website/content/museum/sinclair-ql-quantum-leap.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Sinclair QL (Quantum Leap)	Computers	Home Computer	United Kingdom	1984	Motorola MC 68008	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts hardware screenshots emulators links oc_id source QL (Quantum Leap) /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_side_3.jpg /companies/sinclair Sinclair label value NAME QL (Quantum Leap) label value MANUFACTURER Sinclair label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN United Kingdom label value YEAR 1984 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Sinclair Super Basic label value KEYBOARD QWERTY / AZERTY pseudo full-stroke keyboard\ 5 function keys label value CPU Motorola MC 68008 label value SPEED 7.5 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR Intel 8049 IPC (RS232, speaker, joysticks, keyboard)\ Sinclair ZX8301 (Peripheral Control)\ Sinclair ZX8302 (Peripheral Chip) label value RAM 128 kb (up to 728 kb without additional CPU)\ 85 kb free under Super Basic label value VRAM 32 kb label value ROM 48 kb (up to 64 kb) label value TEXT MODES 40 x 25, 64 x 25, 85 x 25 label value GRAPHIC MODES 256 x 256 (8 colors)\ 512 x 256 (4 colors) label value COLORS 256 color effects label value SOUND Beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT 47,2 x 13,8 x 4,6 cm / 1,4 kg label value I/O PORTS 2 x Serial sockets (RS232)\ 2 x Sinclair Network sockets\ 2 x Controllers sockets\ ROM connector\ Expansion bus\ External microdrives bus\ RGB video output\ RF video output label value BUILT IN MEDIA 2 x microdrives (100 kb each) label value OS QDOS label value POWER SUPPLY External PSU label value PRICE 399£ (UK, february 1984) photos adverts hardware software emulators links 209 title subtitle text image FRONT /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_front_1.jpg title subtitle text image SIDE /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_front_2.jpg title subtitle text image SIDE 2 /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_side_1.jpg title subtitle text image SIDE 3 /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_side_2.jpg title subtitle text image IN BOX /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_styro.jpg title subtitle text image BOX /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image MICRODRIVES CLOSEUP /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_microdrives.jpg title subtitle text image MICRODRIVES OPENED /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_microdrives_opened.jpg title subtitle text image MICRODRIVE TAPES /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_microdrives_2.jpg title subtitle text image BLANK MICRODRIVES TAPES This little box with 4 blank microdrive tapes was delivered with the Sinclair QL /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_microdrive_coffret.jpg title subtitle text image REAR /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_rear_1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_rear_2.jpg title subtitle text image MOTHERBOARD /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_mobo_2.jpg title subtitle text image MOTHERBOARD EXPLAINED This is one of the very first pictures of the inside of a QL. The motherboard, still in beta-version, will undergo several modifications during the difficult birth of the QL and also during the QL's life. **(1)** Expansion connector for external peripherals and internal 512 Kb. RAM extension.\ **(2)** Connector for 32 Kb. ROM software cartridges.\ **(3)** Two 9-pin joystick connectors.\ **(4)** Two 9-pin serial RS-232 connectors.\ **(5)** TV aerial RF modulator. Through this video output, only 60 char. per line are allowed.\ **(6)** RGB video output connector. 85 char. per line allowed.\ **(7)** Sinclair local network connector. Up to 64 QLs or Spectrums can be connected together.\ **(8)** Up to six additional microdrives can be connected here.\ **(9)** Integrated microdrives.\ **(10)** Intel 8049 microprocessor in charge of keyboard, sound and serial port management.\ **(11)** Two chipsets specially designed for the QL (ZX-8301/02), in charge of video display and various Inputs/Outputs.\ **(12)** Motorola 68008 microprocessor. A 16-bit processing unit, but only an 8-bit data bus. /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_inside_1.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD EXPLAINED The QL keyboard is made of two semi-flexible plastic sheets with a wire network connecting each key. Under each key, the 2 sheets are separated by a ''bubble'' which keeps the wires from each sheet separated. When the key is pressed, the bubble is flattened and makes a contact between two wires. This bubble is also used to ensure the normal position of the key. This process makes it possible for the QL to offer a keyboard touch practically identical to a mechanical keyboard while keeping a very low profile. **(1)** Superior key caps.\ **(2)** Vertical guide of the key.\ **(3)** Bubble which keeps the key raised and breaks the contact between two wires.\ **(4)** Two superimposed plastic sheets.