ScuzzBlog: Diaries June 2023
Entry 3rd June 2023: Post 1: ZX81 - My forty year addiction.
ZX81 - My forty year addiction.
I pulled out this old banged up ZX81 box that had become trapped
behind some Acorn computers and I couldn't help but be moved by
age of this thing now. Whilst the box in question was not of my
original it did reflect the price that I paid in the day. For 45
quid in the spring of 1983 I had purchased the ZX81 and this prior
to the offer of the RAM pack.
I decided to dig out my original ZX81 box which not only had a
simple sleeve outer with no fancy fully enclosed box but also a
ring bound book as opposed to the rigid spine. Trust me 45 quid
in the day was a lot of money especially as I was at college at
the time.
This marked such a dramatic shift in my life with journal entries
post this period filled with comments about the computer. The
passion for the platform had accelerated so fast that on 20th June
of the same year we purchased a Sinclair Spectrum 16K. On 17th
September we trekked all the way to Musselburgh in Scotland to
the Sinclair Computer Fayre. And having bought a 48K Speccy game
by mistake on 3rd October 1983 we decided to upgrade to a full 48K
Sinclair Spectrum rather than buy a RAM pack.
I didn't abandon the ZX81 which on 25th December 1983 was gifted
a new raised keyboard. Saying that we spent all Christmas playing
Manic Miner on the Spectrum 48K.
So that was forty years ago in the blink of an eye and when I
think of all the hours I have spent mucking around with computers
since that date I guess this was one acquisition more than any
other that changed my life for ever. I have never regretted the
day I first picked up that ZX81 box from Currys in Brownhills. I
do remember the day very well. I also remember the all nighter
I pulled that first day as I tried to come to terms with BASIC.
I knew then that I was hooked.
I really have never ever stopped adding to my computer addiction.
Even this week I have added three more items to the collection.
What is more amazing is that I never ever tire of my love for
computers. Otherwise I wouldn't be sitting here writing this now.
Anyhoo here is to another forty years of fun. And remember to
always but always enjoy and make best use of the first part of
the day, week, month and year. The dawn of home computing came
but once but there is always a new sun rising on some aspect of
life deserved of your time. You really never know where the yellow
brick road will lead. Hopefully happy days... happy days.
ZX81 - My forty year addiction.
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Last updated 3rd June 2023
Chandraise Kingdom
Keep the Faith
scuzzscink 2023