QUANTUM LEAP - the tragic end of a genius.

<b>QUANTUM LEAP</b> - the tragic end of a genius.


 QUANTUM LEAP - the tragic end of GENIUS



     SPECTRUM QL - machine is so interesting how a 
little-known, at least in Russia, so let me fill this gap and 
to devote her whole Section ...


     It all began with the fact that watching the next issue of 
the Navigator Online Peace, I stumbled on the bulk article on 
the Spectrum. There was also information on the QL. Some 
supplement their knowledge about this car from the INTERNET, I 
decided to bring this up to you. I hope, will interesting ...


    After three years since the legendary ZX-SPECTRUM, market 
8bitnyh machines for Sir Clive Sinclair was practically lost, 
and he completely lost interest to his famous creation. The 
models SPECTRUM +, SPECTRUM +2 and SPECTRUM +3 were 
insignificant jump in future. They are completely overshadowed 
by the machine to his senses, and that time COMMODORE ATARI. As 
the graphics are not 128 cars Sinclair could compete with the 
aforementioned computer companies, approaching them only for 
music (and even then only approaching). Sinclair is not 
interested the position of his earlier projects. In what

was that? Explain such mistake on the part of Sinclair could 
only new computer submitted in 1984 - Spectrum QL.

All efforts have been directed Developers
exactly on QL.

     Model QUANTUM LEAP (QL) was announced in 1984 and by the 
end of the year began to be marketed. Conceived it Yes, with a 
focus business programs - text editors, spreadsheets, 
databases, etc., rather than computer games. Concept

QL - PLUG IN AND GO (familiar, does not it?)
that is, your computer came with everything needed to complete 
the work, including software. In addition to wide

set of business programs, it included a number of
(!!!), emulators such as PC Conqueror
and AQmulator for Atari 520ST. The car was
built on a 32-bit processor
Motorola 68008, had a 128 Kb RAM, expandable to 768 Kb IBM and 
AT-like keyboard (89 keys). Graphics regimes were as follows: 
512h256 in 4 colors 256x256 at 8 and simultaneously displayed 
colors from a palette of 256 colors. Operating QDOS system 
support true multitasking, and allowed to open up to eight 
applications simultaneously. 

    Very successful architecture QUANTUM LEAP
contributed to the emergence of an incredible number of 
extension board and the extension card. These were the network 
adapters, controllers hard and floppy disks (the computer only 
comes with mikrodrayvom, affected long-standing "love," Sir 
Sinclair to data storage devices), hardware emulators, and 
graphics cards, and an insane number of interfaces it is better 
not mention. The choice was very rich.

Completely justified and the emergence of QL clones
SANDY Q-XT 640, PC FUTURA, CST THOR I-XVI.
The latter, incidentally, has the unique ability to dynamically 
change the layout keyboard by switching the ROM, and the 
following configuration: 40MB HDD, 2h720 FDD, 16-bit graphics 
(!!!) and the possibility of expanding VIDEO RAM up to 2Mb. 
Impressive, Is it true? In addition, the appearance of no less 
than impressed. A neat black box " rectangular shape on the 
left - the keyboard, located right under the hood all the 
electronic "filling" of the computer. Generally, all Model of 
Sir Sinclair (including even the ZX81) had a black hull, which 
gave of an additional effect.


     However, the positioning of U.S.
market by ATARI, the lack of flexible
pricing policy, serious organizational shortcomings and a lack 
of close contacts with the developers of software have made 
their black business. SPECTRUM QL was unable to repeat

success of its predecessor (we
mind naturally ZX-SPECTRUM). Financial
results for the year 1986 led by Clive Sinclair sold all rights 
to the production and sale of all models Spectrum French 
Company AMSTRAD. : ((( Later AMSTRAD released enhanced versions 
of ZX SPECTRUM +2 and +3, but all the "improvements" were 
reduced to adding drives, joysticks and other things, that only 
raises the price. 



    That was the end (not in principle
and having time to start) epic excellent computer genius 
engineer, but failed merchant, gave birth to the ZX-SPECTRUM.



Yx