1976-2010

March: Zilog launch the Z80 microprocessor, which later goes on to be used in the ZX80, ZX81, ZX Spectrum (and Russian clones), SAM Coupé, Amstrad CPC, MSX and Jupiter Ace, amongst others.

In 1977, Sinclair Radionics, the company founded by Sir Clive Sinclair in 1961, was facing serious financial difficulties. Sinclair Radionics had been primarily involved in producing electronic gadgets such as radios, calculators, and early digital watches. However, these products were no longer selling as well, partly due to increasing competition from companies offering cheaper, mass-produced alternatives.

In 1978, Science of Cambridge (founded by Clive Sinclair and the precursor to Sinclair Research) launched the MK14, a microcomputer kit aimed at hobbyists. The MK14 (Microcomputer Kit 14) was the company’s first step toward developing personal computers, although it was a kit for enthusiasts and not a fully assembled machine.

During 1978, Science of Cambridge continued to grow and evolve, setting the stage for its future transformation into Sinclair Research Ltd. The success of the MK14 helped the company gain more visibility in the emerging UK microcomputer market, and Clive Sinclair was able to focus more on his personal computing ambitions.

29 January: The ZX80 is released by Sinclair Computers Ltd at an initial price of £79.95 in kit form, and £99.95 for a pre-assembled machine, notably becoming one a very few machines advertised for under £100. The machine includes 1 KB of RAM and a 4 KB ROM containing an Integer-only BASIC (later upgradable to an 8 KB floating-point BASIC ROM after release of the ZX81).

★ In 1980, Sinclair Research, under the leadership of Sir Clive Sinclair, was becoming known for its strategy of offering affordable, low-cost computing solutions. This approach was a key differentiator from competitors like Apple and Commodore, which were producing more expensive machines.

March: Sinclair Computers Ltd is renamed to Sinclair Research Ltd.

5 March: The ZX81 is released at an initial price of £49.95 in kit form, and £69.95 for a pre-assembled machine. The machine includes an 8 KB ROM, improved from that of the ZX80 with support for floating-point calculations, and is capable of displaying screen content whilst performing computation, unlike the ZX80 before it.

★ November: The ZX Printer is launched at a price of £49.95. The printer is compatible with the ZX81, and when the ZX Spectrum is later developed, its design maintains compatibility with the ZX Printer.

★ Throughout 1981, development work was underway on the ZX Spectrum, which was intended to be a more powerful successor to the ZX81. While the ZX Spectrum itself wouldn't be released until 1982, much of the research, design, and preparation for its launch occurred in 1981.

★ In 1981, competition in the home computer market began to increase, particularly from rivals like Commodore and Atari. Commodore, for example, released its VIC-20 in 1981, which was a direct competitor to Sinclair's machines.

February: Financial disagreements arise between Nine Tiles and Sinclair Research Ltd.

22 April: Sinclair Research file patent GB8211723, "Display for a Computer", which describes the video display generation technique used by the ZX Spectrum.

23 April: The original 16/48 KB model of the ZX Spectrum is launched at the IPC Computer Fair at Earls Court, at the initial price of £125 for the 16 KB model, and £175 for the 48 KB model. The machine is compatible with the ZX Printer, and an "RS-232/Network interface board" is promised, which later becomes the ZX Interface 1.

April: The magazine Sinclair User is launched by ECC Publications Ltd.

July: Sinclair Research Ltd announces that it will begin shipping the ZX Microdrive together with the ZX Interface 1, with the first 1000 units offered specifically to those customers who had ordered the ZX Spectrum upon launch.

September: The ZX Microdrive goes on sale, together with the ZX Interface 1.

12 January: The Sinclair QL ("Quantum Leap") is introduced, at £399, and is intended to compete in the business market. Based on a Motorola 68008 CPU with an 8-bit data bus, it comes with 128 KB of RAM and supports the ZX Microdrive (rather than a floppy disk drive). With delivery promised within 28 days, the machine is plagued by production problems, delaying deliveries until April and requiring an external expansion card (the "kludge"/"dongle") holding 16 KB ROM to be used with early machines, needed as the QL's operating system would not fit into the 32 KB of ROM provided internally.

