Battery Powered Portable ZX Spectrum! Omni 128 HQ Laptop - Hands On Test!

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Join me as I take a look at the ZX Spectrum Omni Laptop. A self contained battery powered laptop manufactured from new parts. The internal board is designed by Don Superfo and the case is manufactured and designed by Djordje Mitic of Retro Radionics. In europe it will be available from www.zxrenew.co.uk.
The laptop can have up to eight roms installed, and features SE Basic by Andrew Owen as well as the 128k Toastrack Rom and the Amstrad 128k +2e.
This is a cursory look as we are all limited for time but I am very impressed with how this project has turned out and had a lot of fun with it. The Laptop is based on the Omni Desktop, which I also have and will be doing some further videos featuring.
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Опубликовано:

15 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 117

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

Really interested to hear your thoughts on this. It's a brand new ZX Spectrum Laptop and no Sinclair Spectrums were harmed in the making of this device. The ZX Omni desktop is also available, and a beautiful thing if portability is not for you. That being said, the ZX Omni Desktop can also take batteries as well...

@Rick_Todd 6 лет назад

Looks nice , It reminds me of the C64p

@BongWeasle 6 лет назад

Ordered an omni 128 They stole my money, and sent nothing, don’t answer emails. It’s a scam don’t deal with this company. Thanks for the recommendation Mark.

@robsku1 4 года назад

So this laptop actually has a battery as well? It'd be a bit odd if it was built to work only when hooked to power jack....

@andre0000000007 3 года назад

Hey Mark, i'm looking at buying the OMNI, do you know if it has 'save state' by any chance? I'd like to go back to games of my youth and try to complete them lol.. i think the next has it but it's hard to find at a reasonable price

@robertmiles9942 Год назад

I just received mine today. Took it all to pieces to get the protective film off the screen and adjust a few things. This thing is a tinker's delight, have already done a bit of hot glue and solder touch-up. Put a pair of 18650 batteries in there, and am figuring out the dip switches and reading docs this evening. Plan to put Chaos Wizard War on it and drag it off to my friend's house to challenge him to that which we used to play as kids..

@MarkFixesStuff Год назад

Chaos is a timeless game. Enjoy.

@DouglasTitchmarsh 6 лет назад

This is a great bit of kit, I bought the OMNI without the laptop addition. I have to agree it is well made and lots of features to try out.

@BollingHolt 3 года назад

I never had a Spectrum, but my first computer was a (what it was called in the US) a Timex Sinclair. I was very, very little, and graduated to a TRS-80 CoCo 2 by the time I turned five. I never really knew how amazingly capable these later Sinclair machines were until recently by watching RU-vid videos about them.

@MarkFixesStuff 3 года назад

A TS1000 was very similar to a Sinclair Spectrum. really capable for the time, but like all these things they are hard to appreciate within the context of the time, especially when the "next big thing" arrives and makes it look very poor indeed by comparison. Have you seen some of the modern titles programmed for the Spectrum? Dream Walker, Gluf and Castlevania: Spectral Interlude are all really quite amazing.

@Crimean_Stargazer 4 года назад

Good ZX Spectrum laptop. I never thought it existed. Thank you, it was interesting.

@MarkFixesStuff 4 года назад

Glad you liked it!

@retrogamingrepairs6053 5 лет назад

Awesome, I remember playing Rainbow Islands during my childhood. Spent hours on the game!

@davidretrogamesplayedbadly3533 6 лет назад

Great video mark, not heard that monty tune in years. Think I need to revisit the series. Think you could join baz and I playing game's badly, I think you've definitely got the skills. I'm a great believer in using the full screen. Brilliant machine, looks really well built, love the built in screen and the fact it covers all the different models.

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

This theme tune is genuinely my favourite piece of game music. Monty games are nails hard though, so can be frustrating. Regarding the *games played badly, I'm not really a gamer as such. The ZX Omni is a great machine and the addition of the screen is a fun idea.

@BongWeasle 6 лет назад

Don’t buy from these people it’s a scam.

@elmosexwhistle 5 лет назад

Thanks for the review, Mark. I ordered the desktop (non screen) version yesterday. Looking forward to owning a speccy again. I’ve been without one since 1997ish (I started to emulate everything) and have spent today making a list of all the music software, trackers etc and all the games I’m gonna put on it :)

@kakabixlis 6 лет назад

Heeey mate!long time no see!!good to have a new vid!! :) and an sweet speccy laptop :D!

