ZX Spectrum Next

[Ian J]

Now this is what I want from a new-take on old hardware, this looks very impressive and they are showing a prototype.

Moderator: Removed link to retrocomputingnews, the site is dead (replaced with archive.org snapshot).

Sinclair Spectrum – the Next generation!

Things seem to have gone a little crazy on the retro computing front lately, what with new retro consoles and computers coming out of the woodwork all over the place – and the latest and poss…

web.archive.org

 

[ZXDunny]

I'm warming to this one. Shame it hasn't a screen built in though, that would have been the killer feature for me.

 

[FBnil]

This is nice... true-to-hardware. Old expansion thingies work. I liked this part:

...will be compatible with all the original Sinclair ZX Spectrum versions including 48k, 128k (Toastrack), +2 and +3.
In fact, amazingly, the Spectrum Next will also be compatible with Brazilian Speccy clones the TK90X and TK95, as well as the Sinclair ZX80, ZX81, and Jupiter Ace!...

 

[Ian J]

I'd be interested to see this running at 7mhz with some of the titles the original Speccy struggled with.

Titles like Chase HQ. Robocop, Knightlore etc were excellent but did suffer with slowdown.

 

[Ian J]

There is an interview on this podcast with the guy behind the ZX Spectrum Next.

The interview starts at 65:10

http://retroasylum.com/episode-142-zx-spectrum-next/

 

[erico]

The project is now gold, the specs released look great.
It is the only thing other then the pandora/pyra that I know that carries 2 sd slots.

I´m tempted.

http://www.vintageisthenewold.com/zx-spectrum-next-hardware-goes-gold/

http://www.specnext.com/

 

[comradekingu]

Whyyyy cant they have a full keyboard. And then there is that whole vastness of space on the right just to rub your face in.
Clive, i see you, what you did there, it is wrong.

 

[erico]

As I remember the spectrum had a very specific keyboard, I find it nice that they kept the original, you can always add one full on the ps2 port as it seems.
The spaces seems to have a relation with the board and the ability to fit it on an old original case.
...but then, I could be wrong, I don´t know much about this project, but I like it, it is better then the spectrum revivals I have seen so far.
Maybe this one is not for you? You can do with emulation on a laptop with a full keyboard if that is a value you seek.

 

[levi]

Yes, the keyboard and the whole case seems to resemble a Spectrum + most closely:

That's probably a good thing. It always surprised me when the Amstrad-built Spectrum +2 came out and lost all those function names - though apparently if you booted into 128k BASIC you had to type in full function names like on any other home computer of the time.

I am concerned how good that keyboard will be to type on though, especially if you're not using 48k BASIC. I guess it doesn't have a lot of travel, unless the keys go significantly inside the case when you press them, but flat keyboards with next to no travel are more acceptable than they once were, it's more about what travel there is being smooth and well defined, not squishy and spongy like the original 48k keyboards.

 

[TrashyMG]

Most likely still better than the ZX81 keyboard... I last used the zx81 back in 1984 and the frustration of using that thing still haunts me today.

 

[Ian J]

I presume the keyboard is in that format to be 100% compatible with all software, I know the pain of trying to find where strange keys found on a Commodore 64 have been mapped on a standard PC keyboard when running emulators.

If required the motherboard can be used with a standard PC keyboard but you will have to remember where all of the buttons are mapped.

The keyboard is supposed to look retro but uses modern technology so should be pretty good for typing on.

I wish they'd put this much effort into the recent C64 remake.

 

[levi]

Meh, for me keyboard technology peaked in about 1984. Everything since the model M/cherry mx blue has been a compromise

 

[ible]

which is why something that looks like a keyboard, but is actually a full-blown computer, should have nice cherry switches?

 

[pmprog]

I wish they'd put this much effort into the recent C64 remake.

Are you referring to "The64"? Has there been anything solid coming out of that project yet?

If I were you, I'd keep an eye on the MEGA65 and Individual Computers. The MEGA65 is sounding pretty good, and will also provide a Geos system, but it won't be a straight-up C64 (though it does have the "GO64" command); and I head Individual Computers is looking at some new hardware, so I asked Jens if there's any plans for a fully contained unit (unlike the Chameleon, which is half cart/half C64) and he hinted that there was, but had some other projects first.

Links for the interested

MEGA65
http://mega65.org/

Individual Computers
https://icomp.de/shop-icomp/en/33/items/commodore-back-in-germany.html

 

[Ian J]

Are you referring to "The64"? Has there been anything solid coming out of that project yet?

Yep that's the one, as far as I could see when it was announced it offered nothing I couldn't achieve with current emulation.

The Next looks like it has the compatibility (including hardware) but also adds in some nice additions.

Those links look interesting I'll definitely check them out.

 

[rygD]

At least they made this thing shiny and rounded...

 

[ZXDunny]

Most likely still better than the ZX81 keyboard... I last used the zx81 back in 1984 and the frustration of using that thing still haunts me today.

Tbh, it was very much like using a touchscreen keyboard today. Very forward-thinking of Sir Clive, I must say. The guy was a genius, after all.

 

[Ian J]

shiny

Dust magnet

 

[Magic Sam]

Hi all

@Ian J : that ZX Spectrum next looks pretty tempting, thanks for sharing the info !

I stumbled upon this Atari Falcon clone project (the FireBee) today.

Opinions ?

Cheers, Magic Sam

 

[rygD]

Dust magnet

Don't forget the fingerprints. And scratches.
[doublepost=1481104907,1481103708][/doublepost]

I stumbled upon this Atari Falcon clone project (the FireBee) today.

Opinions ?

This is the kind of thing I am interested in playing around with. I think someone here brought this to my attention before. It is a bit too pricey for me.