Sinclair QL

16 bit home computers.
Description
The QL was equipped with a network interface called QLAN. There were some production problems with the QL so it was not easy for everyone to get a QL. The price was one of the main advantage: In 1987 the QL cost only 350 DM. Although the QL was released a year before ST & Amiga, it couldn't make advantage of this year. It became not a 'computer for the masses'.
Present
There seem to be still active QL enthusiats who develope faster QLs (68040 extension), graphic cards and even QL clones.
What's the Sinclair QL?
The Quantum Leap computer was launched by Sir Clive Sinclair in 1984 aimed mainly at the business market rather than the games market which dominated Spectrum sales. From a current point of view it has at least reached the latter goal. It seems like if most current QL users are like the first `home computer' users -- hardware and software tinkerers. Other prefer the strict simplicity against the complexity of most computer systems currently in use (e.g. MS Windows). The QL was supplied complete with a suite put together by PSION comprising of a fully functional wordprocessor, spreadsheet, database and a business graphics programs (bar charts, pie charts etc). The concept of the QL is to plug in and go. The only extra required to get started is a standard TV and 10-15 minutes time (i.e. to start typing a letter). There is a host of additional peripherals available for the QL including printers, disk drives, monitors, interfaces and specialist hardware and software. The QL has its own magazine - "QL Today" which carries interesting articles and advertisements.

Computer:	Sinclair QL
Release year:	1984
CPU/Clock speed:	68008/7.5 MHz
ROM:	32 KByte
RAM (expandable)	128 (640) KByte
Display:	TV/RGB
Text display:	85 *25
Graphics display:	512 * 256 4 colours
Graphics display:	256 * 256 8 colours
Colours:	16 colours
Sound:	? channels mono
Operating system:	own
Size (in mm)	47213846

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