Bidspirit auction | Sinclair ZX81 with 16K RAM

Sinclair ZX81 with 16K RAM - Designed by Industrial Designer Rick Dickinson for Sir Clive Sinclair, Dickinson designed home computers with touch-sensitive and rubber keys, giving them a unique aesthetic. In 1981 he won a Design Council award for his work on the ZX81. The ZX80 and ZX81 were forerunners to the popular ZX Spectrum. Initially available in 16k and 48k models, the computers cost up to £175. Including later models, it is estimated that more than 5m ZX Spectrums were sold. The Sinclair ZX81 holds a significant place in the history of computing, particularly in the UK, as it was the first mass-market home computer to be sold through high street retailers. This accessibility and low price point, coupled with the success of its predecessor, the ZX80, led to the ZX81 selling over 1.5 million units before being discontinued. It is credited with sparking the home computing boom in the UK in the early 1980s.