The TS2068 cpu was a Z80 just like the Spectrum. The Sinclair QL (for quantum leap) had a 68008 processor. It was available about a year (I think) before the 386. I have both, the TS2068 still works. I use it mostly for games. My QL doesn't have a power supply, Ive been meaning to build one but haven't had much time lately. 

Ken Harbit

Have you tried Linux? I have an old AMD 486 running Slackware, using Mozilla browser and email. It works real good, nice and stable. It's no speedster but I find it faster than Windows 3.11 and 98se.

Ken Harbit

Hi Robert,

I met Robert 5 or 6 years ago at the Fresno Commodore user group. I'm still amazed at how much the C64 and 128 are still being used. I've seen references to an Ethernet interface, VGA converter box and even a stripped down version of Linux that can be used on the C64. Folks have figured out how to make it work with Internet. ... I just use mine for games. I still love the old games.

BTW, the Linux on C64 is one of the things that interest me about the Commodore line. I've used it exclusively on PCs for the past 3 years. It would be neat to be able to talk IBM PC to C64.

Ken Harbit

The first computer I used was a Univac, I forget the designation. It was part of the Navy Tactical data System. It fascinated me because I watched the programmers open it up and press  these little LED switches to run a short program. These things had little pencil tubes in them, thousands of them. I used to trouble shoot by turning out the lights to look for a tube that wasn't glowing.

The first computer I owned was A 256 byte COSMAC ELF that I built from a Popular Electronics magazine in 1977. ... I still have it.

The ELF used an 1802 processor, the same one that the Voyager, Viking and Galileo space probes used. It was one of those "Popular Electronics" magazine build it yourself computers. I think it was August 1977, as I read about it I found I could scrounge up most of the parts from work (I was in the Navy at the time). The only thing I had to buy was the processor. I still have it, but it doesn't work. I need some time to open it up and check things out. There is a COSMAC webpage at http://www.cosmacelf.com. It's a real simple machine, the one I built has only 256 bytes of memory. 

Hi everyone,

I'm Ken Harbit, I'm interested in all old computer things. Everything from ENIAC modern day stuff, with emphasis on about 1995 and earlier.  Hardware, software, manuals, books, newsletters, magazines. I'm also interested in early Internet, AOL, Dephi, and all the other early providers.

I have a small collection of vintage computers that include:
Atari 800
Atari 1200
various Atari 800 peripherals
COSMAC ELF
Commodore 64
Commodore 64C
Commodore 128
Various Commodore peripherals
ZX81
TS2068
QL
various Timex-Sinclair peripherals
Manuals, books, magazines

In the late '70s and early '80s I was a government contractor working on ARPANET and a few others such as MILNET. In 1980 I started working on hardware changes to existing ARPA equipment to make it into Internet equipment.

I've been working with computers and networks since the 1960s...back when they had tubes.

I have two favorite Personal Computers Timex-Sinclair ZX81 and COSMAC ELF.

I'm not much of a tech any more, most of my knowledge comes from the 60s and 70s, I'm more of a historian now.