\ **(5)** Wires connecting each key of the keyboard. /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_keyboard_1.jpg title subtitle text image MECHANICAL KEYBOARD This model is not a new mysterious version of the QL, but only a mechanical keyboard addon sold to replace the original and fragile keyboard. As it was very expensive, only a few QLs have been upgraded like this. The funcion keys are red, the letters keys (A - Z) are dark brown and the rest of the keys are black. Thanks to [oldcomput.8k.com](http://oldcomput.8k.com) for this picture. /media/museum/photos/sinclair_ql_mechanical-keyboard_1.jpg title subtitle text image QL MONITOR AD. It was actually a rebadged Taxan monitor /media/museum/pubs/sinclair_ql_pub_1.jpg title subtitle text image FRENCH ADVERT /media/museum/pubs/sinclair_ql_sicob_pub.jpg title subtitle text image QL CATALOGUE #1 Thanks to [fuzzbucket](http://blogs.linux.ie/fuzzbucket/archives/p/7/more/1/c/1/Vintage-Sinclair-QL-catalogue) for this complete QL catalogue. /media/museum/pubs/sinclair_ql_brochure1_s1.jpg title subtitle text image QL CATALOGUE #2 /media/museum/pubs/sinclair_ql_brochure1_s2.jpg title subtitle text image QL CATALOGUE #3 /media/museum/pubs/sinclair_ql_brochure1_s3.jpg title subtitle text image QL CATALOGUE #4 /media/museum/pubs/sinclair_ql_brochure1_s4.jpg title subtitle text image QL CATALOGUE #5 /media/museum/pubs/sinclair_ql_brochure1_s5.jpg title subtitle text image QL CATALOGUE #6 /media/museum/pubs/sinclair_ql_brochure1_s6.jpg title subtitle text image QL CATALOGUE #7 /media/museum/pubs/sinclair_ql_brochure1_s7.jpg title subtitle text image QL CATALOGUE #8 /media/museum/pubs/sinclair_ql_brochure1_s8.jpg title subtitle text image TRUMP CARD from Miracle Systems This famous card allows to add a floppy disk controller to the standard QL and to add Tony Tebby's QJUMP Toolkit II commands to the standard QL's somewhat limited internal QDOS commands. /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_ql_trump-card_1.jpg title subtitle text image 512K EXPANDERAM from Miracle Systems This card adds 512k RAM to the QL. /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_ql_miracle-512kcard_1.jpg title subtitle text image SINCLAIR 512K RAM EXPANSION /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_ql_512k_ram_expansion.jpg title subtitle text image JASMIN DISK-DRIVE This is the Jasmin disk-drive for the QL. It is the same as the Oric Jasmin II. 3'' floppies, double head, 80 tracks, 800kb formated. This thing cost 3500fr in 1985. /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_ql_disk_1.jpg title subtitle text image DOUBLE 5''1/4 DISK-DRIVES /media/museum/hardware/sinclair_ql_diskdrive_2.jpg title subtitle text image MONOPOLY /media/museum/software/sinclair_ql_ss_monopoly.jpg title subtitle text image LANDS OF HAVOC /media/museum/software/sinclair_ql_lands_of_havoc_ss.jpg title subtitle text image PIRATE /media/museum/software/sinclair_ql_pirate_ss.gif title subtitle text image QL CHESS /media/museum/software/sinclair_ql_chess_ss.gif title subtitle text image PHARAO ? /media/museum/software/sinclair_ql_pharao_ss.jpg title subtitle text image VROOM /media/museum/software/sinclair_ql_vroom_ss.jpg title subtitle text image TENNIS /media/museum/software/sinclair_ql_ss_tennis.jpg title subtitle text image SPOOK Pac-man clone /media/museum/software/sinclair_ql_spook_ss.gif title subtitle text image THE LOST KINGDOM OF SKUL /media/museum/software/sinclair_ql_skul_ss.gif title subtitle text image SLIME /media/museum/software/sinclair_ql_slime_ss.jpg title subtitle text image ICE Graphical User Interface (GUI) /media/museum/software/sinclair_ql_ice_ss.jpg title url platform text Q-Emulator for Windows 95 http://users.infoconex.com/DANIELE/WINQL.HTML Windows QL emulator for Windows title url platform text QLAY - SINCLAIR QL EMULATOR for Windows95, DOS http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/A.Jaw.Venema/ Windows (Available for Linux) title url platform text QPC http://www.kilgus.net/qpc/ Windows Featureful QL emulator by Marcel Kilgus title url platform text QEmulator http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Heights/1296/q-emulator.html Apple title url platform text UQLX Homepage http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Bay/2602/uqlx_main.html Unix / Linux title url platform text QLem http://rand.thn.htu.se/~johan/qlem.html Atari The QL Emulator for Atari ST/TT/Falcon title url platform text Sinclair Emulation Homepage http://users.aol.com/autismuk/sinclair.htm Other platform title url text Club QL International http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/4807/ Newsletter title url text Dilwyn Jones' Sinclair QL Home Page http://www.soft.net.uk/dj/index.html Impressive content. You'll find what you are seeking here ! title url text Petas Sinclair QL support page http://www.sinclairql.de/ title url text Planet Sinclair http://www.nvg.unit.no/sinclair/planet/index.html title url text QL FAQ http://www.uni-mainz.de/~roklein/ql/ title url text QL Users Mailing List http://www.soft.net.uk/dj/emaillst/maillist.html So you want to exchange mails with QL fans around the world ?! title url text QL Webring http://t.webring.com/hub?list&ring=the_quantum Official webring title url text Sinclair QL Spanish Resources http://sinclairql.es Sinclair QL and compatible Spanish Resources title url text Speccyalista http://www.sinclair.hu/ Hungarian Sinclair page title url text TF Services http://www.firshman.co.uk Tony Firshman's Home Page - Sinclair QL support title url text Thierry Godegroy's Home Page http://www.imaginet.fr/~godefroy/english All you need to know about the Sinclair QL is here ! title url text Web Wiz CAPTCHA http://www.webwizcaptcha.com Sinclair computers 199 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230609174746/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=199 2023-06-09

The Sinclair QL was the first attempt for Clive Sinclair to produce a computer for business. But after the success of the ZX-81 and ZX Spectrum, the QL can also be regarded as the first failure of Sinclair. In January 1984, Clive Sinclair presents the QL to the press, unveiling a very promising and inventive machine, based on the 68008 processor from Motorola. Indeed it was the first home computer based on a 32 bits CPU, just a few days before the Apple Macintosh. It was important for Clive Sinclair to unveil the QL before the Macintosh, but that was also one of the main reasons for the QL's failure...

The British ICL company conceived a desktop information system based on the QL mainboard. It was sold in the U.K. under the names One Per Desk and Merlin Tonto. The same model was also sold in Australia, with the name Telecom Computerphone.