Thoughts - Clive Sinclair knew so little about the computers his company produced that he could not answer basic questions about their design.

                                                              
EDITOR: This interesting text was taken from a boarding school. Site name,
Unfortunately, I don’t know (or rather, I don’t remember), but I contacted him...
res site SCEUERGY. I only know the owner of the site is Konstantin Cbu
reads. Well, now let's move on to the text itself:                 
                                                              
Unknown ZX SpEctrum.                                      
                                                              
What secrets am I going to talk about here? What are we not doing?
do we know aboutZX Spectrum?  The topic has long been hackneyed in conferences and
chewed up on WEB pages, fans of Speccy. If only
Based on this information, available in Russian, I
would be asked to make a storyZX Spectrum, it would look like
something like this (taken from one of the sites dedicated to Speccy):Sir Clive Sinclair after the release of the ZX-80 and ZX-81 invents
a wonderful computer ZX-82 , which was later called
ZX-Spectrum . In April 1982 it was published. Computer
enjoys great popularity and Sinclair releases in 1983
year Microdrive and Interface 1. These devices allow
work with data faster than on cassettes. Moreover, there
there is a serial port (RS232) and the ability to combine
computers on the network.   In 1984, an option appeared with
improved keyboard and heatsink in the power supply, which
called ZX Spectrum +. And finally, in 1986, Sinclair was released
Spectrum 128, which has 128 kilobytes of memory, but you can
switch to 48 kilobyte mode. He also has a new one
operating system with built-in calculator and
extended BASIC.  But in 1986Sinclair Research LTD
went bankrupt.  Acquires rights to produce Spectrums
Amstrad. From 1986 to 1988,Amstradproduces three models:
Amstrad Spectrum +2; +2Aand +3with a disk drive.                   
                                                              
Not enough information for more than six years
development of one of the most popular and legendary computers.
In addition, the story turned out to be, to put it mildly, inaccurate: In
moment of release  ZX80  (this is what its exact look like
title), Clive Sinclair was not , that is, he did not have
knighthood.  Just as I didn’t have it two years later on
moment of release  ZX Spectrum. Besides, Sinclair didn’t do anything
invents, he only heads a company with a limited
responsibility involved in development (of many
directions) with the involvement of other companies. In April 1982
yearZX Spectrum was just announced, its release
(if we mean serial production by this) began with two
months later.  Power supply forZX Spectrum + extension, and
there is no radiator in it. The radiator is mounted together with
keyboard (in one case). ZX Spectrum 128,like his
predecessors do not have an operating system with built-in
calculator.  The calculator is built into the boot shell,
calling which operating system the language is not
turns.  Neither Clive Sinclair nor his companySinclair
Research Ltd . did not go bankrupt in 1986 or later. What
As for Amstrad , it acquired the trademark
ZX-Spectrum, inventory (including products located in
production) and obligations to customers. Like this
sins of sloppiness and inaccurate presentation of the material
most publications are about Sinclair and his computers. No less
The situation with branded models turned out to be confusing. And this
despite discussions in conferences, print and electronic
publications and an abundance of information in English-language sources. C
I could probably live with this - whoever needs it will find it
information yourself.   But narrow and one-sided
illumination has given rise to many absurd dogmas and fictions.  A
history, even if it is the history of a legendary computer, it is
First of all, facts and documents.                               
                                                              
Did you know that:                                           
                                                              
Clive Sinclair and his company did not own the rights to
built into ZX Spectrumsoftware, and the inscription:
(c) 1982 Sinclair Research Ltd. copyright announcement
rights, is a hoax                                     
                                                              
Computer  ZX Spectrum  had six versions of , not counting
intermediate. And not all models were compatible with each other. 
                                                              
Clive Sinclair knew about the computers his company produced
so little that he could not answer basic questions about them
device. Sinclair's mythology.                                           
                                                              
Often, myths are based on very real events and
heroes whose description is of great interest to
the general public.  This interest is fueled by the feathers of zested ones
sensations of scribblers, thirsty for cheap sensations, and forgetful about
accuracy of presentation.   Over time, facts dissolve into
interpretations and retellings, becoming similar to overgrowth
mud, stagnant ponds.  And now there is a thirst for ,
forced to draw "water" consisting of the mud of fiction and
drops of truth.  Like stagnant ponds, myths appear there
where they block the flow of information.  A striking example
is the History of the CCCP, woven from myths, covered
shrouded in secrecy and locked in archives. Another obstacle for
information is a language barrier.   It's natural
obstacle, often works no worse than security stamps
and armored doors.  Especially if the information is not
vital and does not affect the fate of millions.              
                                                              
The history of computer technology, and even more so its narrow
segment, which ishistorySinclair Research, to vital
not important - those who want to study the subject seriously
- units.  Even in the early 90s, at the peak of popularityZX
Spectrum in Russia and the CIS, articles dedicated to its history,
almost never published.  Very few of them were published and
abroad.  The situation changed somewhat in the late 90s
years, when sites dedicated to
various ZX-am.  However, by this time the popularity of 8
bit computers in Russia has fallen very significantly. And since
it was not easy for individual enthusiasts to get through
, information was drawn mainly from
translated articles inherited from the early 90s.
The texts contained in them were creatively processed and
published again. This is how numerous
, on the theme ZX Spectrum, in paper and electronic
publications  The authors of articles such as one proceed from the principle:
. This is how the allegory arose in
persons included in the belief.  - myths about Clive Sinclairand him
computers.                                                  
                                                              
Examples of errors and inaccuracies:                               
                                                              
Published on the  page:                        
                                                              
He [Sinclair] created one of the first microprocessors - Z80.
In 1981, Sinclair introduced his first mass
microcomputer Z81 , the prototype of modern mobile
computers.                                                  
                                                              
MicroprocessorZ80was developed by an American company
ZiLOG Inc.  has nothing to do with the Englishman,
Clive Sinclair.                                              
                                                              
 *** Article .  Published November 5
2003 in the magazine "Computer":                             
                                                              
In 1981, the Queen of Great Britain even granted Sinclair
title of nobility - for inventions that glorified
English crown.                                            
                                                              
In June 1983, at the request of Margaret Thatcher, Queen
Great Britain awarded Clive Sinclair the title of Knight
Royal Order.   This is the lowest rank of nobility
inherited.  At various times it was awarded
footballers, actors and even Bill Gates, who is not
British citizen.                                   
                                                              
 ***                             
                                                              
Here are a few of the most common myths:            
                                                              
Clive Sinclair was greatinventor, engineer,
who created ZX-Spectrum .                                       
                                                              
Clive Sinclair did not seek commercial benefits in his products,
for example, profit from the sale of one computer, even at the most
heavy time did not exceed one pound.                      
                                                              
All computers produced by Clive Sinclair were
advanced and better than competitors. Except
Moreover, his computers were the most popular in the world.            
                                                              
No other computer, neither before nor after ZX Spectrum
couldn't last that long without becoming obsolete.                 
                                                              
Completely unexpectedly, for no apparent reason, Clive Sinclair
goes bankrupt in 1986.                                       
                                                              
 To contents