Editing ZX81 (section)

=== BBC Micro bid ===
The launch of the ZX81 was catalysed in part by the [[BBC]] Computer Literacy Project's plan to produce [[The Computer Programme]] TV series, to be broadcast in 1982, aimed at popularising computing and programming. The BBC intended to commission an existing manufacturer to provide it with a BBC-branded home computer to tie in with the series. When Clive Sinclair heard of the project in December 1980, he wrote to the BBC informing them that he would be announcing a new version of the ZX80, to be called the ZX81, in early 1981. It would remedy some of the ZX80's deficiencies and would be both cheaper and more advanced.{{sfn|Dale|1985|p=100}} Sinclair wanted the ZX81 to be a candidate for the BBC contract and lobbied for its adoption. He pointed out that there were already 40,000 users of the ZX80 and that by the time the series was broadcast there were likely to be upwards of 100,000 ZX81 users.{{sfn|Dale|1985|p=103}}

A prototype ZX81 was demonstrated to BBC representatives in January 1981,{{sfn|Dale|1985|p=104}} while Sinclair's local rival [[Acorn Computers]] put forward their proposed Proton computer, a design – of which a prototype did not yet exist – based on the [[Acorn Atom]].{{sfn|Adamson|Kennedy|1986|p=104}} To Sinclair's dismay, the contract to produce the [[BBC Micro]] went to Acorn, which launched the machine in January 1982.{{sfn|Adamson|Kennedy|1986|pp=116–117}} Paul Kriwaczek, the producer of ''The Computer Programme'', explained his reservations in a March 1982 interview with ''[[Your Computer (British magazine)|Your Computer]]:''

{{blockquote|I would have been very reluctant for the BBC to sell something like the Sinclair [ZX81] because it is so limited. The Sinclair cannot be expanded; it is fundamentally a throw-away consumer product. Its usefulness lies in learning about programming, but I do not believe that the future of computers lies in everyone learning to program in BASIC.<ref>[[#Gore|Gore (March 1982)]]</ref>}}

Sinclair was critical of the BBC's decision, accusing it of incompetence and arrogance.<ref name="ET-interview">[[#ET220282|''Engineering Today'' (22 February 1982)]]</ref> Shortly after [[Acorn Computers|Acorn]] won the BBC contract the Government issued a recommended list of computers, including the [[BBC Micro]] and [[Research Machines 380Z]], that schools could purchase, with the aid of a grant, for half price; Sinclair's computers were not included on the list. Sinclair responded by launching his own half-price deal, offering schools the chance to buy a ZX81 and 16&nbsp;KB RAM pack for £60, plus a ZX Printer at half price, for a total cost of £90. As the cheapest Government-approved system was £130, this was an attractive offer for some schools and about 2,300 bought Sinclair's package, although 85% adopted the BBC Micro.{{sfn|Dale|1985|pp=106–7}}{{sfn|Campbell|1983}}{{sfn|McClelland|2011}}