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| Serial Number 029174 Made in Scotland by SCI UK
LTD. |
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| Sinclair computers may have gone to Amstrad and
finished with the plus 3, but that wasn't quite
the end of the story. |
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| Sir Clive Sinclair had been working for some time
on a portable computer. Unable to use the Sinclair
name, he set up Cambridge Computer to complete the
project which became the Z88. |
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| The Z88 is a portable machine, the size of an
A4 folder, with an eight row LCD screen. There is
built-in software called PipeDream, which is a spreadsheet
that can be used as a wordprocessor and a database,
plus a diary, calendar and calculator and an alarm.
It also has a version of BBC BASIC. The file management
system allows files to be exported via an RS232
connection to PCs running Wordstar or Lotus 1-2-3,
popular software at the time. |
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| Being a Sinclair computer, some things are non-standard.
Like the rubber keyboard which has an optional click
to reasure the user. And the CTRL and ALT keys marked
with a diamond and a square. |
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| The 32KB memory can be expanded, there are two
slots for RAM or ROM allowing additional software
to be installed. Mine has 128K RAM and PC Link.
There is also an EPROM slot for saving files in
a safe way so that they are not lost if the batteries
fail. |
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| The computer can be powered from the mains or
by four AA batteries giving up to 20 hours portable
use. They also maintain the memory when the computer
is off, lasting about a year if only used for this
purpose. Memory is retained only briefly during
battery changes, so it's best to do this while connected
to the mains power supply. |
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| My Z88 has a soft protective case and a cardboard
carrying box. It also has a booking form for training
days operated by Rakewell Limited in Bletchley,
Milton Keynes. |
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| Although quite a useful computer, sales seem to
have been disappointing and this was Sir Clive's
last entry in the computer field. |
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