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(presented as if written in 1982)
Hello reader. If you've picked up this review, maybe while browsing the shelves in your cosy local WHSmiths or Woolies, then you're probably interested in Sir Clive Sinclair's new wonder device.
Across the pond they have the Commodore 64, but the Spectrum offers a cheaper route in to home computing and much, much more. If you've ever stared longingly at an Atari 2600 or have an eye for Nintendo's cute little NES device, then the Spectrum may be the answer you were looking for.
The kit comes in a lovely black cardboard box with that distinctive rainbow on the front. Once plucked from its packaging, the Spectrum itself is a tiny affair with small blue rubber keys, a lead to connect it to a tape recorder, another for the TV and a power cable.
Setting up the Spectrum takes about 5 to 10 minutes and as soon as the TV is tuned in it's all ready to go. The best place to start is with the starter tape that comes with the device. Programs from Melbourne House show the power of the machine with wireframed 3D images coming to life and the excellent Breakout game which will prove just how far we've come from the Atari console's low resolution with its impressive 256×192 pixel display as well as a full 16 colour palette. The only downside is that you can only use 2 colours in a block of pixels.
There are tons of games already on sale, just check out your local Boots store or WHSmiths for more titles including Hungry Horace, Kosmic Kanga and Jet Set Willy. All of these will give you hours of enjoyment from just a few minutes of loading via your personal cassette player.
Aside from games already available, the biggest strength of the Sinclair machine is its ability to use a very easy to learn basic language to create games. Using the well written manual provided, I've already managed to make a horse racing gambling game and a simple jumping game. Imagine what you'll be able to do after a week or a year? These titles can then be saved back to tape so that you can share them with your friends.
With my Spectrum I've managed to get hold of a joystick which plugs in to the back of the computer with an interface cartridge. This is already supported by many games and provides an even more arcade-like experience. With companies like Ocean, US Gold and Elite already gearing up to provide versions of current arcade games like Gauntlet and California Games, they'll never be a need to visit the arcades with bunches of 10p pieces again.
The Sinclair Spectrum is the start of a revolution in computing and gaming. With computers able to play a whole load of new games, surely consoles are now a thing of the past?
10/10
Hello reader. If you've picked up this review, maybe while browsing the shelves in your cosy local WHSmiths or Woolies, then you're probably interested in Sir Clive Sinclair's new wonder device.
Across the pond they have the Commodore 64, but the Spectrum offers a cheaper route in to home computing and much, much more. If you've ever stared longingly at an Atari 2600 or have an eye for Nintendo's cute little NES device, then the Spectrum may be the answer you were looking for.
The kit comes in a lovely black cardboard box with that distinctive rainbow on the front. Once plucked from its packaging, the Spectrum itself is a tiny affair with small blue rubber keys, a lead to connect it to a tape recorder, another for the TV and a power cable.
Setting up the Spectrum takes about 5 to 10 minutes and as soon as the TV is tuned in it's all ready to go. The best place to start is with the starter tape that comes with the device. Programs from Melbourne House show the power of the machine with wireframed 3D images coming to life and the excellent Breakout game which will prove just how far we've come from the Atari console's low resolution with its impressive 256×192 pixel display as well as a full 16 colour palette. The only downside is that you can only use 2 colours in a block of pixels.
There are tons of games already on sale, just check out your local Boots store or WHSmiths for more titles including Hungry Horace, Kosmic Kanga and Jet Set Willy. All of these will give you hours of enjoyment from just a few minutes of loading via your personal cassette player.
Aside from games already available, the biggest strength of the Sinclair machine is its ability to use a very easy to learn basic language to create games. Using the well written manual provided, I've already managed to make a horse racing gambling game and a simple jumping game. Imagine what you'll be able to do after a week or a year? These titles can then be saved back to tape so that you can share them with your friends.
With my Spectrum I've managed to get hold of a joystick which plugs in to the back of the computer with an interface cartridge. This is already supported by many games and provides an even more arcade-like experience. With companies like Ocean, US Gold and Elite already gearing up to provide versions of current arcade games like Gauntlet and California Games, they'll never be a need to visit the arcades with bunches of 10p pieces again.
The Sinclair Spectrum is the start of a revolution in computing and gaming. With computers able to play a whole load of new games, surely consoles are now a thing of the past?
10/10
Enjoyed read that pb,
One of my colleagues actually used to work for Clive Sinclair, said he really was as mad as a box of frogs!
One invention apart, most of his ideas were actually pretty revolutionary (especially considering that he came up with them 3 decades ago). As well as gaming, affordable home computers have become useful and part of our daily lives and even the thinking behind his ill fated Zike didn't turn out to be that far off the mark. Electric bikes are now starting to become big business (apparently the German market is massive).
