Sinclair · 1981
ZX81
The inexpensive Sinclair computer that helped start Britain’s home-computer boom.
- Released
- 1981
- CPU
- Z80 at 3.58 MHz
- RAM
- 1K, expandable to 32K
- ROM
- 8K
- Text
- 32×15, black and white
- Graphics
- 64×44, black and white
- Storage
- Tape
The successor to the ZX80, this computer replaced much of the discrete logic with a ULA. Further cost reductions included the membrane keyboard and a television interface driven directly by the CPU. The television and tape interfaces were shared, producing some distinctive patterns while loading and saving.
A dedicated electrostatic printer was available, printing on a narrow roll of silver paper. This machine was really the start of the home-computer revolution.