Spectrum Vega +

The Last Bandit

So the Spectrum is going portable with a new crowdfunding campaign. Bit short on details about the 'offical Sinclair spectrum hardware' is..

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2016/02/the-zx-spectrum-vega-is-announced-on-indiegogo.html

eddhorse

Im undecided about this, dont think it will be any better than another emulated handheld.
Heres your fixed link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqXhtTYj7Oc

Steve X2

Hmm, let me see

• £75 sterling extra to get it in black(and a boring factory tour), and they are only doing 40 of them.
• On indiegogo and not kickstarter(probably because they don't have a displayable prototype that kickstarter now requires).
• Only speccy games, no other emu's.
• No real product shown, only renders.
• Dat D-Pad!!

It's like a how-to for failing :0/
If they changed the D-Pad, got rid of that stupid extra 75 for black and opened up the software to allow other software to run I'd consider it.

Myrddin

Is it based on android, or some other form of emulation?

Steve X2

Myrddin wrote: »

Is it based on android, or some other form of emulation?

I don't think they've released any tech specs whatsoever on it.

It's a gimme ur money, we'll tell ya later kind of thing.
And with indiegogo they take the funds right away, not like kickstarter where you can cancel before the project ends if it starts to look dodgy or whatever.

The Last Bandit

Ya Indiegogo is a big gamble with its 'flexible funding' model. You have no guarantees or comeback if it fails miserably.
Presume is an ARM board (could be a PI Zero ) in there running an emulator alright.

CiDeRmAn

A Spectrum emu running on a PI Zero running inside a Competition Pro stick, that would be the perfect way to present a Spectrum, a bit like, if not exactly like, the C64 plug and play.
I'm not sure what the desire to see these things on an LCD of any size is, unless there is post processing with blur and scanlines all over the shop.

Firefox11

They have raised almost quarter of a million already in less than a week!! Maybe it's the rose tinted glasses i'm wearing but I'm thinking of backing it.

I would really need to know more of the tech specs involved. They are a bit sketchy on the detail.

eddhorse

No thanks, still light on detail.

n97 mini

There guts it it will presumably be the same as a Vega (the hint is in the name!), which is based on a 433MHz CPU with an emphasis on emulating worts and all.

I've put money into this. The one difference between this and say a PSP running an emulator is this has Sinclair written on it, and is backed by Clive Sinclair. It's an official product, or as close as you're going to get. I think it probably appreciate in value, possibly more so for the limit run versions.

n97 mini

Steve X2 wrote: »

[*]£75 sterling extra to get it in black(and a boring factory tour), and they are only doing 40 of them.

In black, without the tour, it's £100, the same as the other colours.

Myrddin

n97 mini wrote: »

The one difference between this and say a PSP running an emulator is this has Sinclair written on it, and is backed by Clive Sinclair. It's an official product, or as close as you're going to get.

Official it may be, but not bespoke. The moment I see emulation I lose interest, though to be fair, the costs of r&d'ing bespoke hardware would likely be astronomical.

Skerries

how well does a Speccy emulator work on a PSP?

n97 mini

Myrddin wrote: »

Official it may be, but not bespoke. The moment I see emulation I lose interest, though to be fair, the costs of r&d'ing bespoke hardware would likely be astronomical.

The main reason I bought it is I expect (hope!) it will appreciate due to it having Sinclair on it.

I had a SAM Coupe from 1990 to 1994 when I sold it for £80 (punts). My set up (I had a lot of extras) is going for over £1000 sterling now on ebay.co.uk, so like the man who lifts a cat by the tail I've learned a lesson that can be learned no other way!

Steve X2

I'm sure it will jump in value just like the Neo Geo X :pac:

Andrew76

n97 mini wrote: »

The main reason I bought it is I expect (hope!) it will appreciate due to it having Sinclair on it.

I had a SAM Coupe from 1990 to 1994 when I sold it for £80 (punts). My set up (I had a lot of extras) is going for over £1000 sterling now on ebay.co.uk, so like the man who lifts a cat by the tail I've learned a lesson that can be learned no other way!

Be sure to post back here in 20+ years and let us know how much they're worth.

Seriously though, 100 sterling + shipping for that yoke with no safety net if/when it goes belly up? Yikes.

n97 mini

Boris Johnson is helping the exchange rate go the right way

Edward Hopper

eddhorse wrote: »

No thanks, still light on detail.

Bit more detail released.

https://twitter.com/YourSinclair/status/703177014757359616

Firefox11

ZX Spectrum Next is the er...next...new spectrum computer kickstarter on it's way. I may be getting involved in this one though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtOsPzwFmeM

eddhorse

Firefox11 wrote: »

ZX Spectrum Next is the er...next...new spectrum computer kickstarter on it's way. I may be getting involved in this one though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtOsPzwFmeM

I remember not hearing good things, is it not just an emulator? Will look into that vid later

Edit : watched vid, may not be emulated. Maybe was one of the many other retro remakes.
Hard to trust any of them without seeing them in the flesh after the Chameleon debacle.

