| Next revision | Previous revision |
| qlwiki:history [2017/09/04 09:53] – external edit 127.0.0.1 | qlwiki:history [2023/08/25 12:22] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
|---|
| |
| There are also software and hardware solutions to provide a much improved display on the QL. | There are also software and hardware solutions to provide a much improved display on the QL. |
| |
| |
| |
| * A program SPLITMODE_ASM in the [[http://www.quanta.org.uk/?id=88|Quanta software library]] allows you to split a screen vertically in two, with one half displaying MODE 4 and the other half displaying MODE 8 | * A program SPLITMODE_ASM in the [[http://www.quanta.org.uk/?id=88|Quanta software library]] allows you to split a screen vertically in two, with one half displaying MODE 4 and the other half displaying MODE 8 |
| * A program [[http://omega.webnode.com/products/product-2/|Dithvide]] allows two images to be interlaced, tricking your mind into thinking that there are more colours | * A program [[http://omega.webnode.com/products/product-2/|Dithvide]] allows two images to be interlaced, tricking your mind into thinking that there are more colours |
| * The [[http://www.rwapadventures.com/ql_wiki/index.php?title=CST%20Thor&lang=en#toc_3|THOR XVI home computer]] included a MODE 12 command, which provided 16 colours on screen at 256x256 pixels | * The [[qlwiki:CST_Thor#thor_xvi|THOR XVI home computer]] included a MODE 12 command, which provided 16 colours on screen at 256x256 pixels |
| * The [[qlwiki:Aurora]] Motherboard, which provided up to 768 x 576 pixel displays at 256 colours | * The [[qlwiki:Aurora]] Motherboard, which provided up to 768 x 576 pixel displays at 256 colours |
| * The [[http://www.rwapadventures.com/ql_wiki/index.php?title=Operating%20Systems|SMSQ/e Operating System]], which, when used on Q40, Q60, QPC2, the QXL or Q-emuLator, can display 16 bit colour support at very high resolution. | * The [[qlwiki:Operating_Systems#smsq_e|SMSQ/e Operating System]], which, when used on Q40, Q60, QPC2, the QXL or Q-emuLator, can display 16 bit colour support at very high resolution. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| {{qlwiki:transparent_,microdrive.jpg?direct&240x180 |The Inside of a Sinclair Microdrive Cartridge}}The QL also suffered from reliability problems of its Microdrives. These problems were later rectified, by Sinclair engineers, especially on Samsung produced models, as well as by aftermarket firms such as [[qlwiki:Adman Services]] and [[qlwiki:TF Services]] "to the point where several QL users report their Microdrives working perfectly even after almost 17 years of service (for Samsung QLs)" but in any case much too late to redeem the negative image they had already created. | {{qlwiki:transparent_,microdrive.jpg?direct&240x180 |The Inside of a Sinclair Microdrive Cartridge}}The QL also suffered from reliability problems of its Microdrives. These problems were later rectified, by Sinclair engineers, especially on Samsung produced models, as well as by aftermarket firms such as [[qlwiki:Adman Services]] and [[qlwiki:TF Services]] "to the point where several QL users report their Microdrives working perfectly even after almost 17 years of service (for Samsung QLs)" but in any case much too late to redeem the negative image they had already created. Over the years, issues have arisen with the longevity of the [[qlwiki:Microdrive Cartridge]] but with re-felting, often these can be recovered. |
| |
| |
| Although the computer was hyped as being advanced for its time, and relatively cheap, it failed to sell well, and UK production was suspended in 1985, due to lack of demand. After Amstrad acquired Sinclair's computer products lines in April 1986, the QL was officially discontinued. Apart from its reliability issues, the target business market was becoming wedded to the IBM PC platform, whilst the majority of ZX Spectrum owners were uninterested in upgrading to a machine which had a minimal library of games. Sinclair's persistence with the non-standard Microdrive and uncomfortable keyboard did not endear it to the business market; coupled with the machine's resemblance to a ZX Spectrum, they led many to perceive the QL as something akin to a toy. Software publishers were also reluctant to support the QL due to the necessity