10 Nov
2005
10 Nov
'05
5:33 a.m.
Dave Dunfield wrote:
They're actually pretty rare (even rarer if you can find a working one
in a box!) and seem to change hands for a significant amount of money
when complete (sort of like a UK equivalent of the Altair in terms of
ridiculous prices :)
In terms of monetary value against size / weight they're probably one of
the most expensive machines around. I really don't know *why* that's the
case, but there you go...
Anyone know how many were built? I would have thought a lot - yet ZX81's
seem to outnumber them 50:1 these days...
Today I was
looking for something (A Cipher 525 tape drive) that I bought
NOS years ago and left in its original box. I thought I'd found it, opened
the box and discovered a Sinclair ZX80 with the "A Course in BASIC
Programming" book. The problem is that I don't remember getting this
thing--I'm sure I didn't buy it. Maybe Dave McGlone tossed it in when we
were swapping junk years ago. (P.S. I did find the Cipher and discovered
that I bought two of them).
I don't know if it works, since I don't know the polarity of the 9vdc
adapter. Either way, is this just common trash or is this actually worth
something?. My wife suggested that I throw it out; she figures that if I
didn't even know that I had it after all these years, that I certainly
don't need it now.
The ZX80 is the immediate predecessor of the ZX81/Timex-1000, which are
VERY common. The ZX80 isn't quite so common, but I think there should
be lots around - although I've not stumbled on another one lately. Don't toss it - Mines in sad shape (previous owner
drilled holes to
mount switches, broke the corner off the cabinet and lost the original
integer ROM after upgrading to the FP rom)
Our existing one's in much the same way - someone mounted a DB25
connector into the case (actually half into the case; it's sticking out
and held there with lots of glue). Plus the machine's dead. I am however
picking up a working boxed one in a couple of weeks (no idea of cosmetic
condition yet, but the current owner strikes me as someone who takes
care of stuff)
cheers
Jules