Newbie question

[TheAmoebaSon]

Apologies this is probably a nieve question but is it possible to purchase a ZX81 clone with proper keyboard pre-made?

I have found kits online but I'm not confident I could reliability put one together, and tbh I would want a reasonable keyboard to use too. I suppose an hdmi output would be ideal too..

Thanks
Sam

[msknight]

I don't know if there is anything pre-made. If there was, it would probably be an individual doing it... so in that sense it is possible.

However, I'd encourage you do pick up the soldering iron and give it a go.

HDMI isn't straightforward, however.

My experience and costing to build a new mechanical keyboard is here - https://msknight.com/bbc/index.html#zx81 - along with the HDMI output which required an RGB->HDMI unit. If you can find an old Memotech keyboard or the like on ebay, that would solve that for you, however.

Better to get a kit, run with a standard membrane keyboard and composite output... and when you've got that working, then step up to the HDMI and keyboard.

[Paul]

Maybe this
ZX80 / ZX81 Emulator for the Raspberry Pi Pico
Could be the answer to your question.
It works very good, runs on a variety of boards.
Some of which offer a Keyboard otherwise a usb keyboard can be used.

[TheAmoebaSon]

Thank you both. Good advice. OK I may give it a go...also yes I have seen the Pi emulators and I think one that simply runs on the system without Linux (although perhaps that was a spectrum). I probably haven't soldered anything for 30 years and then it wasn't such a good job so who knows!

Thanks

[1024MAK]

Soldering is about a combination of good technique and practice.

So start again with a good iron and a cheap electronic kit from say eBay or another source.

There are plenty of tips on soldering both as text tips and help and as videos online.

Mark

[Exile]

Thank you both. Good advice. OK I may give it a go...also yes I have seen the Pi emulators and I think one that simply runs on the system without Linux (although perhaps that was a spectrum).

Thanks

A Pi Pico emulator for the ZX81(which runs without an O/S) is picozx81. https://github.com/ikjordan/picozx81.
There is also a Spectrum emulator for the Pi Pico: pico-zxspectrum https://github.com/fruit-bat/pico-zxspectrum.

Both emulators support similar hardware, as an example, both support Pimoroni Pico DV Demo Base, which is available commercially. There is also custom pre-built hardware that can be purchased on ebay (search for pico spectrum, or pico zx81).

[TheAmoebaSon]

Wow - so much to look at. Thank you all...

[TheAmoebaSon]

Have ordered a Pimoroni with Pico...looking forward to it.
Thanks