The ZX Spectrum was "the first computer" for a whole generation of users, cloned on multiple occasions, and a true icon in the low-cost systems revolution. Inspired by that magic in the early '80s, "stormbytes1970" on GitHub created the ZX Spectrum Portable, with a portable design based on the Raspberry Pi Pico, the pico-zxspectrum emulator by fruit-bat, a custom PCB, and a dash of 3D printing.
23 April 1982 in the United Kingdom. A year later in the United States, and the rest of Europe had to wait (according to some sources) until 1985. None of that mattered: the ZX Spectrum is estimated to have sold more than five million units across all its models, but that number does not necessarily include the clones that emerged around the globe.
The official history of the ZX Spectrum ended in 1992, and still, that was just a formality. Just like with the Commodore 64, the ZX Spectrum has a legion of dedicated fans who update, modify, and reinvent this computer. The latest example? ZX Spectrum Portable, a creation by "stormbytes1970" on GitHub.
ZX Spectrum Portable: Enter the Spectrum Universe with a DIY Portable
This project uses a Raspberry Pi Pico as its main element, which in its standard version averages around 10 euros. On the software side, everything is handled by the fabulous pico-zxspectrum project by fruit-bat, which, while it sacrifices a bit of precision, is good enough to run a huge number of games and programs. The custom PCB includes a microSD slot that lets us open .z80 and .tap files, a micro USB port for connecting gamepads, and a USB-C port that charges the 1,500 mAh battery.
The screen isn't very big physically, but its 320 x 240 resolution doesn't demand much, and as far as its keyboard goes, it definitely has better conditions than the original (I'm nostalgic, but not that much). Some may dismiss the project for creating a "simple emulation box", however, the initial models are becoming prohibitively expensive, and I think the Pi Pico gives us a solid starting point to explore this particular universe.
Official site: Click here
