30 Programs for the Sinclair ZX80
30 Programs for the Sinclair ZX80

Author: Retro Reproductions

Publisher: Andrews UK Limited

Published: 2022-03-31

Total Pages: 112

ISBN-13: 1789825369

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The ZX80 home computer was launched in 1980 by the then still-to-be-knighted home computer mogul Clive Sinclair. Available in kit form at £79.99 for the aspiring hobbyist or pre-built at a price of £99.99 the ground-breaking machine offered home computing for the kind of money an average family could afford. The inventor's company would grow to become Sinclair Research and release even more powerful machines such as the ZX81, QL and (at the time) the UK's best-selling computer, the ZX Spectrum. This book - originally published by Melbourne House - contains thirty programs for the reader to run on their ZX80, after spending time carefully typing them in! The programs were designed to introduce the user to various capabilities offered by the ZX80 and its generous 1KB of memory. This remastered edition has been reproduced as closely to the 1980 original as possible, enabling retro fans lucky enough to own a working machine (or through emulation) to try their hand at old-school self-typed programming. Alternatively, it makes a great gift for those who were present at the dawn of home computing, or simply for anyone interested to know more about the beginnings of the microchip revolution.

Not Only 30 Programs for the Sinclair ZX81
Not Only 30 Programs for the Sinclair ZX81

Author: Retro Reproductions

Publisher: Andrews UK Limited

Published: 2022-03-31

Total Pages: 119

ISBN-13: 1789829526

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Launched in 1981, Sir Clive Sinclair's ZX81 - successor to his ZX80 released the year before - was designed to be a low-cost introduction to home computing for the general public. It was a hugely successful machine, with over one and a half million 'official' units being sold; many more unauthorised 'clones' were also produced, particularly in Russia and other Eastern Bloc countries of the era. One could either purchase the machine pre-built, or - as a significant number of consumers did - buy it in kit form for assembly at home at a slightly cheaper price. This 'DIY' approach, encouraged by Sinclair Research, became a core element of the computer's genetic make-up. Those who were comfortable putting together the four silicon chips and other such components were just as keen to poke around the machine's memory, learning as much as they could about its capability; the programs they would write could easily be shared once saved onto a standard audio cassette. It became common for magazines - both from major publishers and their smaller, fan-produced brethren - to feature listings of programs for the home user to type in themselves. This book features thirty such programs, covering everything from card games and shoot 'em ups to utilities and educational software. The 'Not Only' in the title refers to the fact that in addition to the code listings themselves, the book provides the reader with additional programming hints, advanced space-saving techniques (remember, the ZX81 only had one kilobyte of memory!) and general coding advice to up-skill anyone interested in doing so. This 40th anniversary reproduction is the first time this hugely influential and popular book has been printed in decades. Available in paperback form like the original, or a collector's hardback edition, it is the ideal purchase or gift for any fan of the early days of home computing.

Electronic Dreams
Electronic Dreams

Author: Tom Lean

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2016-02-11

Total Pages: 297

ISBN-13: 1472918355

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How did computers invade the homes and cultural life of 1980s Britain? Remember the ZX Spectrum? Ever have a go at programming with its stretchy rubber keys? How about the BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, or Commodore 64? Did you marvel at the immense galaxies of Elite, master digital kung-fu in Way of the Exploding Fist or lose yourself in the surreal caverns of Manic Miner? For anyone who was a kid in the 1980s, these iconic computer brands are the stuff of legend. In Electronic Dreams, Tom Lean tells the story of how computers invaded British homes for the first time, as people set aside their worries of electronic brains and Big Brother and embraced the wonder-technology of the 1980s. This book charts the history of the rise and fall of the home computer, the family of futuristic and quirky machines that took computing from the realm of science and science fiction to being a user-friendly domestic technology. It is a tale of unexpected consequences, when the machines that parents bought to help their kids with homework ended up giving birth to the video games industry, and of unrealised ambitions, like the ahead-of-its-time Prestel network that first put the British home online but failed to change the world. Ultimately, it's the story of the people who made the boom happen, the inventors and entrepreneurs like Clive Sinclair and Alan Sugar seeking new markets, bedroom programmers and computer hackers, and the millions of everyday folk who bought in to the electronic dream and let the computer into their lives.

High Score! Expanded
High Score! Expanded

Author: Rusel DeMaria

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2018-12-07

Total Pages: 1617

ISBN-13: 0429771398

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In this lavishly illustrated full-color retrospective, discover never-before-seen photos that bring to life the people and stories behind the most popular games of all time, including Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Centipede, Donkey Kong, Asteroids, SimCity, Quake, Myst, Tomb Raider, and more. This is the inside scoop on the history, successes, tricks, and even failures of the entire electronic games industry.

Machine Language Programming Made Simple for your Sinclair & Timex TS1000
Machine Language Programming Made Simple for your Sinclair & Timex TS1000

Author: Beam Software

Publisher: Andrews UK Limited

Published: 2022-03-31

Total Pages: 161

ISBN-13: 1789828074

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Launched in 1981, Sir Clive Sinclair's ZX81 - successor to his ZX80 released the year before - was designed to be a low-cost introduction to home computing for the general public. It was a hugely successful machine, with over one and a half million 'official' units being sold; many more unauthorised 'clones' were also produced, particularly in Russia and other Eastern Bloc countries of the era. One could either purchase the machine pre-built, or - as a significant number of consumers did - buy it in kit form for assembly at home at a slightly cheaper price. This 'DIY' approach, encouraged by Sinclair Research, became a core element of the computer's genetic make-up. Those who were comfortable putting together the four silicon chips and other such components were just as keen to poke around the machine's memory, learning as much as they could about its capability; the programs they would write could easily be shared once saved onto a standard audio cassette. This is one of the earliest published books addressing the subject of programming the first generation of home computers. First released in 1981 by Melbourne House it helped owners of the ZX80, ZX81 (and later the Timex TS1000) learn how to make the most of their machine, commanding the CPU directly rather than through a BASIC interpreter - an abstraction level that slowed things down considerably. This book was an entry point into advanced computer use; many who would go on to have long careers in the technology world owe their start to the tutorials and explanations featured within. As such it is an important part of computer history and remains useful for anyone interested in retro programming, particularly on the early Sinclair machines. * * * Acorn Books is proud to present its Retro Reproduction Series, a collection of classic computing works from the 1980s and 90s, lovingly reproduced in the 21st century. From standards of programming reference no self-respecting microcomputer user would want to be without, to obscure works not found in print anywhere else, these modern reprints are perfect for any connoisseur of retro computing.