January 29, 1980
Sinclair ZX80 released
Clive Sinclair launched the ZX80 on January 29, 1980 in the UK — a £99 home computerAn affordable personal computer marketed for households — the 1980s wave that followed hobbyist kits. that brought BASICBeginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code — an early programming language designed for ease of learning. programming to the mass market.
What it was for
The ZX80 shipped with 1 KB RAMRandom access memory — fast volatile memory used while programs run. and a membrane keyboard but sold in the hundreds of thousands — proving hobbyists would buy cheap programmable machines. Its successor ZX Spectrum defined British game development and bedroom coding culture.
Why it's here
The ZX80 made home computing affordable outside the US.
Why it mattered
It seeded a generation of European programmers and game developers.
What it solved
Personal computers cost thousands; hobbyists needed an entry-level programmable machine.
Media
ImageZX80Daniel Ryde, Skövde, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Related
- Commodore 64 releasedAugust 1982
- Apple II introducedApril 16, 1977
- Altair 8800 releasedJanuary 1975