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One and ADVERTISEMENT NIGEL c_____. .—. RLE low it’sthe quantum leap for QLsoftware and peripherals

Without doubt, the QL was the computer innovation of 1984. Launched to outstanding reviews,it soon gathered thousands of happy owners, and recognition from people like ICL,who have incorporated QL technology and its Microdrives into the new . The quickestglanceat the QL’s are memoryexpansionboards, specificationshows what the Winchesterdiskdrives,printers, fusswas allabout.. .128KRAM, and low-costMicrodrivecart 32-bit processor architecture, ridges. 200K built-in mass storage, Infad, there’sso muchgoing bundled software,They’refea on, we’ll be running these that would normallycost regularNewslettersjustto keep Fromsophisticatedbusinesspackagesto superb animated games... tures QLsoftwaremakesthe most ofthe computers extraordinaryspecification. youthreeorfourtimesasmuchl you intouchl Butthat’sonlyhalfthe story, If you already own a QL, because the QL is now the the next few pages will give heart of a computer system, you a taste ofthe excitingyear with a growinglibraryof soft ahead. NewQLSoftware ware... And ifyou don’t. . . take a As you’ll see from these look at what you’remissing.It Utilities,languages, games and business pages,1985 is the year of the should be all the persuasion quantum leapforsoftwareand you need! packages.. .with more on the way! peripherals.Alreadythere are Nowreadon...the quantum no less than five QL Iang leap into serious computing Two things are now certain softwarereleases,shown here, uagestogether withspedalpro startshere. about QLsoftware.First,there’s demonstrate how exceptional gramsfor softwaredevelopers, going to be plenty of it And the bestQLsoftwarewillbe. a world-beatingchessgame... second, its going to set com The QL already has five and muchmoreon the way! pletely new standards for languages,superb programsfor On the hardwareside,there ... software developers, a top a specialQL monitorto make At the moment, there are qualityaccountingpackageand the mostofthat high-resolution NigelSearle,ManagingDirector, wellover100softwareprograms inQLChessithas itsfirstgame. 512 x 256 pixeldisplay.There SinclairResearchLimited. in development.And the first QLUB:io,000members and growing! QLUBisthespecialUsersBureau timesa year.Themagazinepro for SinclairQL owners.There videsa forumforQLownersto Current specialoffers indude: QL Assembler for £31.95 are nowwellover10,000QLUB exchange views and keep in QL chess for £14.95 QL Cash Traderfor £54.95 members,and membership is touchwithallthe latestdevelop QLToolkitfor £19.95 Special subscription rates growingallthe time. ments. for News Fortheirannualsubscription Each issue is packed with and QL User. ofB5, QLUBmembersare en updates on QL hardware and joyinga whole range of infor software,tips on applyingthe mation and advisoryservices, fourQLPrograms,and newsof exclusive offers and special howother peopleare usingthe discounts. QL QLUBmembersalsoreceive One of the most important a range of special discounts, QLUB benefits is the special withsavingsofat least20% on news magazine,appearing six selectedsoftwareproducts. 1 ADVERTISEMENT between editor,assembler and SuperBASICinstantly. Written by GSTComputer Systems—£39.95.* QLToolkit— a programmer’s toolkit with over 70 programs. and extensionsto SuperBASIC. Most are linkedto SuperBASIC initiallyand can then be used iIir from commands or from within a program. Enhancements in LCashTrader clude printer spooling (print a filewhilerunninga SuperBASIC QLTooIkit program); improved fileaccess (withfullrandom input/output command); job control (allows management of multi-tasking programs includingthe ability to display,alter priorities,and delete jobs from the QL);and SuperBASlCscreen editor. Written by Q Jump _E24.95.* World-beating chess! QL Chess-fresh from itsvictory at the World Chess Championship.Thispro gram sets a completely new standard forgames software. There’sa high resolutiondis play, animated 3-D graphics, and 28 levels of play from novice to champion. Features Themultilingual cations, LISPis a powerful and Forth — this new generation’ versatile language. This is a languageisprovingboth popular include an openings book of SinclairQL sophisticated implementation and easyto learn.The program nearly 4000 moves, HINTand BCPL— a forerunner ofC,BCPL of LISP,by one of its leading providesa fullimplementation TAKEBACKfunctionsthat help hasbeen describedas a systems exponents, DrArthur Norman. of the latest Forth 83 standard you learn from your mistakes, programmer’s delight In the This package features full QL withgraphicsand sound exten and the option to playa human words of QL User, this com graphics, and a full manual is sion. opponent or the computer. piler is a brilliantcompromise supplied. Availablefrom Written by — £19.95.* between a high-levellanguage Availablefrom Computer One —E29.95. and a low-level systems lan Metacomco—£59.95. Tel:0223 862616. Softwareat work guage’.Whilstnot forbeginners, Tel:0272 428781. QL Touch ‘n’Go — a unique this isan essential buy for any APL - the compactmathema approach to learning touch- DEVEW4TQL BcPL one with a good knowledge of KIT— tics-based interpreted language typing skills.The program is QLLISP systemsprogrammingComplete DEVRQT designed for scientists and designed to give you mastery with manual. mathematicians. ofthe standard QWERTYkey Availablefrom APL keyword board in just 24 hours. With Metacomco — £59.95. completewith manual. practice,you shouldsoon reach Tel:0272 428781. Availablefrom 40 words per minute,with over LISP—alreadywell-known for MicroAPL—£99.95. 95% accuracy. its artificial intelligence Tel:01-622 0395. Written by Harcourt_24.95.* appli Pascal— probably the most popular high-levellanguage of QL Cash Trader — a unique all. Pascal is particularly well- Programmer’s computerised book-keeping Psion suited to structured program trouble packs systemforsmallbusinesses.The service mingsophisticateddatamanipu program provides a complete shooting lation algorithmicproblems. QL Assembler—twoprograms and course in the principlesof ac AllQLUBmembers canobtain Pascal interpreter complete operating in tandem. The first special assistance from Psion isa full-screeneditorforcreating countancy, and goes on to with 87-page manual. become an essential aid in the on usingthe QL Quill,Abacus, Availablefrom and altering program files. Archive and Easel The second,a Motorola-format day-to-day running of a busi programs Computer One —£39.95. supplied with the computer. compatible 68000 assembler ness. Complete with compre Tel:0223 862616. Psionwillnormallyanswer any which converts source files hensivemanual. querieswithin48 hours. written in M68000 assembly Written byAccountancy language into machine code Software of Torquay_f69.95.* fileswhich can run on the QL. *Thistitle isavailable from Both assembler and editor SinclairResearchon are written in machine code 0276 686100, and seleded and can be multi-tasked with Sindair stockists nationwide. SuperBASIC,so you can switch ADVERTISE MENT New QLHardware An industry isborn

