Sinclairicity vs Spectrumness Chart

RC 1.0

Updates:
- Added #JupiterAce by popular demand.
- Added #EnterpriseComputer 64 & 128
- Re-assessed position of SAM and Ace taking account of their respective makers' past and direct ties to Sinclair Research.
- SAM, Ace, and Enterprise are not considered clones, nor are they compatible systems.
- More labels added.

Please lmk what you think before 1.0. Thank you!

#ZxSpectrum #Speccy #retrocomputing #Sinclair #TimexSinclair #SAMCoupe #TK95 #TK90X

Spectrumness vs Sinclairicity

Updated:
- Added Harlequin
- Added Czerweny models
- Added Timex models
- Added Unipolbrit Komputer
- Added Inves Plus
- Added maker labels
- Distinction of +2 variants

This is only Western Europe and the Americas. I have no clue how to approach a map of the multiplicity and vast richness of Eastern speckies, which won't fit a simple chart. If you have any ideas, let me know.

#ZxSpectrum #Speccy #retrocomputing #TS2068 #TK90X #TK95 #Czerweny #TimexSinclair

#ZXSpectrum-like computers made in the Americas:

- BR #TK90X (early, with DIN joystick port)

- BR TK90X (later, with DB9 joystick port)

- US Timex Sinclair 2068

- AR #CzSpectrum

At least 2 other #Speccy were made I've been unable to source yet:

- BR #TK95 - by #Microdigital of #Brazil, improved keyboard, improved 48k compatibility, PT and ES characters, and an UDG editor.

- AR #CZ2000 - by #Czewerny of #Argentina, same case and same electronics of the Sinclair 48k

#retrocomputing

Advertisement excerpt from the magazine Micro Sistemas published in Brazil, issue Nov 1986. Among ads for the then-incipient IBM PC market, and Z80 assembler listings, there was this ad promoting games for sale that could be run on the #TK90X, clearly all "imports" that were debugged and made compatible with the ZX Spectrum clone. Just loved the game Robin of Sherwood: "A graphic adventure featuring Robin Wood".

PDF download:
https://datassette.s3.us-west-004.backblazeb2.com/revistas/micro_sistemas_062.pdf

#ZXSpectrum #Speccy #clone #retrocomputing

Oh lookie! I've just made a chart!

It's guaranteed to contain errors, wrong interpretations, and possibly a few valid points. Please let me know if you think there's something that you believe should be represented differently.
Thank you!

#Spectrumness #Sinclairicity #TimexSinclair #ZXSpectrum #Microdigital #TK90X #TS2068 #SamCoupe #Speccy #TK90 #TK95 #ZX81 #SpectrumNext #retrocomputing

#TK90X Unit #2 Status:

- Importantly: It works!! 😂

- The keyboard works! Zero flaws! (better than Unit #1 which had 2 dead keys)

- I knew in advance it that the DC adapter was dead, but looking at it now, it could be just a matter of replacing its cable.

Issues:
- Unit #2 sometimes doesn't start up, say 25% of the time. Symptom: typical black bands displayed when RAM is faulty. It's dirty, it could be just a matter of giving it a deep clean.

#Speccy #ZXSpectrum #clone #retrocomputing

For comparison, the back of the two #TK90X units with different joystick ports. I haven't read whether these two units are two different models, or they're the same model that had more than one release with these visible hardware alterations. And I'm not even digging into the firmware yet! This is exciting! A bit like geology and paleontology meet electronics and software 🙂

#Speccy #ZXSpectrum #clone #TK90X #retrocomputing

I've just got the second #TK90X which arrived in the mail just now.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TK90X

My first Impressions:

1. The computer is slightly dirty but in better shape than the first TK90X unit I got last week (without knocks). Hopefully the membrane is good too!

2. The AC adapter is the original, but it's dead. Not a problem, easy to replace.

3. Unlike the other TK90X which has a DIN port labeled "joystick", this unit has a DB9 port instead.

#Speccy #clone #retrocomputing #ZXSpectrum

TK90X x2:
Days ago I found a second #TK90X unit available for sale in El Calafate, Argentina, an area known for its glaciers and lakes near the southernmost end of the Andes, which is an odd ice-covered place to find a Brazilian ZX Spectrum clone.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Calafate

I bought it and the post tracking service says that it has moved further down south to a logistics centre in Rio Gallegos, before it is dispatched and delivered to me next week.

#retrocomputing???

TK90X update:

1. With 38 years of age, in glorious moiré pattern, an adjustment signal screen and ©1982 Sinclair nowhere to be seen.

2. It took me ages to find the TV signal because it's not using a lower channel (3 | 4), it's 'airing' in channel 36 (wtf?) when attached to the coax input of a modern TV.

3. The few things that don't work are the number 1 key, and the Space/break key.

4. Notice the new command UDG available with Symbol Shift.

#TK90X #Speccy #ZXSpectrum #clone #retrocomputing

Learning more about the Speccy clone TK90X from a Portuguese language manual available here.
https://archive.org/details/microdigital-tk-90-x-manual-de-operaciones/page/n93/mode/2up
As it turns out the TK90X ROM included extra characters used in Portuguese and Spanish and also a few new BASIC instructions. Most notably the command UDG, which is used to manipulate user-defined characters. (a friendly shorthand for the equivalent POKE USR sequences in the original ZX Spectrum)

#TK90X #TK90 #Speccy #ZXSpectrum #retrocomputing

A second TK90X is coming my way in the post right now, one which I was able to source through a guy who lives in El Calafate, Argentina. That's very nearly the bottom of South America and against the Andes mountains.

The near future is weird in ways that even @GreatDismal would probably consider too fictitious to print.

#retrocomputing #tk90x #ZxSpectrum #clone

I've just got my hands this very minute on this little weird TK90X (a Brazilian ZX Spectrum 48k clone)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TK90X

It has a couple of knocks, I'll be lucky if the rubber keyboard works at all. I hadn't realised that it comes with a DIN port labeled "joystick". We'll see what can I do with this.
#Speccy #tk90x #ZXSpectrum #clone #retrocomputing

Learning more about the Speccy clone TK90X from a Portuguese language manual available here.
https://archive.org/details/microdigital-tk-90-x-manual-de-operaciones/page/n93/mode/2up
As it turns out the TK90X ROM included extra characters used in that language and also a few new BASIC instructions. Most notably the command UDG, which is used to manipulate user-defined characters. (a friendly shorthand for the equivalent POKE USR sequences in the original ZX Spectrum)

#TK90X #TK90 #Speccy #ZXSpectrum #retrocomputing

I got me this clone, TK90X made by Microdigital which is said to be more compatible with the ZX Spectrum than the Timex Sinclair. Notice the start screen is different from the traditional ©1982 Sinclair Research notice.

I believe (but I'm not sure) that the difference between the TK90 and the TK90X is that the TK90X is equivalent to the ZX Spectrum 48k (X would stand for eXtended I suppose) and the X-less model is analogous to the 16k.

#ZXSpectrum #Speccy #clone #TK90X #TK90 #retrocomputing