At your leisure - about the history of the creation of ZX-SPECTRUM, about its triumphant march through the markets of the world.

Faultless #04
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  ║Section:At your leisure;                     ║
  ║Article: News and a little history;     ║
  ║Music:CONT;                          ║
  ║Text: V. Alexander, B. Stanislav.       ║
  ╚═══════════════════ ═══════════════════╝

 Six months after the release of Win-
  dows 95 microsoft has finally released on
  14 Service Pack discs - addition to
  Windows 95 system, including new
  device drivers, software and administration tools
  nistrations previously available only
  on the Microsoft server. Included in the package
  included numerous system programs
  with bugs corrected. Micro-company
  soft delicately avoids the new package of up-
  grade, apparently, so as not to create
  rumors that the original version of Win-
  Dows 95 was far from perfect.Service
  Pack fixes most of the noticed-
  defects, including a puncture in
  peer-to-peer network security system
  NetWare; predictable network caching
  password; error in Office 95, leading to
  for inclusion in files of fragments of other
  other files deleted earlier; file truncation
  catch when they are accidentally copied onto
  yourself.
   The Service Pack also includes the following:
  current software products: Microsoft
  Internet Explorer 2.0, Microsoft Service
  for NetWare Directory Services,SLIP/dial
  upScripting (a means of writing a scene-
  access to the Internet).
   Microsoft Select TechNet customers and
  Microsoft Developer Network Service Pack
  will be sent automatically, the rest -
  you can download this pa-
  Internet connection from Microsoft servers or
  order for $14.95.

   Not long ago, Apple pleased us
  the first servers based on the operating system
  AIX systems, as well as two additions
  to the Workgroup Server series on MacOS.
   Models Network Server 500/132 and 700/150
  use a PowerPC 604 processor with so-
  frequency 133 MHz and 150 MHz respectively
  respectively, OC AIX 4.1.4, two controllers
  Fast and Wide SCSI-2 and dual-architecture
  PCI, supporting up to six slots
  PCI expansion. In addition, new servers
  have redundant fans and allow-
  they will perform a "hot" change of disk
  water supply. For model 700 it is provided
  possibility of additional installation of re-
  backup power system.Network Server
  500/132 has 512 KB of secondary cache
  th level, can support up to 24 GB
  memory on disks and has bays for installing
  six internal disk drives
  lei.Network Server 700/150 is released
  with 1 MB L2 cache and can
  support up to 32 GB of memory on eight
  built-in hard drives. Processor 604/150
  can be replaced with a faster one, like
  only himwill go on sale.
   Apple calls it a
  the children of their AIX servers are organized
  tions that have outgrown MacOS, however, mod-
  whether Workgroup Server continues to remain
  aimed at small workers
  group. This indicates that in
  while many other PC vendors
  try to offer solutions of scale
  enterprise, Apple maintains its focus
  tation unchanged.

   Nec will react to price reduction
  DRAM, completely collapsing its lines along
  production of 4 Mb microchips at a plant in
  California, currently releasing from 4 to 5
  million devices per month. Thanks to this
  the company will be able to double the production of high-
  level 16 Mb DRAM, bringing by the end of the year
  the volume of their monthly production is up to
  18 million pieces. Compression of the work schedule made it possible
  lit NEC to commission a new factory
  for the production of 16 Mb DRAM in Scotland is already in
  December - three months ahead of schedule.
   At the end of October, the three main suppliers
  information storage systems represent
  whether its new products.Seagate Technolo-
  gy has expanded its Meda drive family
  list and Marathon models with larger capacity
  for laptops and desktop systems.
   Western Digital Corporation in the Ca-series
  viar EIDE released 3-disc products
  with a capacity of 2.5 GB and 2.1 GB. And finally, com-
  Quantum company announced the release of three
  new disk drives, includingwhich are under-
  horny 5.25-inch drive, designed
  designed for home use
  conditions.

