A quantum leap from Sinclair

WELL, here it is! The new Sinclair QL microcomputer.

It is based on the 68000 16-bit processor with 128K Ram and twin microdrives as standard, all for a price of £399. Also supplied with each machine is a highly advanced suite of software: spreadsheet, database, word-processing and business graphics packages — over 300K of machine code software supplied on four micro cassettes, each with an accompanying manual.

The machine will not be software compatible with existing ZX Spectrum software and the QL runs a new version of Basic — the so-called SuperBasic.

Up to 90K is addressable in SuperBasic which includes structured programming commands and supports procedures. Five user-definable function keys are provided. SuperBasic has a keyword entry mode.

The machine has a bit-mapped colour high resolution screen — 32K of Ram is reserved for the display.

The QL has a built-in multi-tasking facility with a new QDOS operating system and full networking, enabling up to 64 QL or Spectrum computers to be linked.

The Sinclair QL is 19 inches long and 5 1/2 inches wide, with a full-size professional quality keyboard. It has tv and RGB monitor outputs and RS232C and twin joystick ports. Ram is expandable from 128K up to 640K. Although the 68000 chip is externally 16-bit, its internal architecture is 32-bit, making the QL considerably faster than an 8-bit chip such as the ZX80 (Spectrum) or 6502 (BBC and Commodore 64).

As is now traditional for new Sinclair products, the QL will be available initially only by mail-order.