--- title: "Hardware Review: Sinclair ZX Microdrive Expansion System" type: "article" slug: "hardware-review-sinclair-zx-microdrive-expansion-system" url: "http://localhost/article/hardware-review-sinclair-zx-microdrive-expansion-system/" markdown_url: "http://localhost/article/hardware-review-sinclair-zx-microdrive-expansion-system.md" published_at: "2026-03-14T13:37:44+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-14T13:37:45+00:00" featured_image: url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20230809-041332.jpg" excerpt: "Detailed review of the ZX Microdrive Expansion System (Interface 1 + single microdrive unit) available from English Micro Connection for $134.95. Covers hardware: the Interface 1 paging mechanism ('Shadow ROM'), 8K ROM-based OS supporting OPEN/CLOSE/MOVE/ERASE/CAT/FORMAT commands, 80-100K capacity cartridges, 15x faster than cassette, average 12-16 second access times. RS-232 and network ports described. Free software…" category: - name: "Timelinez" slug: "timelinez" taxonomy: "category" url: "http://localhost/category/periodicals/timelinez/" post_tag: - name: "Hardware review" slug: "hardware-review" taxonomy: "post_tag" url: "http://localhost/tag/hardware-review/" - name: "ZX Spectrum" slug: "zx-spectrum" taxonomy: "post_tag" url: "http://localhost/tag/zx-spectrum/" model: - name: "Sinclair ZX Spectrum" slug: "zxspectrum" taxonomy: "model" url: "http://localhost/model/zxspectrum/" - name: "Timex/Sinclair 2068" slug: "ts-2068" taxonomy: "model" url: "http://localhost/model/ts-2068/" indiv: - name: "Steve Ishii" slug: "steve-ishii" taxonomy: "indiv" url: "http://localhost/indiv/steve-ishii/" publication_r: id: 21571 title: "Timelinez" type: "periodical" url: "http://localhost/periodical/timelinez/" authors_r: - name: "Steve Ishii" slug: "steve-ishii" taxonomy: "indiv" url: "http://localhost/indiv/steve-ishii/" volume: "4" issue: "2" issues_articles: - id: 38831 title: "Timelinez v4 n2/3" type: "issue" url: "http://localhost/issue/timelinez-v4-n2-3/" pages: "4" pubdate: "February/March 1986" archive_link: false --- # Hardware Review: Sinclair ZX Microdrive Expansion System Detailed review of the ZX Microdrive Expansion System (Interface 1 + single microdrive unit) available from English Micro Connection for $134.95. Covers hardware: the Interface 1 paging mechanism (‘Shadow ROM’), 8K ROM-based OS supporting OPEN/CLOSE/MOVE/ERASE/CAT/FORMAT commands, 80-100K capacity cartridges, 15x faster than cassette, average 12-16 second access times. RS-232 and network ports described. Free software included: Tasword 2, Masterfile, Ant Attack, Games Designer. Highly recommended for TS2068 users.