What does ZX mean?
What does ZX mean?
I imagine this has come up before, so apologies if I'm repeating a stupid question, but what is the significance of the ZX in ZX80, ZX81, ZX Spectrum ?
Is it just the 2 coolest letters?
Is it just the 2 coolest letters?
Re: What does ZX mean?
https:/en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX80
Re: What does ZX mean?
Z80 as in Zilog’s CPU, with X added for the unknown eXciting factor. I read this on an ex-Sinclair Radionics and Science of Cambridge engineer’s history/reminiscence website the other day.
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SevenFFF / Threetwosevensixseven / colonel32
NXtel • NXTP • ESP Update • ESP Reset • CSpect Plugins
Re: What does ZX mean?
Cool, thanks. I can sleep tonight.
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Re: What does ZX mean?
Given how cumbersome it is to have to type "ZX Spectrum" into search engines, I kind of wish the computer had simpler, snappier name. Something like Zextrum.
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Re: What does ZX mean?
But the “Spectrum” bit is there to tell you that it’s a multicolour computer…
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Re: What does ZX mean?
Then, Citröen took over the idea...
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Re: What does ZX mean?
People generally referred to it as the Spectrum without the ZX, of course, but often I'd hear people refer to it as the "Spectrum ZX", and it always filled me with rage whenever it happened.
Wrestling with useless old junk since 1974.
Vintage computers: ZX81, Spectrum +2, TRS-80 Model 100, Z88, Amstrad NC100
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Vintage computers: ZX81, Spectrum +2, TRS-80 Model 100, Z88, Amstrad NC100
http://journeyman.online
Re: What does ZX mean?
We should all visit the Lemon64 forums and start posting questions about the 64 Commodore!Journeyman wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2024 6:34 pm People generally referred to it as the Spectrum without the ZX, of course, but often I'd hear people refer to it as the "Spectrum ZX", and it always filled me with rage whenever it happened.
Re: What does ZX mean?
Sexdrum !
What time does the patent office open?
There's a guy on a podcast that constantly calls it 'The ZX' and it sets my teeth on edge.Journeyman wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2024 6:34 pm often I'd hear people refer to it as the "Spectrum ZX", and it always filled me with rage whenever it happened.
Re: What does ZX mean?
WHAAAT?! Heretic! Where are the torches!? Igor, come here whith the ropes!!
Re: What does ZX mean?
ZX Crumpets
Who knew crumpets is an anagram of spectrum.
Who knew crumpets is an anagram of spectrum.
Re: What does ZX mean?
Well, I think the problem usually is that if you use any simple, sensible name, you would not find it using any search engine until page 15 of the search results. Especially with older stuff.
Imagine your computer was called the Dragon, or the BBC, or Bing, or just Spectrum.
I guess the name is just unique enough now to be easily search for in a search engine.
Re: What does ZX mean?
There was an intern working at Sinclair, kind of a work experience kind of deal, and Clive said to the guy "We need a name that gets us to the top in any list, you know like how Google chose a name that would appear at the start of an alphabetical list of websites" - but the poor sod didn't know anything about computers (because Clive had not done the deed yet), much less his student copy of MS Office, and got his sorting direction reversed.
hence, "ZX" appeared at the top of his sorted list of names in Word97 and the rest, as they say, is history.
hence, "ZX" appeared at the top of his sorted list of names in Word97 and the rest, as they say, is history.
Re: What does ZX mean?
As an owner of a pair of Reliants, watch my eye twitch when people talk about "Robin Reliant"Journeyman wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2024 6:34 pm People generally referred to it as the Spectrum without the ZX, of course, but often I'd hear people refer to it as the "Spectrum ZX", and it always filled me with rage whenever it happened.
Re: What does ZX mean?
I remember a few years back on the WoS forums the surprise from a lot of users, me included, when told that the user "murtceps" is Spectrum spelt backwards.
ZX Spectrum Reviews REST API: http://zxspectrumreviews.co.uk/
Re: What does ZX mean?
I twigged quite early on this one, as Sorcerer's Castle (1983) was one of my guilty pleasures. The sorcerer is called Murtceps in that.
IIRC at one point on WoS a new user appeared with the username 'Spectrum' - everyone was astounded that after multiple years on the site and thousands of members, nobody had picked it
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Re: What does ZX mean?
Also, did you know that Google ZX (yes, that's a real thing, use a search engine like DDG to search for it), was based on the ZX?
Re: What does ZX mean?
As a fellow tripod lover thank god it's not just me who thinks this, and don't get me started on lazy journalists who refer to Del boys van as a Robin Reliant.
It's a fecking Reliant Regal Supervan three!
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Re: What does ZX mean?
Or when I'm delighted to see that an American electronics youtube channel has a new episode talking about the Spectrum, but then refer to it throughout as 'The Zee-Ex'. Oh that burns.
Re: What does ZX mean?
Considering what I actually own are Kittens, yeah, my eye twitches