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Notes |
Manufacturer |
|
Model |
QL ('Quantum Leap') |
Date Launched |
Announced January 1984 |
Price |
£400 |
Microprocessor type |
Motorola 68008 @ 7.5 MHz |
ROM size |
48 kilobytes |
Standard RAM |
128 kilobytes |
Maximum RAM |
640 kilobytes |
Keyboard type |
Moderate quality typewriter style but based on a flexible membrane |
Supplied language |
Sinclair Super BASIC |
Text resolution |
Normally 42 x 25 characters in low resolution and 85 x 25 characters in high resolution. |
Graphics resolution |
256 x 256 or 512 x 256 pixels |
Colours available |
8 colours + flashing at low resolution |
Example Screenshot |
|
Sound |
Monophonic, output through speaker |
Cassette load speed |
Used Sinclair microdrives only. |
Dimensions (mm) |
472 x 138 x 46 |
Special features |
The cheapest computer at the time to use a version of the very fast Motorola 68000 microprocessor. |
Good points |
Large memory by the standards of home computers. |
Bad points |
The microdrives were unreliable and of fairly small capacity (only 100 KB per cartridge - less than the RAM size.) |
How successful? |
Despite its faults about 100,000 were sold. |
Comments |
The Sinclair QL could have been an excellent machine with a little more development time before launch and probably a slightly higher price, to allow fitting of a standard floppy disc drive rather than microdrives. |
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