30 Year Old Sinclair ZX81 gets a new lease of life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 17, 2011 -- RWAP Software have today unveiled the long awaited ZXpand interface for the Sinclair ZX81 Home Computer , as part of their continued support for this 30 year old computer which formed the start of the home computer revolution.

The ZXpand interface is built in the UK and provides the following facilities:

- SD Memory Card reader - for instant loading from / saving to .p files (used by ZX81 emulators)
- 32K of configurable RAM memory, which can then be set up to use the various hi-resolution graphics schemes for the Sinclair ZX81

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30 Year Old Sinclair ZX81 gets a new lease of life

Welcome visit Our WebSite:

http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk

- New keywords are added to the system ROM to allow you to load and save programs, produce a catalogue of files on the memory card, configure the ZXpand Interface, and delete files.
- You can still load programs from cassette as well as using the interface, to allow you to copy files onto the SD memory card
- Sub-directories are supported on the memory card.
- The new ROM can be switched off once a program is loaded, in order to allow access to LPRINT, LLIST and COPY commands.
- There is a built in reset button to reset the ZX81 without having to pull the power lead.

Additionally, the following features may be added with either an add-on PCB or some soldering:

- Zon-X81 Compatible AY sound interface

- Atari style joystick adaptor for specially written or patched games

The manual for the interface appears on the RWAP Software website - www.rwapsoftware.co.uk

To herald this launch, RWAP Software have teamed up with SellMyRetro.com - the new home of retro computers to offer the very first ZXpand interface (Serial #00001) on ebay, weeks before the actual production run begins. The completed units will then be sold exclusively through www.sellmyretro.com, when production is up and running during April.

The auction for ZXpand Serial #00001 appears at: http://tinyurl.com/6eo3kre

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Notes to Editors

RWAP Software was set up in 1986 to support retro computers. Since that time, they have released a wealth of software for the SInclair QL home computer, as well as having secured manufacturing for components for other computers, including the DivIDE Plus hard disk/Compact Flash card interface for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and keyboard membranes for the Sinclair ZX80, ZX80, ZX Spectrum, QL, Cambridge Z88, Enterprise 64/128 and Sam Coupé home computers..

The continued popularity of the Sinclair ZX81 is evidenced by the fact that over 750 replacement keyboard membranes have been sold since January 2009 and a wealth of new software has also been released during the past 2 years, including hi-resolution versions of old classics, such as Scramble, Galaxians and Panic, as well as brand new games, such as Virus, Interceptor and Domin8tr1s.

SellMyRetro.com was launched in 2010 as a new trading platform to enable retro computer traders, collectors and users to buy and sell items without paying extortionate listing fees, with the added benefit that it is run by people with a strong background in retro computers to offer advice and assistance to users. At the time of writing, there are over 500 items listed on SellMyRetro.com with over 200 daily visitors.

More information can be found online at http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk

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