Ed's 2c

Firefox11

eddhorse wrote: »

I remember not hearing good things, is it not just an emulator? Will look into that vid later

Apparently not. Apparently the Z80 core is being simulated directly through the FPGA with a Pi Zero as slave board for the HDMI....Hmmmm....

There is a video of the prototype running.

The Last Bandit

Ya it pretty clever really, he written firmware for the GPU (ARM core not used) that scrapes the video ram via GPIO and generates the HDMI signal. Its PI hardware but definitely not a raspberry pi as we know it.

Firefox11

There is a good interview here about the spectrum next. I have to say (as a speccy nut) i'm a little excited about this one.

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2016/05/interview-henrique-olifiers-talks-about-the-zx-spectrum-next/

Firefox11

Looks like the ZX Vega Plus Project is possibly about to end in tears.

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2467530/specwars-accusations-fly-as-the-world-of-retro-zx-spectrum-gaming-gets-ugly

Myrddin

Is anyone else really tired of all these nostalgia cash ins? They seem to go from one scandal to the next

CiDeRmAn

Myrddin wrote: »

Is anyone else really tired of all these nostalgia cash ins? They seem to go from one scandal to the next

Yeah.
Except for Bandits adaptors.
They're cool.

The Last Bandit

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Yeah.
Except for Bandits adaptors.
They're cool.

Hmm, maybe I should do a flashy kickstarter... and buy a yacht...

Steve X2

The Last Bandit wrote: »

Hmm, maybe I should do a flashy kickstarter... and buy a yacht...

Make sure to stick them in clear acrylic. That increases the price x2

Firefox11

There is an increasing number of disgruntled backers looking for updates on the indiegogo site.

The first units are due to ship to backers sometime in September but they have only shown some 3D Printed Mockups of the case so far.

super_furry

I don't get the whole retro handheld console thing at the moment. Saw The 64 Handheld Indiegogo and I've no idea why someone that way inclined wouldn't just pick up a GPD XD.

Steve X2

Firefox11 wrote: »

There is an increasing number of disgruntled backers looking for updates on the indiegogo site.

The first units are due to ship to backers sometime in September but they have only shown some 3D Printed Mockups of the case so far.

I assumed thats why they didn't go to Kickstarter, you need to provide a working prototype of some sort there. Although plenty of dodgy crap on there anyway.

Firefox11

super_furry wrote: »

I don't get the whole retro handheld console thing at the moment. Saw The 64 Handheld Indiegogo and I've no idea why someone that way inclined wouldn't just pick up a GPD XD.

I see 'the 64' campaign released a video for their pre production board in operation today. The rumors that are that the guys that quit the vega + project are now the mysterious team behind this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx_IVFdbka8

Firefox11

The Last Bandit wrote: »

Ya it pretty clever really, he written firmware for the GPU (ARM core not used) that scrapes the video ram via GPIO and generates the HDMI signal. Its PI hardware but definitely not a raspberry pi as we know it.

Dev Kits were sent out to some developers about a month ago and there has already been a impressive tech demo shown with more to come. Kickstarter is due soon.

Firefox11

Vega Plus Board Pics and Specs released this week.

http://retrocomputerslimited.com/sinclair-zx-spectrum-vega/

Wish there was something like this for the Amstrad CPC. Not that the Speccy was a bad machine it's just the CPC was what my parents lumped me with during my formative years.

Firefox11

There are quite a number of spectrum clones currently in development. The Harlequin, Just Speccy 128 and most recently the ZX UNO fron spain.

Firefox11

The Spectrum Next also got an update this week!

Tech Specs and a peek at the final prototype board.

http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2016/09/technical-specifications-released-for-the-zx-spectrum-next/

CiDeRmAn

Deleted User wrote: »

Wish there was something like this for the Amstrad CPC. Not that the Speccy was a bad machine it's just the CPC was what my parents lumped me with during my formative years.

So, you want us all to be as miserable as you were? :P
Truthfully, the CPC464 was a great machine, as long as you didn't saddled with the green screen.
It could do everything the Spectrum could do but a lot better.
Just a pity the price meant that, on the schoolyard, you were likely to be the only one with it, with most kids having either the Spectrum 48k or a Commodore 64.
They owned the mid 80's, with the ST and Amiga taking over later on.
I think that's why the NES and Master System just didn't have the impact here that it did in the US and Japan

CiDeRmAn

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

as long as you didn't saddled with the green screen.

I'm afraid they lumbered me with the green screen too! And in later years it went a bit mental. The coiled cable connecting the screen to the keyboard had to be fiddled with or else the screen would remain blank. The odd time the display would go out mid game which lead to frantic fiddling with the cable.

It could do everything the Spectrum could do but a lot better.
Just a pity the price meant that, on the schoolyard, you were likely to be the only one with it, with most kids having either the Spectrum 48k or a Commodore 64.

Does that mean it was more expensive than the C64 or Speccy? Or was it cheaper? I was at the age that I had no real concept of the price differences. I really wanted the C64 as it got more love in the computer magazines, had exclusive stuff because of the Amiga and just seemed to be the cool kid of the 8 bit machines. I actually now think I remember the price being way out of my parents league though.

CiDeRmAn

Expensive!