★ January: The magazine Your Spectrum is launched by Sportscene Specialist Press (later renamed to Dennis Publishing in April 1987).

★ February: The magazine Crash is launched by Newsfield Publications Ltd.

★ October: The ZX Spectrum+ was introduced in October 1984. It featured a new case design with a full-size keyboard, addressing one of the most criticized aspects of the original ZX Spectrum (the rubber keyboard). The ZX Spectrum+ was functionally identical to the earlier models but aimed to modernize the look and improve usability.

★ 25th December: I get my ZX Spectrum 48K for Christmas! ☃

★ The ZX Spectrum remained a popular platform for video games in 1984. This year saw the release of many iconic titles, including games like Jet Set Willy, Sabre Wulf, and Lords of Midnight. These games were significant milestones in the development of the UK gaming industry.1984 was also the year Sinclair tried to enter the US market. However, this attempt was not very successful, as the company faced stiff competition from established brands like Commodore and Apple, and the QL's troubled launch didn't help their efforts.

September: The ZX Spectrum 128 goes on sale in Spain.
It featured, 128 KB of RAM, a significant upgrade from the original 48 KB model.
A 3-channel sound chip (the AY-3-8912), providing much-improved sound capabilities compared to the earlier beeper sound. Better graphics capabilities and an enhanced keyboard layout. A built-in RS-232/MIDI port for better connectivity.

★ Sinclair Research was in serious financial difficulty. Despite the initial success of the ZX Spectrum, poor sales of other products—particularly the Sinclair QL (released in 1984) and the Sinclair C5 electric vehicle—contributed to the company's growing financial instability.

★ As Sinclair Research’s financial troubles worsened, Clive Sinclair began looking for potential buyers for the company. In 1985, negotiations started with Amstrad, a rival UK electronics company founded by Alan Sugar.

January: The ZX Spectrum 128 goes on sale in the UK at a price of £179.95. As well as including 128 KB of RAM, it provides a more stable video output (avoiding dot crawl), a AY-3-8912 sound synthesis chip, a Spectrum+ style plastic keyboard, and a tokenising editor intended to be used in preference to the original ZX Spectrum's context-based keyword entry system.

January: After 21 issues, Your Spectrum is relaunched as Your Sinclair.

7 April: All Spectrum-related assets and the "Sinclair" brand name are acquired by Amstrad plc.

16 May: The ZX Spectrum +3 is released by Amstrad. It is a major redesign of the original ZX Spectrum 128 and ZX Spectrum +2 models, including an integrated 3″ single sided floppy disc drive and with additional memory paging capabilities to support CP/M and the +3DOS disc operating system. It is housed in a slightly modified version of the +2 case moulding cast in black plastic instead of grey. The "Black +2" appears soon after with an integrated tape drive in place of the 3″ floppy disc drive.

5 September: Miles Gordon Technology, plc. is incorporated.
Miles Gordon Technology plc (MGT) was a company that initially produced peripherals for the ZX Spectrum, and later produced the somewhat Spectrum-compatible SAM Coupé computer.

★ They created the DISCiPLE and +D disk interfaces for the Spectrum. They were also known for their Lifetime Drive range of floppy disk drives, which they later rebranded as the Universal Drive, to emphasise their suitability for a wide range of computers rather as opposed to a level of superior robustness.

December: The SAM Coupé is released by Miles Gordon Technology. The machine arrives too late for the Christmas 1989 shopping season, and is plagued by bugs in the ROM at the time of launch, requiring an updated ROM to be distributed to approximately 8,000 customers.

April: Your Sinclair is published under ownership of Future plc for the first time.

