Vast database soon available to Sinclair users

With the next new computer from Sinclair Research not expected until next year, attention in the U.K. is being focussed on expanding existing systems.

The two major expansions for which Sinclair owners are eagerly waiting are the Microdrives and Micronet 800. Both have been announced but neither is yet available.

The Microdrives are expected soon but Sinclair is refusing to give any details about when it will go on sale or what it contains.

It is believed to be a tape loop which will allow an extra 100K of memory to be added to the Spectrum, the U .K . version of the T/S2000. The necessary interface will allow up to eight drives to be attached. Each drive should cost £40 ($50) and the interface will be about £30 ($43).

While these expansion possibilities seem large, the opportunities offered by Micronet 800 are enormous.

Micronet 800 is a 30,000 page database of information to which Sinclair computer owners will be able to attain access via the telephone network for the cost of a £50 ($72) adaptor plus a membership fee and usage charges.

Micronet 800 is a new service on British Telecom’s existing Prestel network. Prestel allows owners of customized TV to attain access to information on everything from the weather to theatre booking facilities.

Now with the addition of Micronet 900 database the whole Prestel network is opened up to microcomputer owners.

Subscribers will be able to download programs of all types, have the latest news and reviews on what is happening in the world of personal computing, have the use of an electronic mail system, and there will be a section which clubs can use to contact members. They will also have access to the full Prestel database.

Adaptors are being produced for the full range of Micros in the British market, but as yet they are not available for the Spectrum or the ZX81. The system has already been launched with adaptors for the BBC Model B, Apple II and PET, and interest has been very good. However, the backers will not know if the system will be a success until they bring in users of the market leader. It is intended to have an adaptor for the Spectrum by this month, with the ZX81 being catered to later in the year.

Some delay has been caused by a breakdown in relations between Sinclair Research and a firm called Martochoice, which was a joint winner of a competition for a Prestel adaptor for the ZX81 last year. They were cooperating to produce an adaptor for the Spectrum, but this fell through this year because of a disagreement within Martochoice. For the moment, Sinclair has dropped its own plans for providing telesoftware, but Micronet is going ahead with an adaptor from another source.

It is seen in many circles as the possible savior of the pioneering Prestel Viewdata service. Interest in the service has been slow to build up with businesses being the main customers. Users needed a relatively expensive speciallyadapted television set and the cost of using the systems was also thought to be high for the home. The rapid growth in home com¬ puting has provided a means for changing all that.

An adaptor at a reasonable price and lower user costs has already generated a lot of interest, which is expected to be quickly translated into a growing number taking advantage of the latest telecommunications technology.