   All our readers will probably
  interesting to know about the history of creation
  ZX-SPECTRUM, about her triumphant march through
  markets of the world, about a new round of its popularity
  ty, but already in our country. about ups and downs
  the days experienced by its creator, Sir
  Clive Sinclair.
   Clive Marles Sinclair was born on July 30
  1940 While still a schoolboy, he began to print
  good articles in popular English
  magazines for radio amateurs. After graduating from school
  Lu, Sinclair did not go to university
  tet, but was accepted into one of these magazines
  lov as an assistant to the deputy re-
  doctor and worked for some time in
  legislation.In 1961, Clive decided to
  start a business and register
  founded his first company - SINCLAIR RA-
  DIONICS. Even then, having established production
  microamplifiers, and then calculators and
  miniature televisions, Sinclair set
  I have two super goals: minimal
  sizes and minimum price.
   In 1979, COMMODORE released
  la my first household computer PET with
  the lowest cost at that time
  700`. Newspapers then predicted that prices
  on personal computers will go down to
  100` no earlier than in 5 years. However
  within six months the company SINCLAIR RESE-
  ARCH LTD. - new brainchildClive Sinclair-
  released the ZX-80 computer at a price of 99`.Res-
  to whom the idea contributed to the price reduction
  use as a TV display
  zor, and as an external memory - everyday life
  howling tape recorder.
   The ZX-80 broke the conventional wisdom about computers, as
  about something accessible only to a select few - in
  first 8 months from the start of production
  20,000 computers were sold. In March
  In 1981, a new model appeared - ZX-81
  price is already 60`, and after a few months
  Syatsev - a printer for her. True, he listed
  Changing the parameters of this machine will cause
  you, at best, a smile: black and white
  screen, ROM capacity 8 kilobytes, RAM - 1 kilobyte
  lobyte(!) (albeit with the possibility of expansion)
  rhenium up to 16K).But for the beginning of the eighties
  since then it was a real discovery. In 1981
  year "for great services in computer science"
  terization of the country" (as we would say
  in those years) Sinclair was granted a double
  Ryan title.
   The period of rise of Sinclair-pre-
  Receiver: American company TIMEX Ku-
  saw a license to produce all of it
  development; MITSUMI acquired
  exclusive distribution rights
  ZX-81 in Japan. A decisive leap forward
  became an agreement on the sale of computers
  through the British bookselling network.For
  one year turnover of SINCLAIR
  RESEARCH LTD. grew from 4.6 to 30 million `.
   And Clive Sinclair was already preparing a new model
  del -ZX-SPECTRUM.Two have been developed
  versions of it that differ from each other
  RAM capacity - ZX-SPECT-
  RUM 16K and ZX-SPECTRUM 48K. The screen has become
  color, the ROM volume has increased to 16K, which
  significantly expanded the capabilities of built-in
  new operating system.Popularity
  ZX-SPECTRUM exceeded all expectations - in
  Up to 15,000 computers were sold out in a week.
   SPECTRUM was originally intended to be used
  use for learning programming
  nyu.However, companies specializing in
  software development, fast
  three appreciated the capabilities of the machine. For her
  not only translators began to be produced
  programming languages and educational programs
  frames, but also excellent video games. It turned out
  of your year is positive inverse
  communication: the better SPECTRUM sold out,
  the more actively programs were written for it
  we, and the more high-quality
  military programs, the higher it became
  demand for computer.
   The excitement around Sinclair's brainchild captured
  and companies manufacturing computer software
  peripherals: for ZX-SPECTRUM they are developing-
  x disk systems, interfaces for connecting
  turning on the light pen, joysticks, prin-
  Terov. The publishers did not stand aside either.
  flattery - are published specialized -
  magazines such as 'Sinclair User',
  'Your Sinclair', 'Your Spectrum'.In one
  of which ZX-SPECTRUM is affectionately called for the first time'Speccy'.
   Although by 1984 the companies ATARI, COMMO-
  DORE and AMSTRAD began to produce computers
  ters that exceed their capabilities
  yam ZX-SPECTRUM, the market has already been shifted to
  benefit SINCLAIR RESEARCH LTD. - Speccy
  bought in more than 30 countries around the world.
   Also in 1984, Sinclair released
  ZX-SPECTRUM +, distinguished by its improved
  military keyboard, and at the very end
  1985 - ZX-SPECTRUM 128, having 128K
  RAM, 32K ROM, 3-channel
  sound processor and at the same time completely