From the moment of itslaunch,the revolutionary QLattraded widespread networking. Already the list of peripherals for massive interest from allquarters. the QL isvery exciting—andlengthening by the day! In one area, the interest quicklyturned to action, as high- Here, we’ve covered many of the latest; most important tech hardware manufadurers realised the immense potential developments. of the QL for vast expansion, for system development and for As more appear, be sure to keep in touch with QL News!

1T .,,.,,: CTVLL.N4 ‘ F4

print ofjust 121/2” by 15” — no It’savailablefromMBSData more than a typical portable Efficiencyon 0442 60155 and The dedicated Sinclair typewriter, selectedSinclairstockists. J VisionQ.Lmonitor

Once you see the incredible mum512x256 pixelresolution graphicscapabilitiesof the QL to the full,witha pin-sharp85 you maydecidean ordinaryTV columndisplay. justcan’tdo them justice. It’salsospeciallystyledto suit If that’s the case, a high- the QL — in looks,and in use. resolutionmonitor is needed. There’sa 12” non-glare tube, (Andifyou’recreatingpresenta and etched screen to diffuse tion-qualitycharts,forexample, reflections. it’squiteessential.) Sothe displayisbrightsharp,

The new VisionQLmonitor much easierto lookat. . . and is specially designed for the invaluablefor those late-night computer by KagaElectronics, programmingsessions! with fullsupport from Sinclair And likethe QL,the Vision

Research. monitorisdesignedwithspace The QL’ssuperb graphics capabilities—asdemonstrated by the SinclairVisionQL

So it exploitsthe QL’smaxi I in mind:it has a compactfoot- monitor. ADVERTISEMENT

themselves are standard equip Microdrivecartridges. ment on the new ICLOne Per The spec Deskmicro. Nowonly£1.99! Nowthere’smoregood news the for QL enthusiasts: from Feb behind Microdrive cartridges are the biggerthan a matchbox! ruary 1, the cost of QL Micro- QL’sown uniquestoragemedia. Over 500,000 cartridgesare drive cartridgesare down from Each stores up to lOOKof in now being used throughout spectacle £4.95 to £1.99each! formation, on a cartridge no Britain. And QL Microdrives

Cpu — Central ProcessingUnit Fast,powerfulMotorola 68008 chip. A second processor, an Intel 8049, controls the key board,generatesthe sound,and actsas an RS-232Creceiver.

RAM 128K.Nowexpandableto 640K.

ROM 48K.

