Hello from Wiltshire, UK

Introduce yourself to your fellow forum members - what was your journey into the Sinclair world?
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Exile
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:50 pm

Hello from Wiltshire, UK

Post by Exile »

Hi All,

Like many, my first computer was a ZX81. I was soon hooked and enjoying BASIC and Z80 assembler. I eventually moved on to a QL. I've since spent many years in software development. Sinclair really did change by life.

I'm now regressing, after spending 2022 revisiting the QL, I'm looking to get back into the ZX81 in 2023. I've been exploring the emulators. I've 3d printed a ZX81 case, added a new keyboard membrane and made possibly the worst USB keyboard. I recently made the mistake of looking on ebay. My composite modded ZX81 should arrive soon :D
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2160
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Hello from Wiltshire, UK

Post by Lardo Boffin »

Welcome on board!
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
mado
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2023 12:10 pm

Re: Hello from Wiltshire, UK

Post by mado »

Hi Exile,

I also owned a QL after my Zeddy – with an Spectrum in between. Today I ask myself, why I was'nt so happy with the QL. maybe, because I was the only one. :-D
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2160
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Hello from Wiltshire, UK

Post by Lardo Boffin »

I need to add a QL to the collection at some point. I have never even seen one in the flesh!
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
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mrtinb
Posts: 1906
Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2015 5:44 pm
Location: Denmark
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Re: Hello from Wiltshire, UK

Post by mrtinb »

Exile wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 12:41 pm I've 3d printed a ZX81 case, added a new keyboard membrane and made possibly the worst USB keyboard.
You made a USB keyboard for your ZX81?

Let’s hear more about that!
Martin
https://zx.rtin.be
ZX81, Lambda 8300, Commodore 64, Mac G4 Cube
Exile
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:50 pm

Re: Hello from Wiltshire, UK

Post by Exile »

Thanks for all of the replies!
mrtinb wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 2:56 am
Exile wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 12:41 pm I've 3d printed a ZX81 case, added a new keyboard membrane and made possibly the worst USB keyboard.
You made a USB keyboard for your ZX81?

Let’s hear more about that!
I'm afraid it is not what you may think. :(

It is just another example of what many people have done before. That is, use a (replica) ZX81 case and membrane as a USB keyboard for either a Windows or Linux host, to give a more "authentic" typing experience whilst using a Windows or Linux based ZX81 emulator. In this case a Raspberry Pi Pico is used to decode the key presses.

The details are at: https://github.com/ikjordan/ZX81_USB_KBD
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