> Even toy Amstrad computers in the 80s came with Basic manuals You're likely talking about the Amstrad CPC, I'm not sure why "toy" should apply to it : it was

> Even toy Amstrad computers in the 80s came with Basic manuals You're likely talking about the Amstrad CPC, I'm not sure why "toy" should apply to it : it was the best selling 8-bit in several European countries, and by far the most capable of all (the C64 had better sound but much worse graphics, and the ZX Spectrum well... let's be charitable and say that it had at least price going for it.) For some reason, the Amstrad was underrated in parts of northern Europe (and especially the UK, its homeland), usually in favour of the C64 (fair), and the ZX Spectrum (IMO inexplicable) Compare screenshots of Operation Wolf, Gryzor, Barbarian side by side on CPC/C64/ZX and you'll see what I mean.