1984
The end of the Sinclair ZX Printer
Popular Computing Weekly reported the end of the Sinclair ZX Printer in its issue dated 10–16 May 1984.
The compact spark printer had been introduced in 1981 for the ZX81 at £49.95 and was also compatible with the ZX Spectrum. It used special metallised paper and was particularly suited to printing program listings and simple screen output.
By 1984, however, sales had declined. The arrival of the ZX Interface 1, which provided the Spectrum with access to conventional printers through its RS-232 interface, had reduced the need for Sinclair's proprietary printer. Sinclair subsequently discontinued the ZX Printer.
The printer had nevertheless sold several hundred thousand units during its life, making it one of Sinclair's most widely distributed peripherals.
The compact spark printer had been introduced in 1981 for the ZX81 at £49.95 and was also compatible with the ZX Spectrum. It used special metallised paper and was particularly suited to printing program listings and simple screen output.
By 1984, however, sales had declined. The arrival of the ZX Interface 1, which provided the Spectrum with access to conventional printers through its RS-232 interface, had reduced the need for Sinclair's proprietary printer. Sinclair subsequently discontinued the ZX Printer.
The printer had nevertheless sold several hundred thousand units during its life, making it one of Sinclair's most widely distributed peripherals.