of using Microdrive cartridges as a distribution medium. | Although the computer was hyped as being advanced for its time, and relatively cheap, it failed to sell well, and UK production was suspended in 1985, due to lack of demand. After Amstrad acquired Sinclair's computer products lines in April 1986, the QL was officially discontinued. Apart from its reliability issues, the target business market was becoming wedded to the IBM PC platform, whilst the majority of ZX Spectrum owners were uninterested in upgrading to a machine which had a minimal library of games. Sinclair's persistence with the non-standard Microdrive and uncomfortable keyboard did not endear it to the business market; coupled with the machine's resemblance to a ZX Spectrum, they led many to perceive the QL as something akin to a toy. Software publishers were also reluctant to support the QL due to the necessity of using the [[qlwiki:Microdrive Cartridge]] as a distribution medium. |
| |
| |
| //https://youtu.be/sxw-fV4gG3M|Watch this video on You Tube// | //https://youtu.be/sxw-fV4gG3M|Watch this video on You Tube// |
| On April 7th 1986 Alan Sugar and Sir Clive Sinclair announced that Sinclair Research sold its computer business and the Sinclair brand name for computers to Amstrad for merely £5 million. | On April 7th 1986 Alan Sugar and Sir Clive Sinclair announced that Sinclair Research sold its computer business and the Sinclair brand name for computers to Amstrad for merely £5 million. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| ====== The ICL connection ====== | ====== The ICL connection ====== |
| |
| More Details about the ICL One Per Desk appear on the [[http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk/oneperdesk.html|RWAP Software website]] | More Details about the ICL One Per Desk appear on the [[http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk/oneperdesk.html|RWAP Software website]] |
| |
| |
| |
| ====== Another Long Lost QL Cousin ====== | ====== Another Long Lost QL Cousin ====== |
| |
| ====== Post-1986 developments ====== | ====== Post-1986 developments ====== |
| After Amstrad abandoned the QL, several companies previously involved in the QL peripherals market stepped in to fill the void. These included [[qlwiki:CST]] and [[qlwiki:DanSoft]], creators of the Thor line of compatible systems; [[qlwiki:Miracle Systems]], creator of the [[qlwiki:Gold Card]] and [[qlwiki:Super Gold Card]] processor/memory upgrade cards and the QXL PC-based hardware emulator; and [[qlwiki:Qubbesoft]], with the [[qlwiki:Aurora]], the first replacement QL mainboard, featuring enhanced graphics modes. | After Amstrad abandoned the QL, several companies previously involved in the QL peripherals market stepped in to fill the void. These included [[qlwiki:CST]] and [[qlwiki:DanSoft]], creators of the Thor line of compatible systems; [[qlwiki:Miracle Systems]], creator of the [[qlwiki:Gold Card]] and [[qlwiki:Super Gold Card]] processor/memory upgrade cards and the [[qlwiki:QXL Card]] PC-based hardware emulator; and [[qlwiki:Qubbesoft]], with the [[qlwiki:Aurora]], the first replacement QL mainboard, featuring enhanced graphics modes. |
| |
| |
| The QL lives on in the form of two self-contained mainboards named [[qlwiki:Q40]] and [[qlwiki:Q60]] (collectively referred to as Qx0) created by [[qlwiki:Peter Graf]] and marketed by [[qlwiki:D D Systems]]. The Q40 and Q60, being based around the 68040 and 68060 CPUs respectively, are much more powerful than the original QL and have the ability among other things (such as multimedia, high resolution graphics, Ethernet networking etc.) to run the Linux operating system. | The QL lived on in the form of two self-contained mainboards named [[qlwiki:Q40]] and [[qlwiki:Q60]] (collectively referred to as Qx0) created by [[qlwiki:Peter Graf]] and marketed by [[qlwiki:D D Systems]]. The Q40 and Q60, being based around the 68040 and 68060 CPUs respectively, were much more powerful than the original QL and had the ability, among other things (such as multimedia, high resolution graphics, Ethernet networking etc.) to run the Linux operating system. The only currently available (mid 2020) QL compatible computer is the [[qlwiki:Q68]], also created by Peter Graf. |
| | |
| | |
