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ZX Spectrum Next

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Sinclair ZX Spectrum Next
DeveloperSpecNext Ltd.
ManufacturerSMS Electronics
TypeHome computer
Release dateFebruary 2020
Units sold3000+
CPUZilog Z80 implemented in FPGA
Memory1 MB (upgradeable to 2 MB)
DisplayVGA, RGB, HDMI
PredecessorZX Spectrum 128

Sinclair ZX Spectrum Next is a modern 8-bit home computer, backwards compatible with the ZX Spectrum, but also featuring enhanced capabilities.[1][2]. It is intended to appeal to retro-computing enthusiasts and also to "encourage a new generation of bedroom coders", according to project member Jim Bagley.[3]

History

The ZX Spectrum Next started life in 2010 in Brazil, as a variant of the TK95 Spectrum clone. The design is based on an Altera DE1 FPGA, which implements the original ZX Spectrum's Z80 CPU.

In 2016 Victor Trucco and Fabio Belavenuto announced the "TBBlue" board, named for the two creators and the color of the solder mask of the motherboard, a bare circuit board implementation of the product for advanced hobbyists.

With the help of Henrique Olifiers the duo wanted to export the TBBlue to the UK, the ZX Spectrum's original home, having received moderate success with the board in Brazil.[4]

The Next was first announced as a distinct product in 2016 after the participation of original Spectrum industrial designer Rick Dickinson was secured. A crowdfunding campaign was launched on the Kickstarter platform in January 2017 with an initial funding goal of £250,000.[5] At the end of the campaign 3,113 backers pledged £723,390.

License to use the "Sinclair" name and "ZX Spectrum" trademark was granted to SpecNext Ltd. by the current owner of the trademarks Sky Group in exchange for a charitable donation to the Royal National Institute of the Blind[citation needed].

The board-only computer was delivered to backers in December 2017[6]. After some design and production delays, the first batch of finished units were delivered to backers in March 2020.

A second Kickstarter was funded on 11 August 2020 and went past its crowdfunding target in just two days.[7][8]


Models

Four models of the Next have been produced:

  • ZX Spectrum Next developer board (Base 1024 kb memory model that could fit in the original ZX Spectrum case with minor adjustments. The board design was changed slightly for the next three models.)
  • ZX Spectrum Next with 1024 kb memory (768 kb free) or 2048 kb in the second Kickstarter
  • ZX Spectrum Next Plus adds a real-time clock and Wifi over the standard Next
  • ZX Spectrum Next Accelerated adds a Raspberry Pi Zero over the Plus.[9]

Further options include 2× 512 kb memory, internal beeper speaker. A real-time clock, Wifi and Pi Zero can easily be user-installed in the standard model.

Reception

The Next has received generally favorable reviews in the specialist press. In the official Raspberry Pi magazine "MagPi", Lucy Hattersley called it "a lovely piece of kit", noting that it is "well-designed and well-built: authentic to the original, and with technology that nods to the past while remaining functional and relevant in the modern age".[10]

In PC Pro magazine, columnist Gareth Halfacree called the Next "undeniably impressive" while noting that the printed manual lacks an index, and that some features are "not quite ready".[11]

Retro Gamer featured an 8-page interview with the creators of the machine about the highs and lows of creating a "true successor to the much-loved Sinclair micro".[4]

Clones

The Spectrum Next team actively encourages the manufacture of clone machines to promote and expand the userbase as much as possible.

Clones of the ZX Spectrum Next include:

  • ZXDOS+ (board) / gomaDOS+ (board with case)
  • A ZX Next/TBBlue Clone

Also two Spectrum Next emulators are available: ZEsarUX by Cesar Hernandez and #CSpect by Mike Dailly.

Visual Design

The Next's case design[12] is by Rick Dickinson who designed the original 48K Spectrum and Spectrum+, but died during the development of the keyboard of the computer.[13] It takes design cues from the Spectrum+ and Spectrum 128, not the later Spectrum +2 or +3 manufactured by Amstrad.

Hardware Specifications

ZX Spectrum Next
CPU Z80N (Zilog Z80 compatible with additional instructions) implemented in FPGA
Speed 3.5, 7, 14 or 28 MHz
RAM (Memory) 768K (base), 1792K (expanded)
Graphics From 128 × 96 to 640 × 256 pixels
Colour Depending on mode and layer, 16 or 256 colours. No colour clash in certain modes.
Sprites Up to 128 hardware sprites of 16 × 16 pixels.
Sound Traditional "Beeper", 3 × General Instrument AY-3-8910 programmable sound generators, and 4 × 8-bit DACs.
Software The Next can be configured to boot into up to thirty alternate cores resident in flash memory, giving it the ability to simulate other 8-bit microcomputers such as the Acorn BBC Micro, game consoles and arcade games.

References

  1. ^ Bush, Steve (April 28, 2017). "ZX Spectrum rides again, with Z80 and optional Raspberry Pi Zero". Electronics Weekly.
  2. ^ Beschizza, Rob (April 30, 2017). "ZX Spectrum Next is an advanced version of the original 8-bit monster machine". BoingBoing.
  3. ^ Crooks, David (December 2019). "ZX Spectrum Next Raspberry Pi project showcase". MagPi Magazine.
  4. ^ a b Carroll, Martyn (January 15, 2020). "The Next Level - Introducing the ZX Spectrum Next". Retro Gamer (UK).
  5. ^ "Celebrate the Sinclair ZX Spectrum's 35th anniversary with… yet another retro console". Metro (UK). April 24, 2017.
  6. ^ "Update 24: What's next for the Next (including full computers shipping estimate) · ZX Spectrum Next". Kickstarter. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  7. ^ "ZX Spectrum Next Issue 2 blasts through Kickstarter goal". BBC News. August 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Opvolger ZX Spectrum Next krijgt snellere cpu-modes en meer ram". Tweakers. August 12, 2020.
  9. ^ Ridden, Paul (April 24, 2017). "Home computing classic reborn as ZX Spectrum Next". New Atlas.
  10. ^ Hattersley, Lucy (April 2020). "ZX Spectrum Next Accelerated review". MagPi Magazine.
  11. ^ Halfacree, Gareth (July 2020). "ZX Spectrum Next". PC Pro Magazine (UK). No. 309. pp. 48–50.
  12. ^ https://www.flickr.com/photos/9574086@N02/albums/72157685519763101
  13. ^ Halfacree, Gareth (April 26, 2018). "Industrial designer Rick Dickinson passes away". Bit-Tech.Net.
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