Editing ZX Spectrum (section)

== Peripherals ==
{{ multiple image|total_width=600
| image1 = Sinclair.zx.thermal.printer.jpg||
| image2 = Zx interface 2.png|thumb|
| image3 = Zx interface 1.png|thumb|left|
| image4 = Sinclair ZX Microdrive White BG.jpg|thumb|
| footer = Official peripherals: [[ZX Printer]], [[ZX Interface 2]], [[ZX Interface 1]], and [[ZX Microdrive]]
}}

Several [[peripheral]]s were developed and marketed by Sinclair. The [[ZX Printer]], a small [[Spark printing|spark printer]], was already on the market upon the ZX Spectrum's release,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/peripherals/zxprinter.htm |title= ZX Printer |access-date= 24 August 2006 |last= Owen |first= Chris |work= Planet Sinclair |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060924093548/http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/peripherals/zxprinter.htm |archive-date= 24 September 2006 }}</ref> as its [[Bus (computing)|computer bus]] was partially [[Backward compatibility|backward-compatible]] with that of its predecessor, the ZX81. It uses two electrically charged styli to burn away the surface of aluminium-coated paper to reveal the black underlay.{{sfn|Adamson|Kennedy|1986|p=107}}

The [[ZX Interface 1]] add-on module, launched in 1983, includes 8&nbsp;KB of ROM, an [[RS-232]] serial port, a proprietary [[local area network]] (LAN) interface known as ZX Net, and a port for connecting up to eight [[ZX Microdrive]]s&nbsp;– tape-loop cartridge storage devices released in July 1983, known for their speed, albeit with some reliability concerns.<ref>{{Cite journal |date= September 1983 |title= News: Some surprises in the Microdrive |journal= [[Sinclair User]] |issue= 18 |page= 15 |url= http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/018/news.htm |access-date= 29 August 2006 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060924093253/http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/018/news.htm |archive-date= 24 September 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last= Adams |first= Stephen |date= October 1983 |title= Hardware World: Spectrum receives its biggest improvement |journal= [[Sinclair User]] |issue= 19 |pages= 27–29 |url= http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/019/hardwre.htm |access-date= 29 August 2006 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060924101328/http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/019/hardwre.htm |archive-date= 24 September 2006 }}</ref> Sinclair Research also introduced the [[ZX Interface 2]], which added two joystick ports and a [[ROM cartridge]] port.<ref>{{Cite journal |date= December 1983 |title= Hardware World: Sinclair cartridges may be out of step |journal= [[Sinclair User]] |issue= 21 |page= 35 |url= http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/021/hardwre.htm |access-date= 29 August 2006 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060924100919/http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/021/hardwre.htm |archive-date= 24 September 2006 }}</ref> Although the ZX Microdrives were initially greeted with good reviews,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Frey |first=Franco |title=Epicventuring and Multiplayer Networking |journal=[[Crash (magazine)|CRASH]] |date=May 1984 |issue=4 |pages=46–47 |url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/04/microdv.htm |access-date=11 August 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816014620/http://crashonline.org.uk/04/microdv.htm |archive-date=16 August 2007 }}</ref> they never became a popular distribution method due to fears over cartridge quality and piracy.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Foot |first=Cathy |title=Microdrive revisited |journal=CRASH |date=November 1985 |issue=22 |page=8 |url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/22/opinion.htm |access-date=10 August 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822201523/http://www.crashonline.org.uk/22/opinion.htm |archive-date=22 August 2006 }}</ref>

[[file:Kempston joystick interface.jpeg|thumb|left|The [[Kempston Micro Electronics#Interface|Kempston interface]], a third-party add-on for [[joystick]]s]]

