The ZX81 Manual
We discussed the original ZX81 manual in this meeting’s “Book Nook”. One quirky typographical we noticed was the use of the ampersand (&) in place of the word “and” throughout the ZX81 manual. For many of us, this manual was the gateway to understanding how computers interpret commands and execute programs.
Several of us recounted their early programming journeys, with the ZX81 or Timex Sinclair 1000 often being our first introduction to BASIC. Some had prior experience with Apple II or Radio Shack BASIC but found Sinclair BASIC’s keyword tokenization and unique syntax both efficient and, at times, limiting.
One common challenge was the lack of string manipulation functions like LEFT$, MID$, and RIGHT$ in Sinclair BASIC, which were staples in Microsoft BASIC dialects. This absence required creative programming approaches and sometimes led to frustration. Sinclair BASIC’s string slicing capabilities offered elegant alternatives that some of us mastered over time.
While manuals provided the foundation, many of us quickly moved on to books filled with type-in programs and game listings. These books often included detailed explanations of how the programs worked, encouraging experimentation and learning beyond the initial manual.
VCF Midwest Planning
We moved on to coordinating our attendance at the Vintage Computer Fest Midwest (VCF Midwest), scheduled for the second weekend of September in Chicago. Planning is underway to coordinate attendees, arrange table assignments, and organize group dinners at nearby restaurants.
Carl Miles plans to deliver a talk titled “Timex Made Home Computers: What Were They Thinking?” This presentation will cover the timeline from the ZX81 through the Timex Sinclair 1500 and the Portuguese variants that continued development after Timex USA exited the market. The goal is to educate attendees about the American contributions to what is often perceived as a purely British computing lineage.