sinclair zx81 turned into pc [retro casemod]

Remember the old Sinclair ZX81 computer? You know, the tiny, little 8-bit machine with a huge following, and a horrible flat keyboard?

Sinclair ZX81 PC Casemod EPIA Pico ITX

Thanks to miracle of modern miniaturization, you can now fit a fully-functional Windows or Linux PC inside of one of these. It’s pretty amazing when you think about it – as the ZX81 only measures in at about 6.6″ wide x 6.9″ deep x 1.6″ tall.

Sinclair ZX81 PC Casemod EPIA Pico ITX

Modder Unravelled managed to cram the entire system – including a tiny hard drive – inside the diminutive ZX81 case by using a newfangled VIA EPIA Pico-ITX motherboard. (As small as the Pico-ITX is, I defy anyone to cram a complete system into the even smaller ZX Spectrum).

Sinclair ZX81 PC Casemod EPIA Pico ITX

Pretty impressive, eh? Now all Unravelled needs to do is install a copy of EightyOne or XTender on there to play original ZX81 applications inside of a modern OS, and he’ll be all set.

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categories: computing  hacks + mods  retro

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December 2nd, 2008 comments (6): stumble it! digg it! by: technabob


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comments (6):

  1. nemo says:

    I wonder whether it emulates ram pack wobble? ;-)

  2. Eno says:

    Err… the ZX Spectrum is actually bigger than the ZX81…

  3. technabob says:

    I thought the ZX Spectrum was quite a bit wider, but not nearly as deep. I really don’t think you could fit the MOBO and hard drive in there.

  4. Pipo says:

    It would be especially great with a fully functional original keyboard and TV-out.

  5. technabob says:

    Yeah – it’s a pity there wasn’t a way to use to original crappy membrane keyboard (at least as an option).

  6. Xavier says:

    Brilliant(Genial), this in sale, we can contact

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