Non-Amiga Memories: Was ZX81 used for UK shop inventory/pricing?

Starglider 2 · 30 July 2016, 22:20

In the 80s I always remember my friend's dad bringing home a ZX80 or 81 and as the first task, proceeding to type at the command prompt:

Code:

POP-A-POINT PENCIL

As you might expect, it didn't work and just returned an error.

Apparently before buying it he'd watched in WH Smiths or Boots as a worker looked up prices of store items on it including that pencil. He thought he could do the same.

That was my first home computer experience and I've often wondered what on earth he saw in the shop. Did they really keep the price lists on a ZX81?

Any ideas?

Cheers!

s2325 · 30 July 2016, 22:28

Maybe it was Atari Portfolio:

or Micro-Professor:

Starglider 2 · 30 July 2016, 22:34

I thought you might be onto something, but this was in the very early 80s when the ZX was pretty new in stores, and somewhat on its own.

The Portfolio was released in 1989, unfortunately for this query.

Thanks a lot though.

Cheers!

s2325 · 30 July 2016, 22:36

My post was edited with second computer.

Starglider 2 · 30 July 2016, 22:40

Interesting. Was the Micro Professor common in stores like Boots? Can't say I ever saw it.

Cheers!

s2325 · 30 July 2016, 22:43

Some hardware information and comments http://www.oldcomputers.net/micro-professor.html

Starglider 2 · 30 July 2016, 22:44

Yes, I had googled it. I don't think that explains what he saw in the UK shop.

Cheers!

Allen1 · 31 July 2016, 17:55

I remember quite a long time ago when I bought a few resistors and a transistor from a local electronics store, the owner used a Spectrum computer and 2 microdrives to find the location for the parts and the price. This was before I got a Spectrum myself and I was amazed at what he could do with such a little computer, I ended up getting a Plus3 when they came out and really enjoyed using that.

Starglider 2 · 31 July 2016, 17:58

I suppose it's possible my friend's dad saw a Speccy and that Speccy was running the same program. Any idea what the program was, or what the shop was called and where it was? Just curious.

Cheers!

Allen1 · 31 July 2016, 19:12

I only know that the program that was running was a bought for package that Keith the shop owner used, he also had his own production line for making circuit boards from what I was told. The shop was called Valley Electronics but is now I think a Dojo and is located at:-

30 Maddison St
Blyth
NE24 1EY
UK

When Keith had it as well as selling spare parts like transistors etc, he would help you out and was a very knowledgeable and helpful man.

Starglider 2 · 31 July 2016, 19:25

Ah no relation then. My shop was in SW London.

Those were the days eh? I had a similar store down the road where they knew everything about all the parts. I used to go there for all manner of adaptors and connectors for my audio projects. Long since gone. They said the rent got too high.

I think us remembering these shops is like wartime folk remembering the sweet shop they used to go to as a child. I certainly felt like a kid in a candy store amongst all the gadgets...

Allen1 · 31 July 2016, 19:54

My favourite shop was Aitken Brothers in Newcastle, it used to be like an Aladdins cave for electronics enthusiasts its where I used to get my circuit boards and UV light box etc from. The last time I was there was for triacs a few years ago and it seemed like they were into selling complete units more than all the parts you used to be able to find there.

http://www.citikey.co.uk/display/ait...ctronics-Q4JHV

I also liked Maplins but I think they were too dear for a lot of things same with Tandy.

DrBong · 31 July 2016, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen1

I remember quite a long time ago when I bought a few resistors and a transistor from a local electronics store, the owner used a Spectrum computer and 2 microdrives to find the location for the parts and the price. This was before I got a Spectrum myself

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starglider 2

I suppose it's possible my friend's dad saw a Speccy and that Speccy was running the same program.

Do you remember roughly what year it was that your friend's Dad bought the ZX81? If it was around 1984, then I'm wondering if the computer that your friend's Dad might've saw was a Sinclair QL.

Sinclair QL's were made for businesses and were quite fast in their day since they had Microdrives and the pre-emptive multitasking QDOS built-in. They were also able to run CP/M, so there was probably a wealth of database, spreadsheet etc. software available for it. Anyway, bit of a stab in the dark.....

ChrisUnionNJ · 01 August 2016, 04:16

This may have been what he was loading in the store..

http://www.zxspectrumreviews.co.uk/r...=1493&rid=5477

Starglider 2 · 01 August 2016, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrBong

Do you remember roughly what year it was that your friend's Dad bought the ZX81? If it was around 1984, then I'm wondering if the computer that your friend's Dad might've saw was a Sinclair QL.

Sinclair QL's were made for businesses and were quite fast in their day since they had Microdrives and the pre-emptive multitasking QDOS built-in. They were also able to run CP/M, so there was probably a wealth of database, spreadsheet etc. software available for it. Anyway, bit of a stab in the dark.....

