Looking for experts on the ZX80/81

[rkindig]

Upcoming Floppy Days podcast episode will be on the Sinclair ZX80/81. I need one or more experts on the machine to help. Are there any out there?

 

thanks!

 

Randy Kindig

host floppydays.com

 

[factus10]

Check over here: https://www.sinclairzxworld.com/index.php

 

Mostly European guys but there are a few Yanks there.

[Compumater]

I don't know If I consider myself an expert but I've built, modded, written for and most importantly owned Timex Sinclair 1000's since 1985.

[ClausB]

Hi Randy,

 

Not really an expert either but I built, programmed, and modded a ZX81 in the day. My friend Lance built a ZX80 before then.

[Knimrod]

Thanks Claus, I still have my ZX80 and ZX81.

[Ed in SoDak]

Wow, where's Tim Hartnell when you need him? I learned most of my best programming tips from his books. With the screen-invert routine and the code for a clock from one of his books, I wrote a darkroom timer program on my TS1000 that I used constantly in my photography business. I depended on it so much that I had two TS1000's running it, in case one of them crashed. With a handy wind-up egg time on hand just in case! With as many as 11 timed steps, using that program with its one-key entries was sure preferable to relying on my own wobbly memory to keep track of the sensitive development processes.

 

After-hours, his many great games occupied my off-time playing and enhancing them.

-Ed

Edited April 9, 2018 by Ed in SoDak

[carlsson]

I'm sad to tell that Tim Hartnell passed away already in 1991, at the tender age of 40.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Hartnell

[Compumater]

I'm sad to tell that Tim Hartnell passed away already in 1991, at the tender age of 40.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Hartnell

 

Wow, I had no idea. I too read, studied, and played many of the programs Tim wrote. He was truly an expert in the era when it came to the zx81.

 

So young to pass, and such a loss.

[+nanochess]

Pretty sad! I didn't new. Also learnt a lot with his books.

[Ed in SoDak]

I submitted a short segment on what the ZX81/Timex TS1000 has meant to me. While it didn't lead me to a new career, as vintage computers did for some of us, it sure enhanced my darkroom business when I wrote that programmable timer program. It freed me from being a clock watcher for 45 minutes. I could do other things during that time, which could double my production of enlargements and thus, my hourly profit.

 

Randy might still accept more, so why not add your own ZX memories?

-Ed

[rkindig]

thanks, Ed, there definitely is still time and I would love as many memories for the podcast as people are willing to submit!

 

Randy