| Hardware add-ons are still being produced for the original QL mainly by [[qlwiki:TF Services]] who supply the [[qlwiki:Romdisq]], the [[qlwiki:Minerva]] replacement Operating System, [[qlwiki:I2C interfaces]] bus based peripherals, superHermes (keyboard interface, fast RS232 etc) and [[qlwiki:MPlane]] buffered backplane systems. | |
| |
| | Hardware add-ons were produced up to about 2009 for the original QL by [[qlwiki:TF Services]] who supplied the [[qlwiki:Romdisq]], the [[qlwiki:Minerva]] replacement Operating System, [[qlwiki:I2C interfaces]] bus based peripherals, SuperHermes (keyboard interface, fast RS232 etc) and [[qlwiki:MPlane]] buffered backplane systems. |
| |
| | Currently (mid 2020) there are various add-ons available for the original QL from [[qlwiki:Tetroid]], including floppy/hard disk interfaces, Gold Card and Super Gold card clones as well as complete replacement motherboards, backplane kits and plug-in switchable ROMs (including [[qlwiki:Minerva]] and [[qlwiki:Toolkit II]]). |
| |
| ======Trivia ====== | ======Trivia ====== |
| * External QL Microdrives appeared on QL accessory pricelists but were never produced. You could use a ZX Microdrive unit (from the Spectrum), but the slot faced the back of the QL rather than the front as you would expect | * External QL Microdrives appeared on QL accessory pricelists but were never produced. You could use a ZX Microdrive unit (from the Spectrum), but the slot faced the back of the QL rather than the front as you would expect |
| * The QL was introduced at the time the SCART connector was becoming common in European televisions. The SCART connector carries RGB component video, enabling a brilliant display of the QL's four colours (black + 3) on a TV set. | * The QL was introduced at the time the SCART connector was becoming common in European televisions. The SCART connector carries RGB component video, enabling a brilliant display of the QL's four colours (black + 3) on a TV set. |
| |
| |
| [[qlwiki:Simon Goodwin]] reckons this is more rubbish; the QL's RGB-TTL output is way over the 0 dB levels for SCART, Sinclair never made a QL SCART lead, the 4 colour MODE 4 is incompatible with PAL colour TV bandwidth (even after dropping lots of pixels in flyback at the left edge), so the comparison would be better made with MODE 8, but the levels are still way off. Unless you (say) drop in some 330 ohm resistors... ;-) | [[qlwiki:Simon Goodwin]] reckons this is more rubbish; the QL's RGB-TTL output is way over the 0 dB levels for SCART, Sinclair never made a QL SCART lead, the 4 colour MODE 4 is incompatible with PAL colour TV bandwidth (even after dropping lots of pixels in flyback at the left edge), so the comparison would be better made with MODE 8, but the levels are still way off. Unless you (say) drop in some 330 ohm resistors... ;-) |
| |
| The QL video output was actually designed to suit RGB TTL monitors like the Microvitek and Phillips CM8833, which had been popular among users of the similarly colour-crippled Acorn BBC Micro, designed a couple of years earlier just up the road from Sinclair. | The QL video output was actually designed to suit RGB TTL monitors like the Microvitek and Phillips CM8833, which had been popular among users of the similarly colour-crippled Acorn BBC Micro, designed a couple of years earlier just up the road from Sinclair. |
| |
| |
| ======Origins of Design ====== | ======Origins of Design ====== |
| The QL's look was designed by Rick Dickinson, who also designed the cases for the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum. His website also contains details of some of his sketches and ideas for the future development of the Sinclair QL, including the talked about Silicone Wafer expansion module with integral die cast heat sink and Polaroid back up battery. - see [[http://www.flickr.com/photos/9574086@N02/sets/72157600854938578/|Rick's pictures]] | The QL's look was designed by Rick Dickinson, who also designed the cases for the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum. His website also contains details of some of his sketches and ideas for the future development of the Sinclair QL, including the talked about Silicone Wafer expansion module with integral die cast heat sink and Polaroid back up battery. - see [[http://www.flickr.com/photos/9574086@N02/sets/72157600854938578/|Rick's pictures]] |
| |
| |
| |