The Sinclair QL | ZX Spectrum | Sir. Clive Sinclair | 1980s computers | 4 computer buffs | 1985

British inventor and pioneer of home computing with the development of the iconic ZX Spectrum Sir. Clive Sinclair chats to '4 Computer buffs' Jane Ashton about the re launching of his latest computer venture The Sinclair QL
First shown: 25/03/1985
To license a clip from this interview please e mail: [e-mail]
Quote: VTR32759

[@PistolStar47.]

Rest In Peace Sir Clive Sinclair. Genuis. Millions of childrens childhoods elevated to the magical realm by the ZX Spectrum and its huge and amazing catalogue of games. Fond memories of rainy nights in or Snowy days off school playing them. Simply Heaven 🎉❤🎉

[@joncotn]

Manic Miner was my favourite

[@PistolStar47.]

@joncotn too many to list but Manic Miner was Magical. As was Jet Set Willy. +50 other classics

[@stevesgaming7475]

Way ahead of his time our Sir Clive. RIP Legend! - I still play Spectrum games today.

[@garfstiglz3981]

Why did I get the idea from this that the interviewer was trying to trip him up at several points?

[@goodfes]

good interviewer, challenging questions

[@letsdiscussitoversometea8479]

The channel "Modern ZX-Retro Gaming" has been broadcasting old footage and clips about ZX Spectrum hardware recently if anyone's interested.
Watched this particular clip a couple of times in the past, though this seems like the best quality upload.

[@TheStevenWhiting]

That will be because ThamesTV will have the original aired footage.

[@letsdiscussitoversometea8479]

@@TheStevenWhiting good point. :)

[@mixalisgil]

Legend

[@EgoShredder]

She says "non-standard" but all the other companies out there were mostly incompatible with one another, not just Sinclair. That began to change in the 1990s when most of the main players were put out of business by the IBM PC juggernaut and Microsoft Windows.

[@79devo]

“All machines will be portables”.

[@Grantrap]

Yes Compaq’s dream turned reality.

[@harrynewiss4630]

The QL was sadly a major misstep

[@kgm1000uk]

Back when you could still say "problems" rather than the euphemistic "issues"

[@letsdiscussitoversometea8479]

I imagine Clive would've said "issues" had he been aware of the reason why.
Much more favourable than Alan Sugar or Jack Tremel.

[@ginogennaroalonso1067]

Products electronics sinclair made in England very good. 2024. 🇬🇧👌

[@TheVintageApplianceEmporium]

Uncle Clive was a genius and is sorely missed. What would have happened if he'd not been swept up in the ridiculous C5 I wonder?

[@sjfvideo9508]

Ahead of his time. The tech couldn't keep up with him.

[@JJVernig]

6:36 they mentioned Guy Kewney, is that the infamous BBC misstaken IT specialist?

[@michaelturner4457]

"next year sometime" was when he had to sell to Amstrad.

[@timg5tm941]

A great innovator … the QL was literally a leap too far. He should’ve focused on the home market and not attempted to turn Sinclair into an IBM.

[@cygil1]

Even so the QL probably would have done alright without the accursed microdrives that constantly lost data and shipping a year late.

[@goodfes]

@@cygil1 my Spectrum microdrives are probably somewhere up in the loft. 'When' they worked they were great, trouble is they often span for ages !

[@crozwayne]

The UK's Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Elon Musk all rolled into one 🤣🤣

[@chinnyvision]

He didn't inherit his money from a diamond mine in apartheid South Africa and use it to buy up other peoples ideas he then takes credit for. Neither did he steal other peoples software and then put them out of business via some dodgy business practices. Nor was he the messiah coasting on Jony Ive's designs.