Operating system Qdos — revolutionary,single-user, multi-taskingwindowingopera ting system. SinclairMicrodrive cartridges — up to 100Kof programs and data on a medium so compact you can pop it into your pocket. Storage tomer lists.And at under £1,200, Expansionboards Twinbuilt-inQLMicrodrives.Up Powerfulhard- it represents exceptional value to lOOKstorage each — transfer for money. disksystem for up to 4 times rate, up to 15Kper second. The Fireflywill be available For the QL business user, the very shortly from Quest on more memory! new FireflyQL Winchesterdisk Keyboard 04215 66488. Alsofrom Quest, a simple and will boost the QL’Spower in Fullmoving 65-key QWERT’Y inexpensiveway to expand the one huge leap. five function keys, four cursor QL’sRAM:with memory ex Designed by Quest, it uses keys. pansion boards. CP/M and offersallthe benefits These compact unitsconnect of Winchester technology:fast Language to the standard QL expansion access, reliabilitycompact size Sinclairstructured SuperBASIC port, using the QL’s internal and quiet operation. ‘Ipower source or, for larger With 7.5 Mb storage, the :iEI boards,an externalpowersource. Applicationsoftware Quest Fireflyis ideal for large Winchester hard diskdrivessupplement The units range from 64K QLQuill—wordprocessor databases such as stock or cus your QL’Sbuilt-in mass storage. Abacus — spreadsheet and 128KRAMboards to mas QL Easel—graphics sivelypowerful256Kand 512K QL Archive— database pricesfrom only£35. RAMboards, so there’s some QL Interfaceoptions All four packages supplied Andthat’sjustthe beginning. thingforevery user. The QL comes complete with withthe QL. For attaching scientific and two built-inRS-232Cinterfaces. laboratory instruments to the In addition, interfaces for Interfaces QL,CSTeven offeran IEEE-488 Centronics printers are widely interfaces, interface,which can handle up TwoserialR5-232C available from manufacturers Microdriveexpansion port (up to 16 connected devicessimul such as CST,Miracle Systems taneously! to 6 may be added), ROM and Sigma Research . . . with cartridge port, local area net work, 2 ports, RGB monitor and TVoutput

Textscreen Compact expansion boards. Various modes — up to 85 col Pricesstart at £117,and the umns by 25 rows on monitor. 512Kboard isa very cost-effec On TV,up to 60 columns. tive investment at just£587. With affordablememory like Graphicsresolution this, the QL is more than a 512x256 pixels(fourcolour), match for any other micro 256 x256 pixels(eightcolour). under £2,000! A Centronics interlace slipsdiscreetly into place. SinclairResearchLtd Camberley,Surrey,GU153BR. The SinclairQL is available at selected branches of Dixons, Nhere to findthe QL. Tel:Camberley(0276)686100. W H Smith, John Lewis Partnership, Currys, Greens in Debenhams and Ultimate, and larger branches of Boots,John Menzies and specialist computer stores nationwide. iriIir- ,QL,QLUB,and Qdos, are trademarks of SinclairResearch Ltd.Quill,Easel,Archiveand Abacus are trademarks of Psion Ltd.Dueto iriiIir our policyof continual product improvement, SinclairResearchLtdreservethe rightto alter specificationsat any time. 4 Sinclair QL Preservation Project (SQPP)

On January 12th 1984 Sir presented the Sinclair QL Professional Computer in a typical Sinclair-extravaganza type launch event at the Intercontinental Hotel, Hyde Park Corner, London. This was exactly 12 days earlier than Steve Jobs presented the Apple .

The QL still is a very good example of an innovative, stylish, powerful and underestimated product. On one hand it failed in the market but on the other hand it influenced many developments which ended in many of today’s computers.

2009 was the year of its 25th anniversary in which month by month new activities were launched.

Jan 12th – 25th Launch anniversary day. Message spread to VIP, community and media. http://tinyurl.com/ql-is-25

Feb 19th – Massive 11 pages coverage of the QL in the April Issue of Personal Computer World (PCW) magazine. http://www.pcw.co.uk

Mar 12th – Sinclair QL Preservation Project (SQPP) launched, starting with Documents/Publications from Ltd and various computer magazines of the years 1984 to 1986. http://tinyurl.com/sqpp25

2014 is the year of the 30th anniversary. Check out the brand new website http://www.qlis30.org.uk/. Activities include THE MOVIE, THE STORY, THE REPOSITORY, THE DISTRIBUTION and much more to come. Stay tuned...

QL forever! Urs König (aka QLvsJAGUAR) http://www.qlvsjaguar.homepage.bluewin.ch http://www.youtube.com/QLvsJAGUAR https://plus.google.com/104042128125238901905/posts