Buying a micro · 1984
Choosing sides: Spectrum, Commodore or Amstrad?
The decision was technical, emotional and—on every playground—deeply tribal.
A family buying its first computer had to compare much more than specifications. Price mattered, but so did the games available in local shops, the machines owned by friends and the advice of magazines.
Spectrum owners praised its enormous library and inventive software. Commodore owners pointed to colour, scrolling and the remarkable SID sound chip. Amstrad answered with a practical complete system—monitor, keyboard and cassette deck designed to work together.
A friendly rivalry
The choice followed people into classrooms and playgrounds. Friendly rivalry became part of the culture, but the machines shared a larger achievement: each made computing personal.