This month I’m starting a series of blog posts about gadgets and gear that make life a bit easier. I have a fondness for small inexpensive stuff that makes my life easier. And I don’t think that I’m alone!
My first computer was a Sinclair ZX-80 and that set me on a path to finding and using a number of computers but the ones I really liked were small. Unfortunately, technology passed most of my computers by and I was forced to upgrade a number of times.
My First Computer: Sinclair ZX80
I ran across an ad for the Sinclair ZX80 in Popular Electronics magazine in 1980 and was immediately taken by the opportunity to buy my very own computer. I don’t remember exactly how much I paid for the computer but I know it was less than $200.
When the computer arrived I had to attach it to a television and cassette recorder in order to record and display programs.
I subscribed to a monthly newsletter for ZX80 owners and read it til the pages were dogeared. The newsletter revealed the secrets of the ZX80 Basic programming language. Although the computer had only 1KB of memory, I was able to learn the rudiments of programming using it.
Programming was fairly easy because the Basic command and even a few graphics were embedded in the keyboard. There was even a Poke command so a bit of assembly language could be added.
The Sinclair ZX80 was great fun but aside from learning a bit about how programs work, it wasn’t particularly useful. Still I was hooked on the form factor even if the functionally left something to be desired. The ZX80 was the perfect size for a netbook and even the built-in soft membrane keyboard worked pretty well. However, some of my later small computers were better precursors of today’s netbooks.
Credits: Sinclair ZX80 and Keyboard