  compatible with previous models.New
  the car was enthusiastically received as
  Speccy fans and developers alike
  software.
   It seemed that Sinclair was immune from failure,
  but, unexpectedly for many, in 1986
  company SINCLAIR RESEARCH LTD. sells everything
  rights to production SPECTRUM - jointly
  warm computers from AMSTRAD.
  the reason for this was financial and organizational
  tional difficulties that arose during the development
  new model - SINCLAIR QL.This model
  intended as a cheap alternative
  American IBM PC and had a very
  high characteristics: 32-bit
  processor, 128K RAM with optional
  expandable up to 4 MB, good
  graphics and sound. But during its development there was
  a number of miscalculations were made, for example, the use
  use as external memory for mixing
  roaddrives, and no moreconvenient savings
  lei - disk drives. For a household computer this
  the car did not stop due to the relatively high
  no price, but professional - due to non-
  sufficiently developed hardware.
  Moreover, companies producing software
  provision, did not support this, in general
  not a bad model. It’s a pity, because in its own way
  SINCLAIR QL concept by at least three
  years ahead of the now so popular
  West computers COMMODORE AMIGA and ATA-
  RI ST.
   The company's situation worsened and
  Clive's sufficient practical acumen
  Sinclair. Being an excellent engineer, he
  still failed to become a good businessman -
  not in the moments of takeoff, not even in the difficult ones
  times he did not allow profit
  companies from the sale of one computer
  embroidered 1`.
   Having sold all rights to production and re-
  sales of your products, Sir Clive Sinclair
  left SINCLAIR RESEARCH LTD.,
  leaving behind a research laboratory
  laboratory in Cambridge and a famous name.
  It is still often found in the country.
  famous magazines in connection with the new
  new developments of Sinclair, which, one
  However, they are no longer related to Speccy.
   Subsequent models of the SPECTRUM family -
  ZX-SPECTRUM +2 (1986) with built-in
  tape recorder and ZX-SPECTRUM +3 (1987)
  with built-in disk drive - produced
  already by AMSTRAD. Their main advantages are
  society in front of SPECTRUM128 is half
  valuable keyboard, while
  built-in tape recorder and disk drive
  which is perceived as a “load”.
  Moreover, the floppy disk has a non-standard
  size (3 inches) and small capacity (180K).
  SPECTRUM +3 partially lost compatibility
  bridge with Speccy (approximately to the level
  the simplest Soviet homemade products). But this
  not a big loss, since what appeared
  for it, disk versions of system systems, such as
  good and gaming programs significantly
  superior to similar ones designed for
  working with a tape recorder. However, recently
  AMSTRAD announced the closure of
  computer production SPECTRUM +3,mo-
  motivating this to the fact that consumers prefer
  read to buy them rather than more expensive ones
  the company's own developments. Until now,
  Currently, AMSTRAD continues to produce
  only SPECTRUM +2 because this ma-
  the tire had no analogues from the company.
   In 1986, TIMEX, on its own
  waters in Portugal began to release for
  Europe computer TIMEX-2048, practically
  fully compatible with ZX-SPECTRUM and
  also has a number of advantages: improved
  advanced keyboard, built-in joyce port
  tick, two screen memory areas, mode
  enhanced color graphics.For sale
  The TIMEX-2068 model was developed in the USA
  with the ability to install replaceable cards -
  ridges. When connecting one of them
  computerbecomes SPECTRUM-compatible
  wash, and when connecting another - CP/M-
  compatible (Americans do not imagine
  eight-bit computer without system
  CP/M, same as 16-bit - without
  MS-DOS).
   Since 1987, TIMEX has planned to
  start releasing a new promising model -
  SUPER SPECTRUM.It was developed by
  based on the Z-80H microprocessor, working with
  clock frequency 7MHz. With such fast
  action managed to organize two banks
  64K memory, on-screen RAM of approx.
  50K, which allowed with the resolution method -
  screen size 256*192 pixels, reproducibility
  have 64 colors for each point. This machine
  on, software compatible with ZX-SPECTRUM
  and cost less than 200`, could become
  a serious competitor to the AMIGA computer.
  But SUPER SPECTRUM suffered the same fate
  predecessor of SPECTRUM +3 - company
  AMSTRAD, concerned about the fate of its own
  new developments, did not give permission for it
  production, and machines of the SPECTRUM family
  gradually faded into the background in the mi-
  new trade in household computers.

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