*** SPECTRUM-NOTES ***
Did you know that the new ZX Spectrum Plus (the 48K Spectrum dressed in QL clothes), is being sold now, in the United States? But not from Sinclair. It is available from a new company called “The English Micro Connection“, 15 Kilburn Court, Newport, Rhode Island, 02840, for $159.95. EMC (short for English Micro Connection), also carries many other items, including hardware and software for the Spectrum compatible Timex/Sinclair 2068. They are the exclusive U.S. distributors for Hi-Soft, Ultimate, Beyond, and Microvitec RGB Color Monitors; and have been appointed North American sales agents for Computers of Wigmore Street, London. EMC has a brand new 32 page catalog out, that is absolutely free…yours for the asking. Their prices are some of the lowest we have seen for imported English computer merchandise. If you are trying to hunt down a pair of Sinclair Microdrives, and an Interface One, EMC has them in stock!
Another company that is new for the U.S., is Damco Enterprises, 67 Bradley Ct., Fall River, MA, 02720. They are the exclusive American distributors of the Rotronics Wafadrive, the hot-selling English stringy floppy system. Damco has made arrangements for Rotronics to manufacture a special adapter for the TS 2068 in tandem with an OMNI-EMU for the cartridge dock. What would you pay for a dual Wafadrive system and interface, an onboard RS232 Interface, and a Centronics Interface, plus free word processor software, 48 page manual, and a Spectrum Emulator? All of this in one package for the almost unheard-of-price of $229.95. If you already own an OMNI-EMU, the price is even lower. Damco strongly recommends that other adapters and interfaces for the TS 2068 should not be used, since this would void the Rotronics service warranty.
Gerry Russel of Russell Electronics, RD 1 Box 539, Centre Hall, PA, 16828, reported that they have released a new improved version of the popular “Romswitch“. It is said to be practically 100% Spectrum Software compatible. It works with all of the programs that Russell Electronics previously had found to be “un-loadable”. They also have available an up-date for older models of the “Romswitch” called a “Romfix“. The improvements center around the principal of placing small resistors on the data lines. This allows the “interrupt-driven” Spectrum Software to run on the 2068.
“Enter Lengua” (Doug Dewey), has available a “MDA”, or Microdrive Adapter for the TS 2068. The MDA makes the rear edge connector of the 2068 pin-for-pin compatible with all Spectrum peripherals. When used in conjuntion with the new OMNI-EMU, the user is able to operate the Sinclair Microdrives. For further information and prices, write to: 206 James St., Carrboro, NC, 27510.
E. McGhee, suite 150, 10127-121 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is offering a free 16 page Spectrum Software catalog. Mr. McGhee recently dropped us a line, and told us, “…we believe that we have run more Spectrum Software Cassettes than any other group in North America, over 60 titles, but we only carry those titles rated 9 by Sinclair User“. The free catalog is complete with descriptions of each title. Write for your copy.