THE SPECTRUM'S "COUSIN"
As we all know, the Spectrum also had a "cousin" called Timex, born in July 1982. It was almost 100% compatible with the Speccy and possessed, like it, a keyboard for programming tasks or playing seasons. Unlike Spectrum, the Timex had 3 different types of graphical modes, superior than the ones presented by Sinclair's machine, but in fact not much used.
To process the sounds and musics, Timex had the same chip than Spectrum, which gave this computer a powerful tool for musical scores.
The designers of Timex underestimated the potential of Sinclair's creation, and instead of assuring a full compatibility with Spectrum, started to build a whole new empire around their machine. The result was clear. Timex didn't have the strengh to face such a rival, ending quickly in a dusty shelf for almost users who had it. What a shame for a "cousin" with such competitive price (£80).

These computers offered better performances than ZX Spectrum +. However, its technology wasn't enough to make the public do a safe change to a Timex machine. If Timex could make a smart move on the market, it wouldn't survive either to the Spectrum's rivals. It would be a certain death in the personal computer's arena.

A VERY UNLUCKY RENOVATION
Later, in 1989, Spectrum faced a new looking rival. But, as always, the Speccy lovers made it a king along its life line for the coming enemies! SAM Coupé didn't shake when appeared in front of the classical Speccy! It had enough characteristics to face and make it fall! Ready to quake every computer ahead, only Commodore 64 fell - the most important Spectrum's rival, living since 1982. In fact, SAM Coupé was a very nice computer, but Sinclair's fame was bigger than a simple market new!
What began as a nightmare on the kingdom, ended quickly like a fearless reality of something that didn't really work. MGT was the developer of SAM, which tried to promote its 8-bit machine precisely when the 8-bit world was nearly at the end. Machines such as Commodore Amiga and Atari ST were gaining advance all over the "oldies", and that was the prime reason which made SAM fall!
In fact, SAM Coupé was never a rival to Spectrum, since it died some months after being born. It sold terribly bad with about 12 thousand machines acquired in countries like Spain, German, Holand, Austria and Italy. It was the end of a good project which never worked as it was intended to.