ZX Spectrum+
The same 48K, with a proper keyboard and a reset button.
The 1984 ZX Spectrum+ kept the 48K's electronics and swapped the rubber keyboard for a larger case, with hard plastic keys, a space bar and a reset button.
A new case for the same machine
In October 1984 Sinclair launched the Spectrum+, at £179.95. Inside it is a Spectrum 48K; what is new is the case, designed by Rick Dickinson in the style of the Sinclair QL, with plastic keys, a long space bar, dedicated keys for functions that used to need key combinations, and a reset button on the side.
Sinclair also sold a kit so 48K owners could move their board into the new case.
On the bench
The Spectrum+'s keys sit on a multi-layer membrane, and with age these membranes crack and stop making contact. It is the most common fault: there are new membranes made today that solve the problem.
Trivia
- 10 REM
The reset button was a welcome novelty: on the 48K, restarting meant pulling the plug and putting it back in.
- 20 REM
Because it uses the same board as the 48K, it is compatible with practically all 48K software.
- 30 REM
The manual and packaging changed, but the ROM and the start-up message are the same as the 48K's.
Try it
On the 48K each key types a whole word: press P and PRINT appears. Quotes are Ctrl + P. Try PRINT "HELLO" and ENTER.
Emulation by JSSpeccy 3 (GPL-3.0). The Spectrum ROM belongs to Amstrad, which allows it to be distributed with emulators.
© 1982 Sinclair Research Ltd
The family: Sinclair
- 1977 Science of Cambridge MK14
- 1980 Sinclair ZX80
- 1981 Sinclair ZX81
- 1982 ZX Spectrum 16K / 48K
- 1984 ZX Spectrum+
- 1984 Sinclair QL
- 1985 ZX Spectrum 128
- 1986 ZX Spectrum +2
- 1987 ZX Spectrum +3
- 1987 ZX Spectrum +2A / +2B
- 2017 ZX Spectrum Next
Compared with the other models
| Model | Year | Processor | Memory | Video | Sound | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science of Cambridge MK14 | 1977 | SC/MP · 4,43 MHz | 256 B | LED 7 segmentos | — | Monitor 512 B |
| Sinclair ZX80 | 1980 | Z80A · 3,25 MHz | 1 KB (16 KB) | TTL · 32 × 24 mono | — | 4K BASIC |
| Sinclair ZX81 | 1981 | Z80A · 3,25 MHz | 1 KB (16 KB) | ULA · 32 × 24 mono | — | 8K BASIC |
| ZX Spectrum 16K / 48K | 1982 | Z80A · 3,5 MHz | 16 / 48 KB | ULA · 256 × 192 | Beeper 1 bit | 48 BASIC |
| ▶ ZX Spectrum+ | 1984 | Z80A · 3,5 MHz | 48 KB | ULA · 256 × 192 | Beeper 1 bit | 48 BASIC |
| Sinclair QL | 1984 | 68008 · 7,5 MHz | 128 KB | ZX8301 · 512 × 256 | 8049 · beeper | QDOS + SuperBASIC |
| ZX Spectrum 128 | 1985 | Z80A · 3,55 MHz | 128 KB | ULA · 256 × 192 | AY-3-8912 · 3 ch | 128 BASIC |
| ZX Spectrum +2 | 1986 | Z80A · 3,55 MHz | 128 KB | ULA · 256 × 192 | AY-3-8912 · 3 ch | 128 BASIC |
| ZX Spectrum +3 | 1987 | Z80A · 3,55 MHz | 128 KB | Gate array · 256 × 192 | AY-3-8912 · 3 ch | +3 BASIC + +3DOS |
| ZX Spectrum +2A / +2B | 1987 | Z80A · 3,55 MHz | 128 KB | Gate array · 256 × 192 | AY-3-8912 · 3 ch | +3 BASIC |
| ZX Spectrum Next | 2017 | Z80N (FPGA) · até 28 MHz | 1 MB | FPGA · HDMI / VGA | 3 × AY + DAC | NextZXOS |
Let me know when one arrives: ZX Spectrum+
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