Editing ZX81 (section)

== Reception ==
[[File:Sinclair ZX81 Setup PhotoManipped.jpg|right|thumb|A typical ZX81 setup including cassette recorder and black-and-white Ferguson television set|alt=ZX81 in between a copy of the "ZX81 BASIC Programming" manual and a cassette tape recorder, with a black-and-white Ferguson TV set on the background.]]
Reviews of the ZX81 highlighted the great value for money offered by the machine but noted its technical shortcomings. As [[Tim Hartnell]] put it in ''Your Computer'', "the ZX81 is both a delight and a disappointment". He applauded the improvements that had been made over the ZX80, such as a much better manual, display and [[String (computer science)|string]] handling, and called the ZX81 "a very good first computer" that "will open the world of computing to many who would be denied access to it by cost." However, the built-in memory was so small that use of a memory expansion pack was "mandatory for any worthwhile use". He also found the ZX81 to be alarmingly unreliable, having to have his first two test machines replaced before getting one that worked properly.<ref>[[#YCJun81|Hartnell (June–July 1981)]]</ref>

''New Scientist's'' Malcolm Peltu commented that it was "great technical value for money particularly for computing enthusiasts" but thought that others were "likely to be bored very quickly by the basic system". He highlighted weaknesses in the manual and Sinclair's accompanying software, criticising them for "a misconceived design and sloppiness in execution which make the machine seem harder to use and more limited than it should" and questioned whether it might be more worthwhile to save up for a more powerful computer such as Acorn or Commodore's offerings. Overall, he concluded, the ZX81 might have a limited value in helping to teach BASIC programming and overcoming psychological barriers to computing, but "the Sinclair systems have a long way to go before they raise the quality and level of understanding of the nature and use of computer-based information systems among computer unbelievers."<ref>[[#Peltu|Peltu (30 April 1981)]]</ref>

While the editor of ''Personal Computer World'' was on holiday in May 1981, his colleagues publicised the magazine's review of the ZX81 with a cover showing a chimpanzee with the machine above the strapline "Editor benchtests the ZX81". (The chimp returned in later issues to "benchtest" all of Sinclair's subsequent computers.) The review, which was written by ''PCW'' staffer Dave Tebbutt, acknowledged that the machine had significant shortcomings but nonetheless represented "absolutely amazing value for money". He described the ZX81 as "a lovely product which will have enormous appeal to people wanting to find out more about computers, but without it costing them an arm and a leg" and concluded: "If you know nothing about computers and you want to enjoy finding out about them, then this machine offers a value for money way of doing just that. Children will love the ZX81, there can be no question about that, and I suspect that more than a few people who are already familiar with computers will buy one, just to have a bit of fun."<ref>[[#Tebbutt|Tebbutt (June 1981)]]</ref>

Paul Taylor of the ''[[Financial Times]]'' found the ZX81 to be "a powerful and flexible little computer ideally suited as a fun introduction to the mysteries of home computing" but cautioned readers about its limitations. It lacked ready-made software, the keyboard was not easy to use, it did not have sufficiently advanced graphics to be able to replicate arcade-style games and its built-in memory was inadequate. Even so, he suggested, "the ZX81 is a unique British product, part toy, part puzzle, part learning tool and I think that, provided one accepts its limitations and recognises that any computer will only do what it is told to do, it is good value as an introduction to the hobby of home computing."<ref name="Taylor">[[#Taylor|Taylor (21 November 1981)]]</ref>

''[[The Age]]'' described the ZX81 as "not extremely sophisticated, and its memory capability is rather limited. It also has a rather toy-like appearance". It concluded that the computer was "an ideal toy for youngsters who want to become acquainted with the computer world. It is responsive, cheap, and very easy to use".<ref name="theage19820309">{{cite news |title=Toy-like but a best seller |newspaper=The Age |page=33 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ByBVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3739%2C4130406 |date=9 March 1982 |access-date=16 March 2014}}</ref>

Billy Garrett of ''[[Byte (magazine)|Byte]]'', who already owned a ZX80, complimented the Timex/Sinclair 1000's manual (although he regretted the removal of the British original's humour), the "state-of-the-art circuitry", and the BASIC for being "remarkably powerful" despite the small ROM size. He concluded that "the major use&nbsp;... will probably be for learning about BASIC or computers in general. [It] has limited expansion capabilities, and the keyboard is too small and cramped for any serious work".{{sfn|Garrett|1983}}

Phillip Robinson of ''[[InfoWorld]]'' had no trouble using a $25 "department-store special" cassette recorder with his Timex/Sinclair 1000, but reported that friends could not use theirs. While also experiencing and having to compensate for the memory-expansion wobble, he stated his amazement at being able to purchase a complete computer with keyboard and BASIC "at digital-watch prices", approved of the documentation's quality, and surmised that Timex "is obviously gunning for the computer-literacy market ... at a price the masses can afford and are willing to spend". Robinson described the 1000's performance as "no slouch", especially its floating-point precision, and suggested using it as a single-purpose device devoted to one task while using another, larger computer.<ref name="robinson19830530">{{Cite magazine |last=Robinson |first=Phillip |date=1983-05-30 |title=The Timex/Sinclair 1000, a low-cost, book-size micro |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4S8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55 |access-date=2024-12-29 |magazine=InfoWorld |pages=55–58}}</ref>

David Babsky described the ZX81 as "a wonderfully brainy little micro which won't let you waste your time and make a fool of yourself". In a comparison between the ZX81 and IBM PC published in ''Which Micro?'', he commended the ZX81's user-friendliness and its on-the-fly syntax checking of BASIC programs, which he described as "the feature that I, as a newcomer to computing, want to see incorporated into every micro."<ref name="Babsky">[[#WM0483|Babsky (April 1983)]]</ref>