This section is intended to preview the peripherals and accessories that will be available for the ZX80. Readers are encouraged to submit reviews of products mentioned here.
CAI Instruments of Midland, Michigan is developing a series of interfaces for the Sinclair ZX80. The company has announced a PC board which will plug into the ZX80 expansion port, in front of the 16K RAM module. This peripheral will work with a printer and includes an improved interface for storing programs on tape. The basic package includes the board, printer and tape recorder, and will sell for approximately $200. Other packages will be available with varying qualities of printers and recorders. One system, containing a printer, the board, and a high quality tape system will cost less than $350. CAI is also working on a full size plug-in keyboard for under $50. The company also has interfaces to work with floppy disks. CAI Instruments, 2559 Arbutus Court, Midland, MI 48640.
Innovision of Los Altos, California is devising an improved graphics device for the ZX80. The company will have a hand printed graphics system using memory mapped video. This peripheral will be available once the 8K ROM is released. Innovision, P.O. Box 1317, Los Altos, CA 94022
Voicetek of Goleta, California has been authorized by Sinclair Reasearch Limited to develop a speech recognition unit. The project has been delayed until the introduction of the ZX80 16K RAM. Voicetek, 6690 Abrego, Goleta, CA 93017.
Sinclair Research Limited now expects to have the 8K Basic ROM for the ZX80 available by March 1981. The new Basic allows the use of floating point arithmetic to nine digit accuracy, and contains log and trig functions with inverses. This ROM facilitates improved graphics, and contains 37 new functions including DRAW, DATA, ARCSIN, VAL, and SCROLL. The plug-in conversion includes a new keyboard template and a supplementary manual, and should sell for $40. Sinclair Research Ltd., 50 Staniford St., Boston, MA 02114.
Sinclair has also officially announced the long-awaited 16K RAM expansion for the ZX80 computer. The module has received FCC certification and is expected before the end of January 1981. The unit is housed in a plastic box the size of two cassette tapes, and plugs into the expansion port at the rear of the computer. Sinclair is now taking orders for the $99.99 RAM.