Clive Sinclair, who needs no introduction has passed away : Sir Clive Sinclair: Computing pioneer dies aged 81 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58587521
Wow, bit of a shock due to a lot of childhood memories.
I was never a Spectrum fan, or ever owned one, but I did admire what Sir Clive did in bringing home computing to the masses. And helping keep the prices down through healthy competition with Commodore.
In 1989/90 my mother joined a Mensa club that met up in South Harrow for a few years. Sir Clive was part of the same group so she met him several times. I had long since left home by then so never had the opportunity to meet him myself.
It's a pity the C5 crashed and burned so painfully for him. He should have perhaps tried again with computers after the QL didn't make its mark.
My first computer was a ZX81. In france, it was pretty expensive to get one with all the taxes, but it was anyway somehow affordable compare to an IBM or other 'personal' computers.
I worked 15 days during summer for a farmer to get the money, gathering garlic (the most physic job I ever done :))
Then I purchased a kit (cheaper) and waited long months to get it.
Since then, I never stopped to use a computer...
Thanks Mr Sinclair !
spectrum was my first computer I owned - saved up to buy it second hand and still remember being driven to some villiage in Warwick to get it upstairs in a black and white Tudor house. good times...
ZX spectrum's were never sold in my region, but one can't respect the man for bringing home computing to many, especially in the demo scene.
Sir Clive made computing affordable and introduced computers to the homes of many, myself included. My very first computer was the Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K in 1982. From games to coding, my facination with computers is as strong as ever, so I thank you Clive RIP.
Never had a Speccy, was an Amstrad lad - but really Sir Clive kick off the whole home computer sector!
One of my favourite Movies ::) RIP
https://youtu.be/XXBxV6-zamM
Baggey
If it wasn't for the Speccy (and my dad buying it, rest in peace Dad) then I probably wouldn't have bothered to make the effort to learn how to program. The Speccy is my grass roots entry in to the world of programming. Learned a lot from the INPUT series and the local library. I fondly remember the 8 bit wars and the Speccy seemed to somehow hold its own even when my classmates rated it as the underdog (bad colour and sound).
I'm glad Clive liked the Spectrum Next as it pays a good homage and respect to the original Speccy and to Clive himself.
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elgol
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Re: RIP Clive Sinclair
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2021, 10:19:09 »
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Sir Clive made computing affordable and introduced computers to the homes of many, myself included. My very first computer was the Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K in 1982. From games to coding, my facination with computers is as strong as ever, so I thank you Clive RIP.
Ditto, the hours I'd coding on my Speccy, creating my own platformers and a battleships game.... R. I. P Sir Clive Sinclair.
I never owned a Speccy I got a Commodore 128 but my friend had one, I loved it for the rubber keys and small size although the lack of colors put me off a bit but it had some brilliant games. Thank you Sir Clive for fun times!
Hey Baggey never seen that movie , just watched the first 10 minutes and will watch it properly shortly. Thanks for that.
I had the zx81 and spectrum .
I owned a Spec 2-3 year then keyboard start crappy then i sell it
i like the BASIC but not hardware