One of my colleagues actually used to work for Clive Sinclair, said he really was as mad as a box of frogs!
One invention apart, most of his ideas were actually pretty revolutionary (especially considering that he came up with them 3 decades ago). As well as gaming, affordable home computers have become useful and part of our daily lives and even the thinking behind his ill fated Zike didn't turn out to be that far off the mark. Electric bikes are now starting to become big business (apparently the German market is massive).
(presented as if written in 1982)
Hello reader. If you've picked up this review, maybe while browsing the shelves in your cosy local WHSmiths or Woolies, then you're probably interested in Sir Clive Sinclair's new wonder device.
Across the pond they have the Commodore 64, but the Spectrum offers a cheaper route in to home computing and much, much more. If you've ever stared longingly at an Atari 2600 or have an eye for Nintendo's cute little NES device, then the Spectrum may be the answer you were looking for.
The kit comes in a lovely black cardboard box with that distinctive rainbow on the front. Once plucked from its packaging, the Spectrum itself is a tiny affair with small blue rubber keys, a lead to connect it to a tape recorder, another for the TV and a power cable.
Setting up the Spectrum takes about 5 to 10 minutes and as soon as the TV is tuned in it's all ready to go. The best place to start is with the starter tape that comes with the device. Programs from Melbourne House show the power of the machine with wireframed 3D images coming to life and the excellent Breakout game which will prove just how far we've come from the Atari console's low resolution with its impressive 256×192 pixel display as well as a full 16 colour palette. The only downside is that you can only use 2 colours in a block of pixels.
There are tons of games already on sale, just check out your local Boots store or WHSmiths for more titles including Hungry Horace, Kosmic Kanga and Jet Set Willy. All of these will give you hours of enjoyment from just a few minutes of loading via your personal cassette player.
Aside from games already available, the biggest strength of the Sinclair machine is its ability to use a very easy to learn basic language to create games. Using the well written manual provided, I've already managed to make a horse racing gambling game and a simple jumping game. Imagine what you'll be able to do after a week or a year? These titles can then be saved back to tape so that you can share them with your friends.
With my Spectrum I've managed to get hold of a joystick which plugs in to the back of the computer with an interface cartridge. This is already supported by many games and provides an even more arcade-like experience. With companies like Ocean, US Gold and Elite already gearing up to provide versions of current arcade games like Gauntlet and California Games, they'll never be a need to visit the arcades with bunches of 10p pieces again.
The Sinclair Spectrum is the start of a revolution in computing and gaming. With computers able to play a whole load of new games, surely consoles are now a thing of the past?
10/10
Hello reader. If you've picked up this review, maybe while browsing the shelves in your cosy local WHSmiths or Woolies, then you're probably interested in Sir Clive Sinclair's new wonder device.
Across the pond they have the Commodore 64, but the Spectrum offers a cheaper route in to home computing and much, much more. If you've ever stared longingly at an Atari 2600 or have an eye for Nintendo's cute little NES device, then the Spectrum may be the answer you were looking for.
The kit comes in a lovely black cardboard box with that distinctive rainbow on the front. Once plucked from its packaging, the Spectrum itself is a tiny affair with small blue rubber keys, a lead to connect it to a tape recorder, another for the TV and a power cable.
Setting up the Spectrum takes about 5 to 10 minutes and as soon as the TV is tuned in it's all ready to go. The best place to start is with the starter tape that comes with the device. Programs from Melbourne House show the power of the machine with wireframed 3D images coming to life and the excellent Breakout game which will prove just how far we've come from the Atari console's low resolution with its impressive 256×192 pixel display as well as a full 16 colour palette. The only downside is that you can only use 2 colours in a block of pixels.
There are tons of games already on sale, just check out your local Boots store or WHSmiths for more titles including Hungry Horace, Kosmic Kanga and Jet Set Willy. All of these will give you hours of enjoyment from just a few minutes of loading via your personal cassette player.
Aside from games already available, the biggest strength of the Sinclair machine is its ability to use a very easy to learn basic language to create games. Using the well written manual provided, I've already managed to make a horse racing gambling game and a simple jumping game. Imagine what you'll be able to do after a week or a year? These titles can then be saved back to tape so that you can share them with your friends.
With my Spectrum I've managed to get hold of a joystick which plugs in to the back of the computer with an interface cartridge. This is already supported by many games and provides an even more arcade-like experience. With companies like Ocean, US Gold and Elite already gearing up to provide versions of current arcade games like Gauntlet and California Games, they'll never be a need to visit the arcades with bunches of 10p pieces again.
The Sinclair Spectrum is the start of a revolution in computing and gaming. With computers able to play a whole load of new games, surely consoles are now a thing of the past?
10/10