The Sinclair QL Returns

At the beginning of 1980 Clive Sinclair started selling his first computer, the ZX80. The initial purpose was to take the technology of the day and make it affordable to everyone. By pushing that technology to it’s limits, the ZX80 exploded the limits of price/performance — a full powered computer that sold for less than $200.00.

A year later, Sinclair Research introduced an even more powerful computer at an even lower price: the ZX81 at under $150.00.

About that time, Timex became involved in the marketing of Sinclair products in the U.S. bringing out the Timex TS-1000. For the first time we started to see mass merchandisers invovled in the low end computer range. The TS-1000 was a huge success involving millions of people in computing.

Timex took Sinclair’s next generation computer, the Spectrum, and sold it across America calling it the Timex 2068. For the first time, full color and sound were available for under $300.00.

Before this relationship ended in 1984, Sinclair, with Timex, became one of the dominant forces in personal computing, with sales of almost 3 million units worldwide, more than any other company in the industry at that time.

For his efforts, Clive Sinclair was knighted and became Sir Clive. The entry level computer market looked rosey, and the next generation of machines was being rumored about, clearly, the momentum was with Sinclair.

And then, suddenly, Timex called its quits.

Timex never gave any definite reason for pulling out except for hints of financial woes. Most observers speculated that they were unwilling to make a long term commitment to the support of the machine. They discovered that computers require massive, long term, expensive support. So without warning, things ground to a halt, and there was silence.

Apart from the hardcore users who had cut their teeth on Sinclair computers, and the handful of tiny companies who continued support, the general public heard nothing. Publications dedicated to Timex/Sinclair disappeared over night, as did the products on the dealers shelves.

In England, and the rest of the world, the enthusiasm, however, continued unabated, and it was into this arena that Sinclair’s newest product was released in 1984, the Sinclair QL, named for “quantum leap,” the QL represented Sinclair’s first 68000 based computer. With 128K of memory, startling graphics in an 85 column display, full multi-tasking, bundled in W/P, graphics, spreadsheet and database management software, all for less than $500.00, the QL looked very interesting to say the least.

Whether this machine would make an Atlantic crossing was the subject of much speculation, but hope burned bright in the hearts of Sinclair die-hards.

Early, unpolished U.K. versions were quietly reviewed in the U.S. publications, but the proposed American release seemed illusive, at best, as Sinclair themselves knew much refinement was needed for the QL to gain wide acceptance here. Finally, just as the QL was ready to make it’s U.S. debut, Sinclair cut the price of the British counterpart almost in half! The Wall Street Journal carried the news to consumers in the U.S., who, waiting with $499. in hand, immediately wanted to know: would there be a similar price reduction here? After a 3 month delay, the answer was yes.” So now, at last, we have a genuine American version of the Sinclair QL in hand with a suggested retail price of $299.00. The FCC has given their approval for sale of the QL.

Sinclair Research has taken their “anything is possible” philosophy, which accounted for much of their initial success in this country, and applied it to the QL..

QL power starts with the Motorola 68008. It’s 32-bit architecture is already a favorite choice of software designers for speed and flexibility and this ensures the QL will not become outdated in the medium and long term. Sinclair has squeezed even more power out of the 68008 by freeing it from certain tasks — routinely and inefficiently — handled by the main processor in some other computers. A second processor, an Intel 8049, controls the keyboard, generates the sound and acts as an RS-232C receiver. Two Sinclair custom chips control display, memory, the microdrives, a real-time clock, local area network and RS-232C communications. To take still greater advantage of the power of 32-bit architecture, Sinclair has designed a whole new operating system. Residing within the machine’s 32K ROM is QDOS, a single user, multi-tasking, time-sliced system using Sinclair Super-Basic as a command language. Multi-tasking allows several programs to be run simultaneously, a feature normally found on computers costing 10 times the $299.00 the QL lists for. QDOS has fully device-independent input/output so when a program is written .on the QL, one merely needs to specify which device is to be used when the program is ready to run.

Anyone familiar with earlier Sinclair computers knows the power of Sinclair Basic. SuperBASIC is even more powerful. It handles strings as neatly as it handles arrays, it is fully procedure structured, its extendable and its execution speed is independent of the program size.

The procedure facility lets you write code in clearly defined blocks. Extendability allows addition of new procedures that will work exactly the same as the command procedures built into ROM. The constant execution speed means that SuperBASIC won’t get slower as the programs get larger. Instead, long programs run much faster than with other Basics.

Much has been said about Sinclair’s Microdrives, the continuous micro tape loop storage system, two of which are built into the QL. Although tiny in size, (about an inch and a half square), they will hold up to about 50 files or 100K per cartridge. Depending on the length of the program, load time is 10 to 20 times faster than a typical cassette system and in fact the data transfer rate is a little faster than a floppy disk. At any rate, it should be mentioned that no less than 3 new floppy disk interface systems have been released in the last 6 months for the QL, the most expensive retailing for $199.00.

Regarding the QL’s video presentation and aesthetics, the monitor port provides very high resolution in two modes: 512 x 256 pixels in four colors, (or scales of grey in monochrome); or 256 x 256 pixels in eight colors or scales of gray. Column formats are determined by the number of pixels, but a choice is available; normal format is 85 columns by 25 rows.

The QL comes with 128K RAM, but is expandable to 640K for an extra $250.00. Hard-drives are also available ranging from 10 to 40 megabytes, a decided plus when using the networking.

The appearance and finish of the keyboard bears no resemblance to any preceeding Sinclair product. Finished in matte black, the QL keyboard is a full-sized QWERTY board with 65 keys, including shift keys where you would expect to find them, five function keys and four separate cursor control keys.

Two RS-232C standard communications interfaces for printer, modem or other compatible peripherals are included along with TV, Monitor, ROM cartridge and Expansion slots. The RS-232C ports transmit from 75 to 19,200 baud. Or, transmit/receive in full duplex at seven rates up to 9600.

There are also two joystick ports and the port for the Local Area Network, (QLAN), for the hardwire networking of 2-64 QL’s. When networking, data travels through the network at 100K baud.

The advantage of the QL taking so long to come to market, is that others have had a chance to catch up, and this is the case with the QL’s third party support.

Apart from the fact that Sinclair includes a suite of four programs covering essential user needs, much new software is available already. Ranging from entertainment and adventure to abundant language support and nittygritty workhorse programs such as project planners and decision software, the new list of software is growing at an astounding pace.

Released last month is a ROM cartridge called ICE, (Icon Controlled Environment), which presents the user with a desktop environment from which all QDOS functions are controlled. The mouse, joystick or cursor key driven arrow accesses everything from the calculator and calendar to import/export and ram-disk control. Included with ICE is utility software to handle multi-tasking, RAM drives, mailmerge and card file indexes.

QL distributor, Foundation Systems, (a division of Ramex International), have compiled an extensive list of QL peripherals and third party software.

One of their fastest moving items is the ICE package mentioned above. They have advised us that during the initial introduction of the QL, they are including the ICE pack free, ($100.00 retail), when they ship QL’s at the already reduced $299.00 price.

Warranty service will be provided by EMF at 60 Foundry St., Keene, NH, who will also offer extended service contracts for the QL.

Supplies of the Micro Drive Wafers are plentiful and will continue to be available.

Enquiries regarding purchases or further information should be addressed to: Foundation Systems, 17620 26 Mile Rd., Washington, MI 48094. Or call 313-781-5800. Mention that you read about it in Computer Shopper.