This is a Sinclair ZX Spectrum prototype. It was found in 2019 during a visit to 'Nine Tiles', the company that wrote the development software for the Spectrum. It is now on display at the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge. Such an important part of British computing history. - ThreadSky

kevedwardsretro.bsky.social • 60 days ago

This is a Sinclair ZX Spectrum prototype. It was found in 2019 during a visit to 'Nine Tiles', the company that wrote the development software for the Spectrum. It is now on display at the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge. Such an important part of British computing history.

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newt-othis.bsky.social•60 days ago

The Centre for Computing History is wonderful place, hidden away at the back of a random industrial estate!

kevedwardsretro.bsky.social•60 days ago

I highly recommend it. I visited last year for the first time and had a great time!

morefunmakingit.bsky.social•60 days ago

My favourite exhibit there! What a piece of actual history to discover!

petescircuit.bsky.social•60 days ago

I’m sure I’ve got the ROMs somewhere or if not I’m sure they are freely available

kevedwardsretro.bsky.social•60 days ago

Yes, the CfCH did share it on this page - ZIP file part way down the page.
https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/51620/Sinclair-ZX-Spectrum-Prototype/

petescircuit.bsky.social•60 days ago

Ah yeah that’s the one, nicely found :) @morefunmakingit.bsky.social you should try it out 😀

morefunmakingit.bsky.social•60 days ago

I wonder how the disc control part of it is handled? Could be interesting but will probably be beyond my feeble brain 😆

petescircuit.bsky.social•60 days ago

Not sure why but I really laughed at ‘feeble’ 😂 I’m going to use that to reference myself in future haha

retroanimechris.bsky.social•60 days ago

Wow, amazing! Thanks so much for sharing

zadster.bsky.social•60 days ago

I seem to remember that they have the prototype BBC Micro too. Or at least there is a video showing Steve Furber donating it. The heatsink on that Speccy's power regulator is tiny!

kevedwardsretro.bsky.social•60 days ago

Yes, they have Steve Furber's prototyping machine used to develop the BBC Micro. It wasn't on display when I visited, but they kindly let me see it in the archive store.

kevedwardsretro.bsky.social•60 days ago

They did have Steve Furber's 1st computer on display - the 2650. It was based on the Signetics 2650 processor.

lifeszteddybear.bsky.social•59 days ago

Did you point out the error in the title on the information card to the museum staff? The front panel clearly says "2650", while the title of the card has it as "2560", but then later on says that it was based on the Signetics 2650.

kevedwardsretro.bsky.social•59 days ago

I did spot the mistake at the time, but didn't bother telling them.

stressedlocal.bsky.social•60 days ago

I think I'd rather use those keys than the rubber ones we got! 😂👍🏻🤦🏻‍♂️
So cool to see prototypes still around 😍👍🏻
Does make me wonder who has the Amiga breadboards these days...they belong in a museum if they aren't already in one 😎

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