ZX Spectrum Next speaks QL

[tofro]

This might be interesting for owners of the Spectrum Next (There's not much you can do to become a future owner of one atm, at least not for reasonable prices):
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New official KS2 cores: Sinclair QL

The long awaited extra cores for your KS2 (and KS1) Next are finally a reality! Starting with breaking news on the Sinclair QL cores running on the Spectrum Next: They are ready. Yes, you read it right, your Next can now run as a QL with full compatibility, performing as an accelerated QL featuring a 68030 processor running at 56MHz – a beast of a QL. Here’s a peek on the features set:

• HDMI and VGA video outputs
• Full support to the native Next keyboard
• 256x256x8bpp colour mode (KS2 machines have higher res HDMI support and 64 sprites engine)
• QIMI mouse support
• QL2SD support to load from the SD card
• MDV and MDI files support
• FDI files support
• CTL-1 and CTL-2 support
• QSound (AY)
• Real Time Clock
• Ultra Fast SER3 support with additional full WiFi support

The team will release the core at Crash on November 23rd. I for one can’t wait to play The Pawn on it, or run one of the new desktop OSs that have been made since its original debut. A *lot* has been going on in the QL community in the past few years, perhaps it’s time to start researching… A good place to start is the Sinclair QL site here: https://dilwyn.theqlforum.com/index.html
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This is yet another platform (No mention of SMSQ/E, though) to run our QDOS on, especially the 68030 emulation seems to be of interest, if the 56MHz 68030 claim is true this will really be a monster machine.

And what you get is "Dickinson Design", a nice keyboard, modern Video output and Joystick/SER support.

[martyn_hill]

Nice call-out, Toby!

The QL Core for the Spectrum Next (KS1 and KS2) is indeed an exciting initiative, embodying a LOT of dev work over time to refine the earlier core for KS1 for the enhanced KS2 Next.

I myself have had the privilege of beta-testing the QL Core in recent months and, whilst so far it supports only QDOS/Minerva, it is a very faithful implementation with a host of enhanced capabilities (as per the list below.)

I'll post further findings here running the QL Core on my KS2 Next in due course...

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

Has SMSQ/E been supported on the new Core.

I can not find anywhere to buy a NEXT.

[napsternds]

I can not find anywhere to buy a NEXT.

Spectrum NEXT is not available for sale, but.....

a great alternative is the N-GO (official Spectrum Next clone), which is available for sale here: https://manuferhi.com/c/n-go

I have this one, just the board, integrated in a Spectrum 48k case, and it works like a charm. Looking forward to test this QL core

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi

N-Go looks good, and XberryPi, does the same as Next KS1, only £99 plus shipping in UK.

But they only give a fast Minerva based QL.

I will stick to the Q68 and Qzero, they run SMSQ/E..

[dilwyn]

Nonetheless, great to have such a choice of systems that "speak QL", as the thread name puts it.

[Cristian]

a great alternative is the N-GO (official Spectrum Next clone),
I have this one, just the board, integrated in a Spectrum 48k case, and it works like a charm. Looking forward to test this QL core

How did you manage to get the board in a ZX48K case? Or do you mean a ZX48 Plus case? The keyboard layout?

[tofro]

a great alternative is the N-GO (official Spectrum Next clone),
I have this one, just the board, integrated in a Spectrum 48k case, and it works like a charm. Looking forward to test this QL core

How did you manage to get the board in a ZX48K case? Or do you mean a ZX48 Plus case? The keyboard layout?

The board as such goes nicely into an original 48k case (it was designed to do that), obviously, some holes need to be cut and filed carefully for the joystick connectors on the front, additional connectors on the back and buttons and SD slot on the sides. So some mechanical work involved. The keyboard connectors for the rubber keyboard are present as well and the software is prepared to support that keyboard.

(I personally think, however, that the most attractive component of the Next is indeed the new Dickinson case and keyboard - That's why the N-Go to me never really was an option)

[napsternds]

How did you manage to get the board in a ZX48K case? Or do you mean a ZX48 Plus case? The keyboard layout?

Old 48k case was already broken. Some adhoc new holes at the front and right side, and here we go.

I love the good old rubber 48k, it was my first computer, and now I can keep the same original feeling while using a 48k, 128k, +3, +3e, next and hopefully soon the QL. I considered participating in Next KS2, but KS1 delays and N-GO availability changed my mind. And I am very happy with that decision.

[Cristian]

I thought the N-go had the keyboard map/layout set for the Next keyboard! Thank you for the info and pictures