Verdict
Pros
- Blistering performance
- Half the weight of an iPad
Cons
- None
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £69.95
- 3.25MHz Z80 processor
- No Screen
- 350g weight
- Ultra-stylish keyboard
The ZX81 has similar dimensions to a tablet, but it has one big difference – no screen. Instead, a comfortably sized keyboard takes its place, making data entry and touch-typing far more ergonomic. Where virtual onscreen keyboards leave your text riddled with mistakes, the ZX81’s physical membrane-type keyboard gives you a permanent physical target, whilst offering the same complete lack of feedback we’ve all come to love about onscreen keyboards.
The 3.25MHz Z80 processor is also a revelation, zipping through software at a relaxed rate the iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom would envy, making these devices look frenetic and almost schizophrenic. The range of apps available is also comparable to the iPad or Google Android-based tablets, with a wide selection of games and productivity software now available. These can either be loaded from storage media or typed in manually – a facility no tablet offers. 
The ZX81 is also extremely light. Its weight of 350g is half that of the original iPad, and still much less than the iPad 2. The unit will slip easily into any bag, or even the pockets of a really, really big jacket. The matt black soft-touch chassis provides a neutral colour to complement any outfit, particularly if it involves nylon or polyester. There’s a wealth of connectivity on offer, too, with video out, headphone and microphone jacks, a 9V external power socket, plus a slot for memory upgrades.
Verdict
The finger-friendly iPad and its plagiarists have really grabbed the global imagination over the last year. But if you’re looking for a more radical approach to portable computing, Sinclair’s ZX81 has plenty to offer, and at under £70 it’s a bargain. So give Britain a chance, and choose the ZX81 instead of being a tablet fashion victim.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Value 10
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Features 10
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Performance 10
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Design 10
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
