (32K + SD Card interface), two AY sound interfaces (ZXpand-AY and the MrX Sound Board) and even the ZX-ULA2, a replacement ULA which offers a turbo mode for the machine - available through http://www.sellmyretro.com/
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Actually, it is good to see that a mention of the 30+ year old computer that is the Sinclair ZX81 gets such a good reaction. Recent years have seen an upsurge in interest in the computer, and it still remains a good tool for teaching good programming practices (lots of people like the challenge of squeezing good software into 1K or 16K) and even basic electronics as the Z80A processor is good for linking in your own devices. I am amazed that having started selling replacement keyboard membranes in late 2008, I have sold nearly 1000 membranes for the ZX81 ! I also launched the ZX80/ZX81 forums http://www.rwapservices.co.uk/ZX80_ZX81/forums/ a couple of years ago and this has helped inspire new software and hardware. From a software point of view, 2011 saw plenty of launches of classic games, such as Virus, Miner Man and even Nanako in Classic Japanese Monster Castle '81 by the Mojon Twins. Even the Quill Adventure Writer has been adapted to run on the machine. Hardware development also increased during 2011 with the launch of the ZXpand (32K + SD Card interface), two AY sound interfaces (ZXpand-AY and the MrX Sound Board) and even the ZX-ULA2, a replacement ULA which offers a turbo mode for the machine - available through http://www.sellmyretro.com/