Editing ZX Spectrum (section)

== Reception ==
Initial reception of the ZX Spectrum was generally positive. Critics in Britain welcomed the new machine as a worthy successor to the [[ZX81]]; Robin Bradbeer of ''[[Sinclair User]]'' praised the additional keyboard functions the Spectrum had to offer, and lauded the "strength" of its ergonomic and presentable design.{{sfn|Bradbeer|1982|pp=14-15}} [[Tim Hartnell]] from ''[[Your Computer (British magazine)|Your Computer]]'' noted that Sinclair had improved on the shortcomings of the [[ZX80]] and ZX81 by revamping the Spectrum's load and save functions, noting that it made working with the machine "a pleasure".{{sfn|Hartnell|1982|pp=20-21}} Hartnell concluded that despite minor faults, the machine was "way ahead" of its competitors, and its specification exceeded that of the [[BBC Micro]] Model A.{{sfn|Hartnell|1982|p=22}}

''[[Computer and Video Games]]''{{'}} Terry Pratt compared the Spectrum's keyboard negatively to the typewriter-style used on the BBC Micro, opining that it was an improvement over the ZX81 but unsuited for "typists".{{sfn|Pratt|1982b|p=3}} In similar vein, David Tebbutt from ''[[Personal Computer World]]'' felt that the Spectrum's keyboard felt more like a calculator than typewriter, but praised its functional versatility.{{sfn|Tebbutt|1982|p=118}} Likewise, Gregg Williams from ''[[Byte (magazine)|BYTE]]'' criticised the keyboard, declaring that despite the machine's attractive price the layout "is impossible to justify" and "poorly designed" in several respects. Williams was sceptical of the computer's appeal to American consumers if sold for {{US$|220}}&nbsp;– "hardly competitive with comparable low-cost American units"&nbsp;– and expected that Timex would sell it for {{val|p=$|125|–|150}}.{{sfn|Williams|1983|p=40}} A more negative review came from Jim Lennox of ''Technology Week'', who wrote that "after using it&nbsp;[...] I find Sinclair's claim that it is the most powerful computer under £500 unsustainable. Compared to more powerful machines, it is slow, its colour graphics are disappointing, its BASIC limited and its keyboard confusing".<ref name="nerd"/>