Which year did you get your first Spectrum?

XTM · Post by **XTM** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:08 pm

Due to a discussion on another place (not WOS) where someone boldly claimed "most today's users came to ZX Spectrum after 1992", I was interested in seeing what year the people active on this forum obtained their Spectrum.

I decided to make it a poll with various years to pick from. Please mention what country you live(d) in at the time for context, unless you want to keep it a secret. If you are not exactly sure which year, just pick the closest one you think.

I'll start: 1985, Germany, original Sinclair 16KB Speccy.

Guesser · Post by **Guesser** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:10 pm

I can't really remember, something like 2003 I think

(UK)

p13z · Post by **p13z** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:32 pm

Dad bought a Speccy home late 1982. He lost interest, we inherited it. UK - England.

PeterJ · Post by **PeterJ** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:50 pm

1982, UK, Spectrum 48K purchased from WH Smith. Previously owned a ZX81 (built from the kit).

worcestersource · Post by **worcestersource** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 9:02 pm

48k+ Christmas 1984. Gutted my brother found it and sold it after I moved out in the late 90s. I still had the receipt from Boots.

1024MAK · Post by **1024MAK** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 9:05 pm

1983 - England, U.K., Earth, Solar System, Orion Arm, Milky Way, Local Group, Virgo Supercluster, Laniakea Supercluster, Universe.

Mark

R-Tape · Post by **R-Tape** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 9:58 pm

~1988, England, 48K+. Inherited from my elder brother.

Though there was no definite handover, no official handshake, no documents were signed, so it could be argued that it became mine closer to 1990. Call it a transition period.

Mpk · Post by **Mpk** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 9:58 pm

Hard to say - I was quite young at the time, and time was a mystery. I think 1983, might be wrong.

R-Tape · Post by **R-Tape** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 10:03 pm

worcestersource wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 9:02 pm 48k+ Christmas 1984. Gutted my brother found it and sold it after I moved out in the late 90s. I still had the receipt from Boots.

Next time you see him, give him a dead-arm.

Gorky 99 · Post by **Gorky 99** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 10:11 pm

South Africa, second hand, 1984. Rubber key 48K. No idea what issue board.

Crafty88 · Post by **Crafty88** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 10:13 pm

Xmas 1982. England

Juan F. Ramirez · Post by **Juan F. Ramirez** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 10:24 pm

1985

ZX Spectrum +

Cosmium · Post by **Cosmium** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 10:46 pm

Summer 1982, England.
Mail order 16K Spectrum. Fab!

Tan Coul · Post by **Tan Coul** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 10:48 pm

48K, May 1983, from Boots, a birthday present just after it came down from £175 to £125. Also got ABC's Lexicon of Love LP for £3.99 at the same time.

Stefan · Post by **Stefan** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 10:57 pm

48K New Zealand from Dick Smith - 1983 (I think, may have been 1984). Got a second-hand 128K toastrack in 1988 in The Netherlands.

MatGubbins · Post by **MatGubbins** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 12:40 am

1984, April Birthday present, UK. Rubber key 48k. First game purchased Lunar Jetman, a game I will always enjoy playing.

Bubu · Post by **Bubu** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 3:08 am

Xmas 1984. Spain. Never will forget that night, no sleep, I was 12, playing Horace Goes Skiing for 2 days...

Mad Fritz · Post by **Mad Fritz** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 8:24 am

East Germany 1986, 6000.- EM only for a 16K

TMD2003 · Post by **TMD2003** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:09 am

1987, a +2 some time around the end of December.

Four more have followed since, and a ZX81, and some time this month... you know what.

AndyC · Post by **AndyC** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:58 am

82, I think. It was a 16K model and I think they were fairly new at the time, but the I was also very young so could have been 83.

The idea that most people got a Spectrum in 92, when they were close to EoL is surely ludicrous though?

Wall_Axe · Post by **Wall_Axe** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 11:08 am

84-85 ish

1024MAK · Post by **1024MAK** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 11:10 am

XTM wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:08 pm Due to a discussion on another place (not WOS) where someone boldly claimed "most today's users came to ZX Spectrum after 1992"

You’ve been visiting those dodgy sites again haven’t you? You appear to have a tendency to visit the dark side (and I don’t mean Sinclair black)…

Did your mama and pops not warn you about that?

As punishment, you are required to create at least one working crap game before the end of the year, ready for next year’s competition…

Mark

hitm4n · Post by **hitm4n** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 12:16 pm

Xmas 1983. 1 year after launch roughly. Parents got it second hand, but it was boxed and complete and immaculate. It was set up in another room at my grans house ready to go, we all opened our presents and i got a bundle of 6 boxes of 15 minute cassettes, 5 tapes per box. Think they were from Boots. I assumed these were for my current ZX81 and i was pleased with those. My main present from my parents was a dressing gown! Not a bike, not a computer (any computer would have been good), not the latest Technics Lego car... A DRESSING GOWN!!!! 12 years old and a dressing gown was the big present of the day.

Then i was walked into the other room for the REAL main present, and there was my very own rubber keyed Speccy 48. What a Xmas day that was. First game loaded was Skool Daze and i was blown away. Good times.

Apart from that dressing gown!

TMD2003 · Post by **TMD2003** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 12:43 pm

1024MAK wrote: ↑Sat Nov 11, 2023 11:10 am As punishment, you are required to create at least one working crap game before the end of the year, ready for next year’s competition…

@XTM: I have one in the works and I am possibly available for commission...

1024MAK · Post by **1024MAK** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 2:06 pm

TMD2003 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 11, 2023 12:43 pm @XTM: I have one in the works and I am possibly available for commission...

Mark

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