11 June: Miles Gordon Technology goes into receivership.

4 July: SAM Computers Ltd is incorporated, taking over the assets of Miles Gordon Technology. The new company is formed with the aims of providing an upgrade service to existing users (making available the bug-fixed ROM, and updates to the Spectrum emulator and SAMDOS), creating and publishing new software (under the company's software label, Revelation), and honouring the warranty of existing owners, whilst continuing to distribute the remaining stock of the machine.

May: Crash becomes ostensibly incorporated into Sinclair User as of the 123rd issue. In practice, very little changes in the publication.

15 July: SAM Computers Ltd (SAMCo) goes into receivership.

April: The 134th and final issue of Sinclair User is published.

September: The 94th and final issue of Your Sinclair is published (not counting the 21 issues of Your Spectrum). The closure effectively marks the end of what was left of the commercial life of the Spectrum.

By 1994, Amstrad, which had acquired the rights to the ZX Spectrum in 1986, had officially ceased production and support for the ZX Spectrum. Amstrad had continued releasing updated versions of the Spectrum, such as the ZX Spectrum +2 and ZX Spectrum +3, but by the mid-1990s, the platform had become obsolete as the market shifted to more powerful personal computers like the Commodore Amiga and IBM PC compatibles.

In 1994, the retrocomputing movement started to gain traction, with fans of the ZX Spectrum and other 1980s home computers maintaining interest in these platforms. User groups, fan magazines, and online communities (as the internet began to grow) were dedicated to preserving and celebrating the ZX Spectrum's legacy.
Software preservation, emulators, and homebrew development kept the ZX Spectrum alive, with enthusiasts continuing to create new games and software for the platform. Many fans viewed the ZX Spectrum with nostalgia, considering it a key part of their introduction to computing.

In 1994, there was growing interest in the revival of classic ZX Spectrum games, driven by nostalgia and the rise of emulators. Fans could now run ZX Spectrum software on more modern PCs using Spectrum emulators, which allowed users to experience classic games and programs on newer hardware. Some commercial software compilations of old ZX Spectrum games were also released during this time, tapping into the nostalgia of former Spectrum users. These compilations typically included popular games from the 1980s, allowing fans to revisit their favourite titles.

★ Emulation of the ZX Spectrum continued to gain momentum in 1995, with more people discovering ways to run Spectrum software on modern PCs. The development of improved ZX Spectrum emulators, such as Z80 and X128, allowed users to experience classic Spectrum games and programs on more powerful systems.

★ The retro gaming scene was expanding, and the ZX Spectrum was seen as an iconic platform in the early history of video gaming, especially in the UK. Fans of 1980s gaming viewed the Spectrum as an essential part of the home gaming revolution, and many classic titles from the platform remained fondly remembered.

★ While the ZX Spectrum was no longer part of his focus, Clive Sinclair remained active in other technological ventures during 1995. He continued to work on projects related to electric vehicles and personal transportation devices, areas where he had shifted his attention after leaving the computer industry.

★ The ZX Spectrum community continued to be active in 1995, with fan magazines, newsletters, and online forums dedicated to the machine. New software was still being developed by hobbyists, and some retro game publishers began re-releasing classic Spectrum titles for modern audiences.

★ The preservation of ZX Spectrum hardware and software became a priority for many in the retrocomputing community, ensuring that the system’s contributions to the development of home computers and video games would not be forgotten.

By 1996, the ZX Spectrum and Sinclair Research were firmly in the realm of retrocomputing, but their impact continued to resonate with hobbyists, retro gaming fans, and computing enthusiasts. Here are the key developments related to the ZX Spectrum and Sinclair Research during this year:-

★ The retrocomputing scene was continuing to expand, and emulation was becoming more refined. Popular ZX Spectrum emulators, such as Z80, X128, and newer emulators, were actively maintained, allowing users to run Spectrum software on modern computers.

★ Emulators enabled a wider audience to experience ZX Spectrum games and programs, and they helped preserve the platform’s software for future generations. The development of these emulators, combined with the availability of online repositories of Spectrum ROMs, kept the platform alive in the digital age.

