This product revolutionised the home computer market here in the UK.
Sinclair’s ZX80 was advertised widely as the first home computer for under £100 and if you have one now they are worth good money.
Summary
The Sinclair ZX80 is a home computer launched on 29th January 1980 by Science of Cambridge Ltd. (later to be better known as Sinclair Research).
It was marketed as one of the first computers available in the UK for less than a £100. you could buy it in kit form for £79.95, where purchasers had to assemble and solder it together, or as a ready-built version at £99.95.
Advertised as the first personal computer for under £100 the ZX80was praised for its value and documentation.
However, it came in for criticism for screen blanking during program execution, small RAM size, and the keyboard design. Despite this sales took off straight away, and for some time there was a waiting list of several months for either version of the machine.
The machine was fairly basic using access to a TV for it’s display and cassette recorder to access programs that were not inputted by the user.
The average person could program the machine with ease thus a whole range of magazines popped up dedicated to the machine and offering programs to enter into the machine and articles related to ZX80 users
Where Did They Go?
Sales of the ZX80 reached about 50,000, which contributed significantly to the UK leading the world in home computer ownership through the 1980s. Owing to the unsophisticated design and the tendency for the units to overheat, surviving machines in good condition are sought after and can fetch high prices by collectors.
The machine was discontinued in 1981 and replaced by the ZX81
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