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Amstrad was founded in 1968 by Sir Alan Sugar (probably best known nowadays for the TV programme "The Apprentice"), and is one of the early computer manufacturers to have traded on the London Stock Market, as Amstrad PLC, until recently, when it was taken over by BSkyB.

During the 1970s, Amstrad were well known for producing lower priced audio equipment, hi-fis, TV, car stereo equipment, and audio amplifiers.

In the 1980s, they moved into the home computer market, launching the CPC464 in 1984 to compete with Sinclair and Commodore.  This was then followed by the CPC664, CPC 6128 and then the PCW range of business computers.

In 1986, Amstrad took a bold step and acquired the Sinclair brand and range of computers, including the ZX Spectrum and Sinclair QL.  They promptly withdrew the Sinclair QL from the market, and developed their own versions of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum - the ZX Spectrum +2 (with built-in cassette player) and +3 (with built in 3" disk drive).

Amstrad also moved into MS-DOS and Windows based PCs, with the launch of the PC1512 in 1986 and PC2000 series in 1989.  A range of portable computers was also released with the PPC512 and PPC640 computers which ran MS-DOS and had a built-in screen which could display either monochrome or colour.

Amstrad continued to develop computer products under the Sinclair brand, with the Sinclair PC200 (based on the PPC512) and the Sinclair PC500 (a rebadged PC1512).

They also worked with Sega to release the Amstrad Mega PC which attempted to combine both a PC and the Sega Mega Drive.

Amstrad's final contribution to the world of retro computing was the E-M@iler - a telephone capable of sending text messages (and later holding video telephone conversations), and even downloading and playing ZX Spectrum games!

Amstrad was finally taken over by BSkyB in 2007.

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*BRAND NEW* Amstrad CPC664 Keyboard Membranes

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Amstrad CPC Game: Timeman One by Bourne Educational Software Amstrad CPC Game: Timeman One by Bourne Educational Software   £1.80 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Fruit Machine by Paul Aitman Amstrad CPC Game: Fruit Machine by Paul Aitman   £1.80 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Megamix- Dragon Ninja by  Ocean Amstrad CPC Game: Megamix- Dragon Ninja by Ocean   £5.00 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Megamix- Operation Wolf by Ocean Amstrad CPC Game: Megamix- Operation Wolf by Ocean   £5.00 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Megamix- Barbarian II by  Ocean Amstrad CPC Game: Megamix- Barbarian II by Ocean   £5.00 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Chartbusters 1 and 2 by Beau Jolly Amstrad CPC Game: Chartbusters 1 and 2 by Beau Jolly   £5.00 Buy now!
*BRAND NEW* Amstrad CPC664 Keyboard Membranes *BRAND NEW* Amstrad CPC664 Keyboard Membranes   £20.83 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Stereo Sound Socket - 464 464+ 6128 6128+ Plus Models Amstrad CPC Stereo Sound Socket - 464 464+ 6128 6128+ Plus Models   £2.67 Buy now!
Amstrad Game: Spellbound by Mastertronic (M.A.D.) Amstrad Game: Spellbound by Mastertronic (M.A.D.)   £3.00 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Action Force - International Heroes by Mastertronic Amstrad CPC Game: Action Force - International Heroes by Mastertronic   £1.55 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Formula 1 Simulator by Mastertronic Amstrad CPC Game: Formula 1 Simulator by Mastertronic   £2.00 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Destructo by Bulldog Software Amstrad CPC Game: Destructo by Bulldog Software   £2.55 Buy now!
Last Duel Final Battle AMSTRAD Kixx (VGC) 5690 Last Duel Final Battle AMSTRAD Kixx (VGC) 5690   £7.99 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game:Spherical by Rainbow Arts Amstrad CPC Game:Spherical by Rainbow Arts   £8.00 Buy now!
Commodore 1530 C2N Datassette (Taiwan Model) Idler Tyre Commodore 1530 C2N Datassette (Taiwan Model) Idler Tyre   £4.48 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Best Of Elite by Hit-Pak Amstrad CPC Game: Best Of Elite by Hit-Pak   £4.55 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Premier II Super League by E&J Software *RARE* Amstrad CPC Game: Premier II Super League by E&J Software *RARE*   £3.55 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC / ZX Spectrum Game: On Cue by Mastertronic Added Dimension Amstrad CPC / ZX Spectrum Game: On Cue by Mastertronic Added Dimension   £4.55 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Enduro Racer by Hit Squad Amstrad CPC Game: Enduro Racer by Hit Squad   £4.55 Buy now!
Amstrad CPC Game: Crazy Cars by Hit Squad Amstrad CPC Game: Crazy Cars by Hit Squad   £3.55 Buy now!
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RWAP Software - Retro computer specialists
RWAP Software - Retro computer specialists

Although our roots are firmly based with the Sinclair QL, we supply a wide range of second hand and original software and hardware, for both the QL, ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64.

Over the past few years, we have been instrumental in getting the DivIDE Plus compact flash interface for the ZX Spectrum built, along with replacement ZX81 Keyboard Membranes, 48K ZX Spectrum keyboard membranes and ZX Spectrum faceplates.

Visit our website - http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk for more details on what we offer.

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DataServe Retro
DataServe Retro

DataServe Retro

Preserving the 8-Bit Micro since 2006

Visit our website - https://www.dataserve-retro.co.uk for the full range products

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Another World
Another World

*FOLLOW US* for an ever-growing inventory! We re adding 10,000+ titles over the next few months, and as per usual, all items are fully guaranteed. With fast & safe shipping all around the world it would be a crime to miss out! Enjoy browsing...

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