ZX80s

ZX80s refers to the early family of home computers produced by Sinclair Research, beginning with the ZX80 in 1980. Aimed at affordability and simplicity, the line helped popularize home computing in the UK and beyond during the early 1980s.

Hardware and design: The ZX80 family used a Zilog Z80 CPU around 3.25 MHz. Base models included a small amount of RAM with ROM containing Sinclair BASIC and basic system firmware. RAM could be expanded with external RAM packs. Video output was to a television via RF, with a simple display system suitable for basic text and very simple graphics. Input was provided by a membrane keyboard.

Software and storage: Programs were written in Sinclair BASIC and saved to cassette tapes. Limitations of memory and speed constrained complex software, but the machines supported a wide range of hobbyist programs and games.

Variants and influence: In international markets, licensed variants appeared, such as the Timex Sinclair 1000 in the United States. The ZX80s laid the groundwork for Sinclair’s later models, notably the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum, and contributed to the growth of a home-computing community around affordable, do-it-yourself machines.

Legacy: As some of the first widely available low-cost home computers, the ZX80s helped establish a culture of approachable computing, influencing software sharing, magazines, and early programming education.