Sinclair QL Computer - Vintage Retro Rare collectors item - boxed
tested 27th March 2024 - Powers on and screen displays as normal. some keys seem unresponsive so probably needs a new membrane. microdrives in use.
THIS UNIT HASBEEN BRIEFLY TESTED WITH SOME ISSUES, AND IS THEREFORE BEING LISTED AS 'SOLD FOR PARTS'. 
It might very well NEEDD A SIMPLE FIX. KEYBOARD MEMBRANE, DRIVE BELTS, so buyer accepts 'SOLD AS SEEN, NO RETURNS', hence the low price compared to other units that appear for sale on social media and auctions sites.
A very rare find for most retro computer/electronics collectors, a boxed Sinclair QL - This model was Clive Sinclair's foray into competing with low end business model computers, Released in 1984, after being in development since the launch of the zx spectrum two years earlier, this was a unique piece of electronics history aimed. This unit comes in its original box, Poly Inserts, hefty detailed manual, A/V leads. power unit, along with a range of microdrive cartridges and software, no other games are supplied. it is SOLD AS SEEN, assumed non working and/or for parts as i have not been able to test it. After such storage time, it is likely the microdrive units will at the very least need services as the rubber belt perish over time. The unit is in very good cosmetic condition and anyone looking for vintage electronics, or retro computer collectors would love this to add to their collection. The box has both end pieces either torn or missing. Released for the UK market.
The Sinclair QL (QL standing for Quantum Leap), was a personal computer launched by in 1984, Sinclair himself did not like the fact his Spectrum computer was largely seen as a games machine. He wanted to compete in the lucrative business computer market. Although being considerably cheaper than it's competitors, a rushed development led to poor reliability, and initially a whole run of machines that did not work as advertised all but doomed the machine before it had been on the market for any length of time.
The computer was designed to be staunchly incompatible with the Spectrum, with software companies encouraged to write business type software, such as spreadsheet and accounting.
The main problem with the QL was it's choice of media, the microdrive. This was a tiny cartridge that had a continuous reel of tape inside.
Although the drives and media were cheaper than the disk drives of the day, and kept the size of the machine to a small size for the desk, unfortunately the drives themselves were less than reliable.
The tapes if used with the same QL would work well enough, but if inserted into another machine would often not read or become damaged, as each drive was differently calibrated.
Though a 3.5 floppy drive was later brought to market, the machine was in steep decline, and it was also expensive.
The Microdrive had not been a successful media on the Spectrum, so it's inclusion on the QL was not exactly a welcome one.
The QL was originally conceived in 1981 under the code-name ZX83, as a portable computer for business users, with a built-in flat-screen CRT display and internal modem. As development progressed, and ZX83 became ZX84, it eventually became clear that the portability features were over-ambitious and the specification was reduced to a conventional desktop configuration.
Based on a Motorola 68008 processor clocked at 7.5 MHz, the QL included 128 KB of RAM (officially expandable to 640 KB) and could be connected to a monitor or TV for display. Two built-in Microdrive tape-loop cartridge drives (first seen as a peripheral for the ZX Spectrum) provided mass storage, in place of the more expensive floppy disk drives found on similar systems of the era.
Interfaces included an expansion slot, ROM cartridge socket, dual RS-232 ports, proprietary QLAN local area network ports, dual joystick ports and an external Microdrive bus. Two video modes were available, 256?256 pixels with 8 RGB colours and per-pixel flashing, or 512?256 pixels with four colours (black, red, green and white). Both screen modes used a 32 KB framebuffer in main memory.
The case was another classic design by Rick Dickinson externally, and is still sought after with plenty of after market products to lessen it's short comings such as an internal SD interface.
The QL was instantly removed from market as soon as the takeover deal with Amstrad was completed.
Manufacturer: Sinclair
Date: 1984
Due to the age of this item, even though stored within indoor and dry condition since purchase, no refunds will be offered, Buyer accepts this as sold as seen.
As with any retro electronics and computer kit, although this may work once tested, that is no guarantee that anytime in the future, it may suddenly fail. Computers of this age and quality will have been stored and cared for to keep them in this working condition.
All our retro products are shipped worldwide based on contents weight and with a 'sign for' service for delivery guarantee, and each product is smart security marked before despatch. Why do we smart mark it? we have had buyers in the past return products only to find out it was a faulty one they already had and 'swapped' it for our great condition product, and then wanted a refund. Smart marking ensures that should we accept any returns, it will guarantee it is the actual product we shipped,
We do not accept any returns on retro products of this age, so you must accept it 'as is' when purchasing.
A great addition to anyones collection