Hello from Portsmouth UK
Posted: Thu May 30, 2024 7:16 pm
My computing adventure began in 1981, when after finishing college I decided to revive my interest in electronics. This led to the Sinclair ZX81 kit version (for which I had to make my own power supply), and from there to the Elektor Junior Computer — built from magazine articles. The next step seemed inevitably to be the Sinclair QL, the availability of which I eagerly awaited. And waited. And ... waited.
Eventually I gave up waiting and bought an Amstrad CPC6128, which was a superb machine and fantastic value for money. I sometimes wondered what would have happened if I'd bought a QL instead, but those wonderings were eclipsed in the nineties and beyond when I migrated through a series of IBM PC compatibles, and eventually to Linux and Mac. In recent times, however, retirement has allowed me to renew my interest in retro computing.
And so yesterday I took delivery of a Sinclair QL purchased on eBay. It's in reasonable condition, though several keys have broken pillars, and the microdrives don't seem to read anything despite whirring and the LED's lighting up. I foresee some 3D printing of key pillars, and some in-depth maintenance of the microdrives (though if the microdrives are beyond help that shouldn't be a problem as a vDrive is on its way to me from New Zealand).
I'm happy to have found this forum, and the QL community, and look forward to participating.
Eventually I gave up waiting and bought an Amstrad CPC6128, which was a superb machine and fantastic value for money. I sometimes wondered what would have happened if I'd bought a QL instead, but those wonderings were eclipsed in the nineties and beyond when I migrated through a series of IBM PC compatibles, and eventually to Linux and Mac. In recent times, however, retirement has allowed me to renew my interest in retro computing.
And so yesterday I took delivery of a Sinclair QL purchased on eBay. It's in reasonable condition, though several keys have broken pillars, and the microdrives don't seem to read anything despite whirring and the LED's lighting up. I foresee some 3D printing of key pillars, and some in-depth maintenance of the microdrives (though if the microdrives are beyond help that shouldn't be a problem as a vDrive is on its way to me from New Zealand).
I'm happy to have found this forum, and the QL community, and look forward to participating.