Firefox11

A Pic of Spectrum Next Prototype Board was shown off this week.

Edward Hopper

If you are unfortunate enough to follow the speccy scene on Facebook and the like you'll appreciate just what good moderation (like you get on this forum) adds to a place. Half a dozen deluded weirdos (and their cliques) personal issues run deep through everything. Arseholes on both sides, with the rest of of us having to suffer all their crap because these same arseholes are the ones who admin the Facebook pages.

Anyhoo!

I'm 50/50 whether I'm going to back the Next when its kickstarter comes out. They're hoping to keep it under 179 pounds which is creeping towards too much for me, (original spectrum price) but it looks like a lovely keyboard over the TBBlue.

I'm pretty happy with my real plus and toastrack though, especially now I have my divmmc. Still find myself buying tapes though!

I don't care about the politics of it but the vega + is a pass for me, the zxds emulator on my old Dsi XL can't be beaten.

Firefox11

Edward Hopper wrote: »

If you are unfortunate enough to follow the speccy scene on Facebook and the like you'll appreciate just what good moderation (like you get on this forum) adds to a place. Half a dozen deluded weirdos (and their cliques) personal issues run deep through everything. Arseholes on both sides, with the rest of of us having to suffer all their crap because these same arseholes are the ones who admin the Facebook pages.

Anyhoo!

I'm 50/50 whether I'm going to back the Next when its kickstarter comes out. They're hoping to keep it under 179 pounds which is creeping towards too much for me, (original spectrum price) but it looks like a lovely keyboard over the TBBlue.

I'm pretty happy with my real plus and toastrack though, especially now I have my divmmc. Still find myself buying tapes though!

I don't care about the politics of it but the vega + is a pass for me, the zxds emulator on my old Dsi XL can't be beaten.

Yeah, I have seen the mud slinging going on over the vega plus on the various groups.

At the end of the day it's the backers of these projects that matter. The vega plus is not for me but I just hope the backers get what they want out of it after putting their hard earned cash up front.

The Spectrum Next seems to be shaping up nicely to be a truly unique piece of hardware in it's own right which really intrigues me and will most likely be backing it.

Incidentally the vega plus launch event is apparently due to take place on 20th Oct.

Edward Hopper

Firefox11 wrote: »

Yeah, I have seen the mud slinging going on over the vega plus on the various groups.

At the end of the day it's the backers of these projects that matter. The vega plus is not for me but I just hope the backers get what they want out of it after putting their hard earned cash up front.

The Spectrum Next seems to be shaping up nicely to be a truly unique piece of hardware in it's own right which really intrigues me and will most likely be backing it.

Incidentally the vega plus launch event is apparently due to take place on 20th Oct.

You're right about the vega + of course. The people that invested money deserve a worthy machine and I hope they get it in decent time frame.

What excites me about the Next, as a gameplayer rather than someone with technical know how, is how enthused about it legends from the Spectrum bygone age like Jim Bagley are. That, and how next mock up looks like what Sinclair might have done after the toastrack, style wise, rather the Amstrad styled plus 2 and 3. Fine machines just not spectrumy enough for me! Looking forward to seeing the kickstarter anyway and hopefully I'll be able to afford it, or hide the expense of it from the missus.

Firefox11

ZX Vega Launch Party Pics Here

http://retrocomputerslimited.com/2016/10/27/vega-launch-party-20102016/

Edward Hopper

Firefox11 wrote: »

ZX Vega Launch Party Pics Here

http://retrocomputerslimited.com/2016/10/27/vega-launch-party-20102016/

Looks quite nifty, good bit smaller than I'd imagined though.

Stoner

Firefox11 wrote:

ZX Vega Launch Party Pics Here

Didn't look like much of a party!! More hammers and hatchets on the work bench than playing 1943 going on.

I'm not really sure about all these extra bits of kit.
For me maybe adding a faster way to load games onto the original hardware is about as far as I'd go with spectrum games.

Funny little screens on some units, or emulators run on vastly superior processors with controllers from PS2s or over Bluetooth , it all takes from it imo. I'd just play the PS4
Even the loading up from an SD card while brilliant is missing the wait and anticipation, not that I miss it, but looking at the back of the tape at the screenshot (from an Atari St) of the game play, and praying it's playable.

I picked up Italia 90 a few years ago, mint condition great reading in it.

I was still considering getting onboard here but realistically it was the lure of the "official" spectrum name and the willingness to collect that attracted me to it.

The thing is about a spectrum is how small it is anyway . I never liked the rubber 48K as I was lucky enough to have the 48k+
But they were both tidy units to begin with imo.

Edward Hopper

I agree the newer gear can sometimes take things too far away from the real thing.

I still buy tapes and read the bumpf on inlays and the actual proper instructions you used to get, even though I mostly load games from divmmc.

Edward Hopper

ZX Spectrum laptop coming soon too, I admire the madness of it all though I probably won't get one!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1666620073602623/permalink/1748045032126793/

Stoner

Some novelty, but it's the rubber keys too! Lol

At least it's keeping the size of the original keyboard, really when you think about it. It's not far off what these were. A laptop with the screen missing. They did everything else