★ Communities of enthusiasts focused on archiving and preserving ZX Spectrum software, ensuring that classic games and programs were not lost as physical tapes and hardware deteriorated over time.

Despite the ZX Spectrum being commercially obsolete, the homebrew development scene continued to thrive in 1996. Enthusiasts were still creating new software and games for the ZX Spectrum, pushing the limits of the aging hardware and keeping the platform alive as a hobbyist system.

The ZX Spectrum was increasingly recognized as an iconic piece of British computing history. It was seen as a key part of the UK’s 1980s home computer revolution, and it had left a lasting legacy on both the gaming and tech industries.

In 1997, the ZX Spectrum and Sinclair Research continued to be part of the retrocomputing and nostalgia movement, with fans and enthusiasts keeping the legacy alive. Although Sinclair Research no longer played an active role in the computer industry, Clive Sinclair's work continued to influence retro enthusiasts, and the ZX Spectrum's cultural impact remained strong. Here are the key events related to the ZX Spectrum and Sinclair Research in 1997:-

★ 1997 marked the 25th anniversary of Clive Sinclair’s first computer, the Sinclair ZX80, which was released in 1980. Although not as commercially successful as the ZX Spectrum, the ZX80 was a milestone in Sinclair’s journey to democratize computing by offering an affordable home computer.

★ By 1997, retrocomputing had become a more established hobby, with ZX Spectrum fans continuing to engage in activities like creating homebrew software, preserving old programs, and using emulators to run classic Spectrum games.

★ Online communities and websites dedicated to the ZX Spectrum were thriving, with enthusiasts sharing ROMs, programs, and emulation tools. The Spectrum was a central part of the broader retrocomputing scene, which also celebrated other iconic 8-bit and 16-bit systems from the 1980s.

★ Magazines and fanzines focused on retro gaming and computing, such as "Your Sinclair: The Final Issue", celebrated the ZX Spectrum’s role in the early days of home computing.

★ Emulation continued to grow in sophistication in 1997, allowing ZX Spectrum fans to easily run classic games and programs on modern PCs. Popular emulators such as Z80, X128, and Fuse were continuously improved, offering more accurate emulation and additional features for enthusiasts.

★ The ZX Spectrum homebrew scene continued to thrive, with hobbyist programmers developing new games, demos, and utilities for the aging platform. The Spectrum’s relatively simple architecture made it an appealing target for developers looking to push the system’s limits or create nostalgic tributes to the classic games of the 1980s.

★ While Clive Sinclair had moved away from the world of computers by 1997, he remained involved in technological innovation. His focus during this period was on electric vehicles and personal transportation devices, following his earlier work with the Sinclair C5 and Zike.

★ March , Gremlin Interactive re-released a collection of classic ZX Spectrum games for modern platforms. The collection, titled "ZX Spectrum: The Best of Classics", included many of the Spectrum’s most iconic games, such as Manic Miner, Jet Set Willy, and Sabre Wulf.

★ There was continuous development of ZX Spectrum emulators for various operating systems, including Windows and Linux. Popular emulators like Z80, Fuse, and ZX32 saw new versions and updates during the year, offering improved performance and compatibility with modern hardware.

★ Sinclair Research, founded in 1973, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1998. Although the company had largely shifted away from the computing industry by this time, its role in shaping the early personal computer market, particularly through the ZX Spectrum, was recognized by enthusiasts and media alike.

★ Several retrocomputing conventions and events were held where the ZX Spectrum was prominently featured. These events, such as the World of Spectrum meetups, brought together fans and collectors of classic computers, including the ZX Spectrum, for discussions, exhibitions, and game competitions.

★ Clive Sinclair continued to pursue new ventures outside of the computing world. By this time, he had focused his attention on electric vehicles and personal transportation. His latest project was an updated version of the Sinclair C5, though it faced many of the same commercial challenges as its predecessor.

★ Nine Tiles grant permission for the content of the ZX80 and ZX81 ROM to be distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later.