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The big thing about the ZX Spectrum was its rock bottom price. You got a TRS-80 system for $2495, or you got a ZX Spectrum for £175.
by Dwedit 5y ago
The big thing about the ZX Spectrum was its rock bottom price. You got a TRS-80 system for $2495, or you got a ZX Spectrum for £175.
- zozbot234 5y agoHardware was very expensive back then. Even the ZX Spectrum's "rock bottom" price would amount to several hundred dollars today.
- timthorn 5y agoIt was expensive, but Dwedit's point is correct. The main competitor was the BBC Micro, the cheapest version of which cost £235 at launch, compared to £125 for the 16k Spectrum. Compared to the machines available from the big US names, these weren't as capable but were so much more accessible.
- nivenkos 5y agoIt's about the same price as a reasonable laptop (e.g. Vivobook is now) or a games console. And it had to be, because the UK was much, much poorer in terms of average disposable income than the US at the time (and still is really).
- f_hollmann 5y agoNot necessarily: EACA VideoGenie EG 3003 for approximately $1400 (in Germany).
- billywhizz 5y agoone of the reasons it was cheap was they got faulty 64k ram chips at a knock down price - hence the 48k. this film about sinclair is well worth a watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXBxV6-zamM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXBxV6-zamM