The ZX Spectrum is a line of 8-bit personal computers from British company Sinclair Research.
While relatively powerful, it suffered from a graphical quirk called "attribute clash" that made its games look downright primitive when compared to other machines of its day. Nonetheless, its extremely low cost (less than half the price of a Commodore 64) made it hugely successful in the United Kingdom; it was also very popular in the Eastern Bloc and in Brazil, in the form of unlicensed clones. In the USA, authorized clones were sold by Timex, without the same success.
Despite the Spectrum's popularity, a number of overambitious projects and poorly received products caused financial difficulties to Sinclair; the company was bought by long-time rival Amstrad, who continued to produce the Spectrum line until the early 90s.
The Spectrum has a rather vast gaming library. Earlier models had no joystick adapters, which would only be added in the later models.