Vintage computers - especially Sord - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

arjoll · 11th Apr 2015, 6:50 am

I've been working on this site for a while - the domain was registered something like 6 years ago, and I had a big push in 2013 to start writing content.

It's still very much a work in progress, but today I've added some information about my Commodore CBM8032 and VIC-20 to what I'd already written about SORD. Hopefully it won't be another two years until I add more!

http://www.sord.co.nz

Cobaltblue · 11th Apr 2015, 7:55 am

Fascinating Andrew.

Never had and dealing with SORD so all news to me.

Out of interest did machines like the Nascom, Tangerine and Newbear have any impact in NZ?

Cheers

Mike T

arjoll · 11th Apr 2015, 9:11 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobaltblue

Out of interest did machines like the Nascom, Tangerine and Newbear have any impact in NZ?

I hadn't heard of any of them, and have just looked them up. The Nascom and Newbear were probably before my time, and I hadn't come across the Tangerine before.

From a NZ perspective, the main UK computers we saw were Sinclair in the home market and BBC/Acorn in education, with a few Amstrads thrown in.

SiriusHardware · 11th Apr 2015, 9:52 pm

Did the 'Science of Cambridge' Mk14 make it over there?

Regarded as Clive Sinclair's first 'computer' product (produced 2-3 years before the ZX80, before the Sinclair name started to be used on computers, it was only available as a kit for 39.95 GBP, so it was aimed squarely at the electronics hobbyists who could put it together).

As usual for Sinclair it was pared down to meet an immovable price point, so it was just a simple microprocessor development system with a notoriously bad keypad. This in turn led to very few surviving with their original keypad present and intact, so those which did are the most collectable / valuable ones now.

More here:

http://mymk14.co.uk/paulRobson/index.htm

11th Apr 2015, 6:50 am	#1
arjoll Dekatron Join Date: May 2006 Location: Invercargill, New Zealand Posts: 3,457	Vintage computers - especially Sord I've been working on this site for a while - the domain was registered something like 6 years ago, and I had a big push in 2013 to start writing content. It's still very much a work in progress, but today I've added some information about my Commodore CBM8032 and VIC-20 to what I'd already written about SORD. Hopefully it won't be another two years until I add more! http://www.sord.co.nz

11th Apr 2015, 7:55 am	#2
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Vintage computers - especially Sord Fascinating Andrew. Never had and dealing with SORD so all news to me. Out of interest did machines like the Nascom, Tangerine and Newbear have any impact in NZ? Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

11th Apr 2015, 9:52 pm	#4
SiriusHardware Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 11,556	Re: Vintage computers - especially Sord Did the 'Science of Cambridge' Mk14 make it over there? Regarded as Clive Sinclair's first 'computer' product (produced 2-3 years before the ZX80, before the Sinclair name started to be used on computers, it was only available as a kit for 39.95 GBP, so it was aimed squarely at the electronics hobbyists who could put it together). As usual for Sinclair it was pared down to meet an immovable price point, so it was just a simple microprocessor development system with a notoriously bad keypad. This in turn led to very few surviving with their original keypad present and intact, so those which did are the most collectable / valuable ones now. More here: http://mymk14.co.uk/paulRobson/index.htm