D-Man
ZX-Spectrum: Past and Present.
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Machine type ZX were developed by Clive Sinclair and
produced by Sinclair Research Ltd., he created the same.
In the beginning was the ZX-80, then the ZX-81. By today's
standards characteristics of these machines can only evoke a
smile: black and white screen RAM ob'emom 1KB (!), Expandable
to 16KB. But for early 80's it was a real discovery. In 1981.
"For the great services in the computerization of the country,
"Sinclair was granted title of nobility.
Computer ZX-SPECTRUM was established in 1982. His heart
was an 8-bit Z-80 processor running at 3.5Mgts,
produced by "Zilog". By the way, this processor is still
produced in many countries, including Russia. By
its characteristics, it still satisfies the developers
automation devices, and while the Z-80 superior products
r. "Intel", and was the basis for many PCs. First ZX-Spectrum
(hereinafter Speccy) had a 16K ROM. (Which significantly
expanded the capabilities embedded operating system) color
screen resolution 256x192 with an opportunity to paint each
block of 8x8 pixels in 2 colors from a palette of 8 colors with
two gradations of brightness (Total 16 colors); ob'emom 48Kb
RAM.
All ZX could be used as a monitor, a regular household
TV, and instead of any non-volatile memory devices -
cassette player. Such is possible now. On average,
capacity of one tape is about 0.5Mb in standard
recording density, that quite a lot compared to the size
RAM and the size of programs. These opportunities helped to
become Speccy one of the most popular home computers.
At the end of 1985. was released ZX-Spectrum 128, with an
extended until 128Kb. RAM, 32KB ROM, two pages and
three-channel videoOZU sound processor, and thus was fully
compatible with (!!!) previous machines. This option is a
computer with a floppy drive under control TR-DOS is now the
most popular, although There are many users of 48-x machines.
After 1986. r. "Sinclair Research" failed to
Project Sinclair QL. It was conceived as a cheaper alternative
IBM PC and had a high performance: memory - 128KB of
expandable to 4MB, a powerful 32-bit processor,
operating at 7MHz., good graphics and sound. By
the concept and power of this model preceded by at least 3 years
so popular in the West Commodore Amiga and Atari ST (not to
mention much of the IBM PC, which is trying to become a home
machine, we now).
At the beginning of 1988 saw the publication of the last car
in the west Series "ZX". It was a Z88, one of the first laptops
(may be first). Data on it is incomplete: the Z88 processor was
Z80H, operating at 7MHz with reduced power consumption;
Liquid Crystal Display (with graphics). Z88 could be applied
wherever needed a computer at hand. "
In the 80 years, "SPECTRUM" was considered the best 8-bit
home computer, despite the presence of competitors (with the
same Z-80) as the SAM CUPE, YAMAHA MSX, ENTERPRISE, and others.
Around 1988 Speccy stepped over the boundary of the USSR and
began to conquer the hearts nepugannyh users and the mind
poor industry, which quickly adjusted release
compatible machines. Cost of them was about 60-80 rubles, and
sold in the store they average 1500 rubles. because
home PC was a luxury. Do not doze and amateurs: the scheme
Speccy could be repeated literally at the knee, reworked
based on the availability kompektuyuschih (all chips produced in
USSR, including the processor). At the moment of greatest
success in the market for West a week before the sold out
15,000 cars in Russia, 100-200 machines took in 1 day (and the
second did not exist).
In 1991 r. "Inforkom" magazine has launched "ZX-Revue", and
a lot of other literature, users need.
Unification of the former amateur production
compatible with the ZX-Spectrum machines are gradually formed
firms, developers, who began to develop a platform in the
direction of improve the performance and quality of machines,
standardizing their parameters. This is a long and arduous
process was completed by 1995. The most massive counterparts
Speccy have: two or more video mode; can run on CP / M; CPU
clock 3.5-7MHz. (Individual copies to 21Mgts), up to 512K ROM,
RAM, up to 2MB (some up to 4 MB), a standard 3-channel music
processor, and music expansion card, mouse.
The most evolved machines allow you to work with the hard
drive up to 3.2 GB, connect an older SIMM memory cards and ISA,
have built-in modem ...
Most often, Speccy connect a printer, programmer,
homemade or factory modem, but sometimes connect card
image capture, homemade scanners, analog-digital
converters, auxiliary Dendy (for storing programs
disks, and resource use consoles for its
programming).
Currently, ZX-Spectrum - the only computer
produced in Russia and exported abroad (in Poland,
England, Germany).
Parallel to the development of iron gradually grew and skill
programmers, not least because that living on the Speccy, it is
impossible not get at least some programming skills. Number
software is huge, but it does not always meet
today's needs, because there is both an opportunity
and the need to write something of my own (on the PC it is
impossible and not needed for various reasons). Most programs
written directly in the language of the microprocessor, which
allows you to explore interaction programs and hardware
machines. By limiting simplicity and ease of construction of
Iron Software Speccy is the ideal machine for training
purposes. In addition, the most democratic computer: at cost
price, he has no competitors.
Thus, in 1993. from individuals and small teams
began to form large groups of hackers, coders, artists,
musicians, radio, dealers ... At the moment
the largest groups of its employees have a 5-10 Russian cities,
some groups are interstate. Many work
not only on the Speccy, but on a different computer from him:
Amiga, Mac, IBM, VAX / VMS, Alpha, BK-0010-01 ... Many people
try to earn a living programming, development periphery, but
Can not all (as elsewhere). Writing programs often
associated with both time-consuming, and money. The author often
risk get nothing for their work, or earn less
than I could. Almost every user of the medium-high level
can copy the program, copy-protected, and how
Experience shows that protection can withstand only up to hit a
stuffed with a hand of an experienced hacker. As a consequence,
country walks a lot of free software that is both good and bad
(though whom).
In the last 2-3 years have emerged and operate networks
based on ZX-Spectrum. They are organized active users
free, works on the principles and statutes FIDOnet. Most
major networks in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Network is rarely
isolated from the outside world, often almost without
interruption is a FIDO and INTERNET. There are also sites
providing support to the Speccy INTERNET, and often, these
pages belong hacker commands.
Also, since 1996. in St. Petersburg, the festival
komyuternogo arts and programs ENLIGHT, which come
Active spektrumisty from all cities in Russia, CIS (and now
and distant) countries to show their work, poobschatsya,
"See those who are familiar with for a long time, and you see
for the first time." In mandatory at the festival are the
developers of iron, Leading programmers, and local
correspondents tsetralnyh electronic publications are known
hackers ...
A similar event is planned this year in Moscow, under
name FUNTOP'98.
Last year in St. Petreburge present and active
representatives of the public spektrumovkoy city of Voronezh.
We hope to get to such an event more than once.
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-------------( C) Virtual Vision Group 1998.
Get through to us by phone. :33-16-18
asked Andrew, Sasha.
70-43-86,
ask Dima.
