Sinclair QL

Sinclair QL
TypePersonal computer
Release date12 January 1984; 40 years ago (1984-01-12)
Introductory price£399 (equivalent to £1,620 in 2023)
DiscontinuedApril 1986 (1986-04)
Units sold150,000[1]
Operating systemSinclair QDOS, SuperBASIC
CPU68008 @ 7.5 MHz
Memory128 KB[2] (896 KB max.)
StorageMicrodrive
DisplayPAL TV or RGB Monitor
256 × 256 (8 colours)
512 × 256 (4 colours)
GraphicsZX8301
SoundIntel 8049
Connectivityexpansion slot, ROM cartridge socket, dual RS-232 ports, proprietary QLAN local area network ports, dual joystick ports, external Microdrive bus
PredecessorZX Spectrum
SuccessorSinclair PC200

The Sinclair QL (for Quantum Leap) is a personal computer launched by Sinclair Research in 1984, as an upper-end counterpart to the ZX Spectrum.[3][4][5]

The QL was aimed at the serious home user and professional and executive users markets from small to medium-sized businesses and higher educational establishments, but failed to achieve commercial success.[6]

While the ZX Spectrum has an 8-bit Zilog Z80 as the CPU, the QL uses a Motorola 68008.[7] The 68008 is a member of the Motorola 68000 family with 32-bit internal data registers, but an 8-bit external data bus.[5]

  1. ^ "QL, what? Never heard of the QL..." Retrieved 2020-12-11.
  2. ^ 1 KB = 1024 B
  3. ^ "Sinclair QL - Computer". The Centre for Computing History. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  4. ^ Smith, Tony. "Sinclair's 1984 big shot at business: The QL is 30 years old". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  5. ^ a b Claaßen, André (2015-04-18). "Sinclair QL — The first real Computer". Medium. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  6. ^ Smith, Tony (2014). "Sinclair's 1984 big shot at business: The QL is 30 years old". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  7. ^ "Sinclair QL microcomputer". Computer History Museum. Retrieved 2022-11-22.