Third-party hardware add-ons were available throughout the machine's life, including the [[Kempston Micro Electronics#Interface|Kempston joystick interface]],{{sfn|Wilkins|2015a|p=14}} the Morex Peripherals [[Centronics]]/RS-232 interface, the [[Currah]] Microspeech unit for speech synthesis,<ref>{{Cite journal |date= December 1983 |title= Hardware World: Clear speech from Currah module |journal= [[Sinclair User]] |issue= 21 |page= 40 |url= http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/021/hardwre.htm |access-date= 29 August 2006 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060924100919/http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/021/hardwre.htm |archive-date= 24 September 2006 }}</ref> [[Videoface]] Digitiser,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Frey |first=Franco |date=February 1987 |title=Tech Niche: Videoface to Face |journal=[[Crash (magazine)|CRASH]] |issue=37 |pages=86–87 |url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue37/Pages/Crash3700086.jpg |access-date=5 August 2008 |archive-date=25 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825201008/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue37/Pages/Crash3700086.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[SpecDrum]] drum machine,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bates |first=Jon |date=April 1986 |title=Tech Niche: SpecDrum |journal=[[Crash (magazine)|CRASH]] |issue=27 |page=100 |url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/27/specdrum.htm |access-date=9 August 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815194429/http://crashonline.org.uk/27/specdrum.htm |archive-date=15 August 2007 }}</ref> and the [[Multiface]], a snapshot and disassembly tool from Romantic Robot.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Frey |first=Franco |date=March 1986 |title=Tech Niche: Multifaceted device |journal=[[Crash (magazine)|CRASH]] |issue=36 |page=86 |url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue26/Pages/Crash2600086.jpg |access-date=5 August 2008 |ref=none |archive-date=25 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825201012/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue26/Pages/Crash2600086.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref> After the original ZX Spectrum's keyboard received criticism for its "dead flesh" feel,<ref name=bbclegacy/> external keyboards became popular.<ref>{{Cite journal |date= October 1984 |title= Hardware World: Emperor Looks Good |journal= [[Sinclair User]] |issue= 31 |page= 31 |url= http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/031/hardwre.htm |access-date= 30 October 2007 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071212133608/http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/031/hardwre.htm |archive-date= 12 December 2007 }}</ref> In 1983, DK'Tronics launched a Light Pen compatible with some drawing software.<ref>{{cite web |title=DK'Tronics Light Pen |url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1000124/Hardware/DKTronics_Light_Pen |website=spectrumcomputing.co.uk |access-date=3 June 2023 |language=en |date=1983 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The Abbeydale Designers/[[Watford Electronics]] SPDOS and KDOS disk drive interfaces were bundled with office productivity software, including the [[Tasword]] word processor, Masterfile database, and [[Microsphere (software company)#Company history|Omnicalc]] spreadsheet.{{sfn|South|1984|p=61}} This bundle, along with OCP's Stock Control, Finance, and Payroll systems, introduced small businesses to streamlined computerised operations.{{sfn|Leigh|2018|p=70}} In 1987 and 1988, [[Miles Gordon Technology]] released the [[DISCiPLE]] and [[+D]] systems. These systems had the capability to store memory images as disk snapshots, allowing users to restore the Spectrum to its exact previous state. Both systems were compatible with the Microdrive command syntax, simplifying the porting of existing software.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Frey |first=Franco |date=March 1987 |title=Tech Niche: Pure Gospel |journal=[[Crash (magazine)|CRASH]] |issue=38 |pages=82–83 |url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue38/Pages/Crash3800082.jpg |access-date=5 August 2008 |archive-date=25 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825201016/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue38/Pages/Crash3800082.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the mid-1980s, Telemap Group launched a fee-based service allowing ZX Spectrum users to connect their machines to the [[Micronet 800]] information provider via a Prism Micro Products VTX5000 modem. Micronet 800, hosted by [[Prestel]], provided news and information about microcomputers and offered a form of instant messaging and online shopping.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/hardware/feat24.html|title=Prism VTX 5000|publisher=Home Computer Advanced Course|year=1984|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105100602/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/hardware/feat24.html|archive-date=5 January 2013 |website=World of Spectrum }}</ref>