QUANTUM LEAP - the tragic end of GENIUS
SPECTRUM QL - machine is so interesting how a
little-known, at least in Russia, so let me fill this gap and
to devote her whole Section ...
It all began with the fact that watching the next issue of
the Navigator Online Peace, I stumbled on the bulk article on
the Spectrum. There was also information on the QL. Some
supplement their knowledge about this car from the INTERNET, I
decided to bring this up to you. I hope, will interesting ...
After three years since the legendary ZX-SPECTRUM, market
8bitnyh machines for Sir Clive Sinclair was practically lost,
and he completely lost interest to his famous creation. The
models SPECTRUM +, SPECTRUM +2 and SPECTRUM +3 were
insignificant jump in future. They are completely overshadowed
by the machine to his senses, and that time COMMODORE ATARI. As
the graphics are not 128 cars Sinclair could compete with the
aforementioned computer companies, approaching them only for
music (and even then only approaching). Sinclair is not
interested the position of his earlier projects. In what
was that? Explain such mistake on the part of Sinclair could
only new computer submitted in 1984 - Spectrum QL.
All efforts have been directed Developers
exactly on QL.
Model QUANTUM LEAP (QL) was announced in 1984 and by the
end of the year began to be marketed. Conceived it Yes, with a
focus business programs - text editors, spreadsheets,
databases, etc., rather than computer games. Concept
QL - PLUG IN AND GO (familiar, does not it?)
that is, your computer came with everything needed to complete
the work, including software. In addition to wide
set of business programs, it included a number of
(!!!), emulators such as PC Conqueror
and AQmulator for Atari 520ST. The car was
built on a 32-bit processor
Motorola 68008, had a 128 Kb RAM, expandable to 768 Kb IBM and
AT-like keyboard (89 keys). Graphics regimes were as follows:
512h256 in 4 colors 256x256 at 8 and simultaneously displayed
colors from a palette of 256 colors. Operating QDOS system
support true multitasking, and allowed to open up to eight
applications simultaneously.
Very successful architecture QUANTUM LEAP
contributed to the emergence of an incredible number of
extension board and the extension card. These were the network
adapters, controllers hard and floppy disks (the computer only
comes with mikrodrayvom, affected long-standing "love," Sir
Sinclair to data storage devices), hardware emulators, and
graphics cards, and an insane number of interfaces it is better
not mention. The choice was very rich.
Completely justified and the emergence of QL clones
SANDY Q-XT 640, PC FUTURA, CST THOR I-XVI.
The latter, incidentally, has the unique ability to dynamically
change the layout keyboard by switching the ROM, and the
following configuration: 40MB HDD, 2h720 FDD, 16-bit graphics
(!!!) and the possibility of expanding VIDEO RAM up to 2Mb.
Impressive, Is it true? In addition, the appearance of no less
than impressed. A neat black box " rectangular shape on the
left - the keyboard, located right under the hood all the
electronic "filling" of the computer. Generally, all Model of
Sir Sinclair (including even the ZX81) had a black hull, which
gave of an additional effect.
However, the positioning of U.S.
market by ATARI, the lack of flexible
pricing policy, serious organizational shortcomings and a lack
of close contacts with the developers of software have made
their black business. SPECTRUM QL was unable to repeat
success of its predecessor (we
mind naturally ZX-SPECTRUM). Financial
results for the year 1986 led by Clive Sinclair sold all rights
to the production and sale of all models Spectrum French
Company AMSTRAD. : ((( Later AMSTRAD released enhanced versions
of ZX SPECTRUM +2 and +3, but all the "improvements" were
reduced to adding drives, joysticks and other things, that only
raises the price.
That was the end (not in principle
and having time to start) epic excellent computer genius
engineer, but failed merchant, gave birth to the ZX-SPECTRUM.
Yx
