Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2 - Review & Overview

This is a review and overview of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2 computer, the very first Amstrad designed model and the first to feature a built in tape deck.
Please support my creative work on Patreon: / lairdslair
#RetroGaming #TechReview #ZXSpectrum

[@little_fluffy_clouds]

48K Speccy was my first computer (although I had an Atari 2600 previously, but that was a games console) and I loved it so much, typed in program listings from magazines, learned how to program in BASIC, played a ton of games with my friends, we had so much fun with it. By sparking a lifelong interest in learning about computer technology, I think it achieved what Sinclair was attempting to accomplish. Thank you Sir Clive, RIP.

[@jamesaitchison9478]

The ZX Spectrum 128k + 2 was my very first home computer games system, i got it for Christmas 1985...good times 😃

[@dreamcaster4754]

This was my Spectrum, a big upgrade from the rubber key and served me well until I got an ST.

[@richardelkin6109]

My dad bought me the +2 grey one with the 10 games from Dixons for Christmas when it was released. I know all those games! My original +2 broke but bought a friends +2A so many great memories of this computer!

[@oliver1224]

I owned the Grey +2. I broke the rewind key & had to order a new one as replacement. Also owned several of the 48k versions... I bought a second hand Fuller keyboard which was a replacement keyboard for the spectrum rubber keys version & had to solder the ribbons.... I remember using my mothers nail polish to prevent them from shorting which actually worked..

[@dragokills6990]

I had a gray plus 2, but it came with Donkey Kong, Mario Bros and that Ian Botham game. Happy memories!

[@marcoperoni4735]

Top tip, if you happen to acquire a re recorded game from your friend (tape to tape recording) they didn't always load up. Just above the rewind button on the datacorder is a small hole. Using a very small positive screwdriver you can adjust the tape reader head. Just don't turn too much or you'll wreck it. This video brought back so many memories, cheers. 👍👍👍

[@TheLairdsLair]

Yep, I always kept a glasses screwdriver handy!

[@user-vh7eu5bt4i]

Nicely done. Absolutely nailed it.

[@joemorris9501]

I had one of these many years ago. I programmed my first ever game on the +2. Game was called "Ejectaman" and you had a man constantly running at the bottom of the screen, you had to press a key to "eject" him upwards and get him through a gap in the brick roof atop the screen. It was an awful game but I was happy that it worked.

[@Ah-ed6ie]

My mother got me the black one with the gun and joystick friends were a bit jealous oh and i had operation wolf with it 😊

[@USBMEDICMalcolmScole]

I knew the guy who wrote frogger for amstrad .. Showed me the cpc before it was released ... I would mod one of these cases with a screen in the tape hole and cherrypik keyboard and a rasberry pi 5 . . . . . I wrote copycat by bitbyte software . .. Thanks for this vid

[@timnhamo503]

I forget which games my +2 came with except for one. H.A.R.D - Heavily Armed Roboid Destroyer. Awesome acronym!

[@Bianchi77]

Nice video shot, keep it up, thanks for sharing it with us :)

[@neilthomas6042]

Interesting video, showing a Spectrum I didn’t know about. Rosie is a very cute cat.

[@TheLairdsLair]

She's a gorgeous little thing, still looks like a kitten.

[@Obenfiquista81]

Bought one a few days ago. Waiting for the cables now!!!

[@TheLairdsLair]

Congrats! I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun!

[@robbied2012]

My first computer after my atari 2600 . Loved it . Horace goes skiing , match of the day , Daley Thompsons decathlon . Happy days ❤

[@bluemoonpanther6337]

Omg ... Now I'm nostalgic

[@lovemadeinjapan]

Thanks for the explanation. Missed any comparison of the video output on CRT's. Is there a difference in the RGB out of the 2+ and the BBQ-grill version? This 2+ looks like a reincarnation of my CPC 464. I think the most beautiful is the 48+, without BBQ facilities.

[@ashleighcartwright5186]

This was available in the UK. They did a James bond pack in with the gun too.

[@TheLairdsLair]

This is a UK pack I'm reviewing in the video and I am English, so not really sure what you're getting at that there! I did actually mention the James Bond pack in the video, that was one of the last Spectrum packs they did and came with a black +2a/+2b - not the original grey +2.

[@ashleighcartwright5186]

@@TheLairdsLair sorry, I thought byou was Australian, I think I got a little bit confused and thought you was in Australia and this was their release of the system. You are absolutely 100% accurate on the colour of the bond pack. I remember hearing that not all the +2s have the same board inside but I could be incorrect. I wasn't "getting at anything" I was just interacting with your channel, for the algorithm but if it's not something you want I will refrain in future.

[@TheLairdsLair]

You don't need to take offense, I was just confused at your comment. I am even more confused at you thinking I'm Australian though given I have a home counties traditional English accent! Anyway, thanks for stopping by and commenting!

[@RadeyRads]

I had the James Bond pack for Christmas, must have been about 1990

[@dragokills6990]

G'day sport!

[@michaelvoulgarellis8298]

Still have mine

[@etrax7007]

Reckon the ZX Spectrum 2+ is the best way to go. You can load games from cassette and save them to an SD card reader!

[@daviniarobbins9298]

Never owned a Speccy. I had to make do with a Commodore 16 and later an Atari 65XE. Used to spend all my pocket money buying Mastertronic budget games at the local market either on a Tuesday or a Friday from a games market stall. Later still bought myself an Sega Mega Drive for my 18th birthday and when I was around 20 an Amiga 600 Lemmings pack from Silica Shop just about at the time Commodore went bust(great timing huh?), Came with a pack of 4 free games including Chaos Engine, Syndicate, Nick Faldo's Golf and I forget the name of the fourth one, I think it was a pinball game.

[@Odessia-ij5ys]

I have many Sinclair computers mostly spectrum

[@cloudstrife1983]

We had a +2. It was a black one. I remember Witchfiend most of all

[@TheLairdsLair]

You had a +2a then, same as me.

[@gregkilby7043]

You forgot the free game which came with the Spectrum 48k +. Turn the computer upside down and shake! A great way to learn the QWERTY keyboard layout...

[@Tetlee]

27:05 you obviously never owned a TI99/4A and felt the joy of the pain sticks 😁

[@Odessia-ij5ys]

This model i rebulid It through second hand machines i bought

[@Laserdreamz]

Thanks for the video just picked up one of these, that version of oh mummy looks a bit tit compared to the Amstrad version 😄 was an amstrad owner in youth noticed that alien destroyer has the same art as galactic plague, same game?

[@TheLairdsLair]

Amstrad Oh Mummy is far superior, but both are great. Alien Destroyer just uses the same artwork, Amstrad being lazy.

[@ME-ke7qc]

if you find a mk 1 chunke keyed amstrad 464 let me know from 1984...for sale

[@claudesilverio677]

Found one for free,but did not try it. Somebody has an idea for creating Music with it?

[@Benny_Shill]

I wish someone would make a cryptocurrency wallet on the spectrum so I could store my Ethereum and 0xMonero. No one would think that a privatekey or passwords would be held on one of these old things.

[@Benny_Shill]

It would give it a new use and life in the 21st century.