Thank you! It was very likely around then! I'll look into the QL. I never knew those things were actually used in stores.

Cheers!

Starglider 2 · 01 August 2016, 23:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisUnionNJ

This may have been what he was loading in the store..

http://www.zxspectrumreviews.co.uk/r...=1493&rid=5477

Lol not quite. The store employee was looking up the prices of store items including the pencil.

Cheers!

30 July 2016, 22:20	#1
Starglider 2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: California Posts: 1,146	Non-Amiga Memories: Was ZX81 used for UK shop inventory/pricing? In the 80s I always remember my friend's dad bringing home a ZX80 or 81 and as the first task, proceeding to type at the command prompt: Code: POP-A-POINT PENCIL As you might expect, it didn't work and just returned an error. Apparently before buying it he'd watched in WH Smiths or Boots as a worker looked up prices of store items on it including that pencil. He thought he could do the same. That was my first home computer experience and I've often wondered what on earth he saw in the shop. Did they really keep the price lists on a ZX81? Any ideas? Cheers! Last edited by Starglider 2; 01 August 2016 at 23:41.

30 July 2016, 22:28	#2
s2325 Zone Friend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gargore Age: 43 Posts: 17,789	Maybe it was Atari Portfolio: or Micro-Professor: Last edited by s2325; 30 July 2016 at 22:35.

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30 July 2016, 22:34	#3
Starglider 2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: California Posts: 1,146	I thought you might be onto something, but this was in the very early 80s when the ZX was pretty new in stores, and somewhat on its own. The Portfolio was released in 1989, unfortunately for this query. Thanks a lot though. Cheers!

30 July 2016, 22:36	#4
s2325 Zone Friend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gargore Age: 43 Posts: 17,789	My post was edited with second computer.

30 July 2016, 22:40	#5
Starglider 2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: California Posts: 1,146	Interesting. Was the Micro Professor common in stores like Boots? Can't say I ever saw it. Cheers!

30 July 2016, 22:43	#6
s2325 Zone Friend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gargore Age: 43 Posts: 17,789	Some hardware information and comments http://www.oldcomputers.net/micro-professor.html

30 July 2016, 22:44	#7
Starglider 2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: California Posts: 1,146	Yes, I had googled it. I don't think that explains what he saw in the UK shop. Cheers!

31 July 2016, 17:55	#8
Allen1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Blyth England Age: 68 Posts: 786	I remember quite a long time ago when I bought a few resistors and a transistor from a local electronics store, the owner used a Spectrum computer and 2 microdrives to find the location for the parts and the price. This was before I got a Spectrum myself and I was amazed at what he could do with such a little computer, I ended up getting a Plus3 when they came out and really enjoyed using that.

31 July 2016, 17:58	#9
Starglider 2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: California Posts: 1,146	I suppose it's possible my friend's dad saw a Speccy and that Speccy was running the same program. Any idea what the program was, or what the shop was called and where it was? Just curious. Cheers!

31 July 2016, 19:12	#10
Allen1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Blyth England Age: 68 Posts: 786	I only know that the program that was running was a bought for package that Keith the shop owner used, he also had his own production line for making circuit boards from what I was told. The shop was called Valley Electronics but is now I think a Dojo and is located at:- 30 Maddison St Blyth NE24 1EY UK When Keith had it as well as selling spare parts like transistors etc, he would help you out and was a very knowledgeable and helpful man.

31 July 2016, 19:25	#11
Starglider 2 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: California Posts: 1,146	Ah no relation then. My shop was in SW London. Those were the days eh? I had a similar store down the road where they knew everything about all the parts. I used to go there for all manner of adaptors and connectors for my audio projects. Long since gone. They said the rent got too high. I think us remembering these shops is like wartime folk remembering the sweet shop they used to go to as a child. I certainly felt like a kid in a candy store amongst all the gadgets...

31 July 2016, 19:54	#12
Allen1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Blyth England Age: 68 Posts: 786	My favourite shop was Aitken Brothers in Newcastle, it used to be like an Aladdins cave for electronics enthusiasts its where I used to get my circuit boards and UV light box etc from. The last time I was there was for triacs a few years ago and it seemed like they were into selling complete units more than all the parts you used to be able to find there. http://www.citikey.co.uk/display/ait...ctronics-Q4JHV I also liked Maplins but I think they were too dear for a lot of things same with Tandy.

01 August 2016, 04:16	#14
ChrisUnionNJ Amibay Mod/Staff Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Union NJ Age: 61 Posts: 194	This may have been what he was loading in the store.. http://www.zxspectrumreviews.co.uk/r...=1493&rid=5477

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