ZX Spectrum Next Laptop

For those unaware of the Spectrum Next, it is a recreation of the existing Spectrum hardware inside an FPGA. Not software emulation but real hardware! Finally a successor to the '80s Speccy with more RAM, better graphics, better sound, better keyboard, mass storage using an SD card, hardware acceleration with a PI Zero and much more.

Backed on Kickstarter!

The Spectrum Next team were targeting a release of Late August/September for the Spectrum Next PCB only and January 2018 for the full, cased version of the Next. I backed both with the intention to take the bare Next PCB and create a Spectrum Laptop around it. There were several delays for the Next Board Only, however in early December it arrived so I can begin making this laptop a reality!

Here are some shots of the design for the ZX spectrum Next Laptop. Ignore the colour, they will of course be 3D printed in Speccy Black:

The Laptop Specs

The Parts

To create a working laptop requires careful consideration of which parts to use. Things like the keyboard and LCD will need to be off the shelf components. Thankfully there are plenty of options here thanks to places like Ebay and Amazon.

The Spectrum Next Motherboard

Only available for backers of the original Kickstarter. More may be made available from the Spectrum Next shop in the future so register your interest on their forum if you want one!

The Screen

The screen selected is an 8" 4:3 ratio LCD. Billed as a Raspberry Pi screen it will do the job perfectly.

I had originally intended to hook up the display via the VGA connector, however due to various issues with the Next firmware and this particular screen I decided to do it via the HDMI connection instead. By this time I had already removed the VGA scoket from the Next board! I will leave this socket out for now but may put it back in the future.

The Keyboard

For the keyboard it was a choice between PS/2 or USB. The Spectrum Next comes with a PS/2 connector to enable a mouse/external keyboard to be attached. My initial preference was to find a compact PS/2 keyboard, however these were hard to come by. Most of the keyboards found were too thick for what I wanted. I needed a very slim keyboard, perhaps a few millimetres thick at the most.

The size requirement would mean the PS/2 keyboards tested were out of the question leaving only a single USB keyboard, that could be removed from it's casing and used in the new laptop. I had to wait until I received my Next board to test whether this USB keyboard would work via a PS/2 adaptor and, thankfully, it does.

LCD Controller, Pi Zero USB Hub etc.

Some other boards needed are the LCD driver board, Raspberry Pi Zero and USB Hub. The hub gives us access to 3 USB sockets accessible on the right-hand side of the laptop for external joysticks, game controllers and any other USB device that may work on the Spectrum Next!

The Finished Laptop

Having sent the designs of to Shapeways and received the 3D prints back I assembled the parts and here it is:

The Laptop in Action!

Update 27/05/2018

Due to changes to the Spectrum Next firmware the 8" LCD screen is no longer displaying a reliable image. It seems the HDMI timings were tweaked in order to satisfy big screen TV's however these adjustments have affected a lot of small LCD panels. I am looking at other screens and will update the laptop in the future. I will also be looking into making a handheld Spectrum Next too!

Comments

ACPJan 28, 2019 14:43

This is gorgeous, really fantastic work. I was looking to do a project using a very similar form factor... I'll echo the sentiments above, are you planning to release the STL files for this? Thanks!

D. Rimron-SoutterAug 04, 2018 17:59

Have you looked at setting the custom timing in your config.ini for the HDMI setup, that may help a little?

Pablo CortésApr 21, 2018 21:48

Excuse me, Dan, when are you going to release the files for us to be able to recreate such a beauty? I am sure a lot of people would love to recreate that casing. Thank you very much for making such a thing.

John DeuxApr 04, 2018 22:02

You could also make a similar hardware to include a MIST ...
This way, you could choose to boot any machine in it , no ?

PaulApr 04, 2018 05:49

Do you intend to release the shapeway link or the STL files for us?
Can you tell us the cost of the Shapeway printing?
Kind regards
Paul

amber hinaMar 20, 2018 15:05

a very nice laptop i think you should make it in production after few miners changes , like the size is perfect what if you make it avalable to handle 3D printers software like this company can really benefit you : voodoomfg.com

juan delacostaFeb 12, 2018 16:49

will there be a new post when you release the .stl files?

SteveJan 25, 2018 11:59

That's great its an awesome project. I agree with the other comments it would make a nice project to make and sell a few or in my case adapt your solid design for a Pi based laptop if that's ok.

DanJan 23, 2018 19:27

Hi Steve,

Yes I'll be releasing the STL files in the near future. There are some changes I need to make/test first.

SteveJan 22, 2018 20:34

Will you be releasing the 3D print files on shapeways?

RuudJan 22, 2018 07:35

A very nice-looking Sinclair laptop.

Jason bullough Jan 15, 2018 18:45

Absolutely awesome. I think you should produce this design and sell a few. What sort of cost was the case? Regards jason