Lord-Chaos Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 I wonder if these 2 systems were available in the US? The Sinclair Spectrum , which was available as 16K, 48K, 128K machine and later as +3 with 3" drive. A Z80 based machine from the UK, which sold well in the Uk, bu was available everywhere in Europe. and the Amstrad CPC 464/664/6128 (and the Plus models) , another Z80 based-machine which used built-in cassette drives or built-in 3" drives. I think the Amstrad was most successful in France, but also in Germany and the UK. Especially the Spectrum has many 3D games, wireframe or isometric, unfortunately 99% is cassette-only. The Amstrad unfortunately got many 1:1 Spectrum ports, but it´s graphics is not bad, in some cases better than ATARI 800 or C64 - but has no scrolling/sprites (same for the Spectrum). Both machines are very common in Europe and are quite cheap on flea-markets. BTW: What about MSX-Systems in the US ? In Europe, some like the Sony Hitbit or a Philipps System were available for some time, but not successful - but there are many Japanese games on cartridge from Konami for example. Thimo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 The ZX81 was pretty popular in North America (for a few years), and I'm sure a few owners upgraded their systems to newer and more powerful Spectrum models in the mid '80s. I do, in any case, run across the odd QL or ZX Spectrum occasionally at thrift stores or garage sales. I never did see Amstrad or MSX machines being sold in brick-and-mortar stores in the '80s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icbrkr Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 I wonder if these 2 systems were available in the US? The Sinclair Spectrum , which was available as 16K, 48K, 128K machine and later as +3 with 3" drive. A Z80 based machine from the UK, which sold well in the Uk, bu was available everywhere in Europe. The Timex Sinclair 1000 (ZX81) was my first computer. I still have 4 of them. The Timex Sinclair 2068 ( http://www.particles.org/ts/DSCF0036.JPG ) was basically a 48K Sinclair Spectrum with a different memory configuration. You could buy a cartridge that would remap RAM correctly and allow you to run Spectrum software. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeybastard Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 The Sinclairs were marketed by Timex here in the US but that's about all I remember about them. EDIT: looks like a bucnh of us answered at the same time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian M Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 The ZX81, I believe was distributed in the US by TIMEX (yes, the watch company). I doubt it had any real success in the States since many know nothing about it, nor is it brought up whenever the topic of early computing comes up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc74 Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 Planet Sinclair has a load of stuff on the various TS models, including some prototypes that were never released. http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/...timex/timex.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad2600 Posted February 5, 2004 Share Posted February 5, 2004 I have a Timex Sinclair 1000..though I have no clue if it works. I might be putting it up on Bidiots one of these days. I don't really want it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raindog Posted February 6, 2004 Share Posted February 6, 2004 BTW: What about MSX-Systems in the US ? In Europe, some like the Sony Hitbit or a Philipps System were available for some time, but not successful - but there are many Japanese games on cartridge from Konami for example. The place I bought my DX7 at (piano/organ store in a mall) circa 1983 also tried to sell us the Yamaha MSX "music computer". I had just gotten a c64 and was appalled at how lousy the MSX seemed for the exorbitant price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveW Posted February 6, 2004 Share Posted February 6, 2004 I saw a few Amstrad PDA-type machines a few years back. They looked like they came out in the early 90's, but didn't sell well. I saw a few piles of them in an electronic junk shop a couple of years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniperCCJVQ Posted February 8, 2004 Share Posted February 8, 2004 I have a Amstrad CPC6128 to sell or trade if someone is looking for one. As-is since i can't test it. Got it in a trade with a european. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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