SALES OF the Spectrum have topped the half million mark, according to Sinclair Research.

The sales both by mail order and retail cover the period from April, 1982 to August, 1983. By comparison 400,000 ZX-81s were sold in a similar period between March, 1981 and July, 1982.

Nigel Searle, managing director of Sinclair Research and the Sinclair new products division, said that he was delighted with the sales figures and that Sinclair Research would continue to support the machine with new peripherals to keep Sinclair owners occupied. They include the ZX Interface 1 and Microdrive units, which were finally launched in August.

New peripherals to be launched later this year will include a joystick and a cartridge interface. They will put the Spectrum in line with machines such as the Atari and Vic-20 which both have cartridge facilities.