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

I'm not allowed to keep it!

@RockyBergen 6 лет назад

I REALLY want this! As a Canadian, a new hardware clone just makes sense. I don't share the same nostalgia (C64 guy) but I am eager to explore all the great Speccy ports I see on RU-vid.

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

I am also a c64 guy but with the Spectrum nostalgia. Even if you didn't grow up in Britain in the 80's, these games informed the world of computer games in far reaching ways. 😃

@BongWeasle 6 лет назад

Don’t order one they will just steal your money, as they did with me, ordered one 3 months ago and nothing....don’t even reply to emails.

@TiberiusWallace 5 лет назад

@@BongWeasle i think you're alone tbh.

@robertmiles9942 Год назад

@@MarkFixesStuff Haha the Spectrum leaked into my subconscious through its C64 ports without me ever realizing it. the first time i saw one as an adult, I recognized it instantly! C64 ports with Spectrum look and feel: Exolon, Skool Daze, Karnov, Robocop, and more...

@46danz 5 лет назад

Really cool thing,fairly priced and looks well thought out and made to a high standard.Definite thumbs up.

@debatabletruths6687 3 года назад

So glad they decided to go with the issue #1 grey keys.

@minerwilly 6 лет назад

Great review, and good to hear the word "twatted" used in a Z80 context.

@sweetlilmre 6 лет назад

Brilliant! Love Slap Fight. Thanks for the top review as always and I hope this signals a return to more RU-vid from you.

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

Always trying to support the retro scene, although time is limited.

@MrRazp 3 года назад

Отличный обзор!!! Замечательный компьютер!

@MarkFixesStuff 3 года назад

Спасибо, мой друг!

@DeLorean4 3 месяца назад

I am seriously tempted to buy one of these and I would really love to use it for programming in Sinclair 128k Basic. The biggest thing holding me back from pulling the trigger is my concern about the keyboard. The 128k machines have more keys than a 48k Spectrum. How does the Omni address this?

@pandoraefretum 3 года назад

Fab - Where can I get one ?

@EnjoySynthSounds 2 года назад

A Speccy + model would be great.

@numbers9to0 6 лет назад

Speedking! \ö/ Loved this joystick.

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

Still my favourite. Always like to hold my stick in me hand :P

@CaptainCaveman1170 3 года назад

I would love for somebody to do this for the Atari 800XL. That library is very good, and now has a lot of excellent homebrews too. Of course you can emulate, but a mini laptop (or even just a mini) with the proper key layout would be the best.

@MarkFixesStuff 3 года назад

For Atari stuff you should talk to Zaxon hahah!

@mmadmic Год назад

This "dip switches" panel reminds me of thr 80-90s when to change config on a machine, you must use dip switches. Not really on Speccy but on printers to switch from IBM to Epson mode or on PC ISA cards to change IRQ DMA to avoid conflicts or just have the card recognized.

@MarkFixesStuff Год назад

Yes! I remember this too. Change a printer to Epson ESC/P2 mode or some modems as well.

@JetmanUK 6 лет назад

This is a very cool bit of tech. Nice vid.

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

It really is a very nice thing indeed. Glad you like the video! 😀

@Havanacuba1985 3 года назад

Damn I need one of these

@MarkFixesStuff 3 года назад

zxrenew.co.uk/ZX-Omni-c48969124 for reorders on the next batch.

@DisgracedSoul 3 года назад

Hi never had micro nostalgia but this looks nice! Forgive if it was in your video does it play 128 games and does it carry audio over the hdmi?

@MarkFixesStuff 3 года назад

Sorry - missed this! 128k yes, but the HDMI is non fucntional at present and will be implemented in the future I am told. The RGB output is sharp as a razor anyway,

@jamesroberts7339 4 года назад

Mark, have you done the audio mod on this yet? Would be good to hear a before and after comparison.

@MarkFixesStuff 4 года назад

I don't really know about an audio mod for the Omni. Do you mean the Spectrum +3?

@jamesroberts7339 4 года назад

Mark Fixes Stuff There’s a mod to increase volume of beeper on Omni as it’s so quiet. The R45 resistor is a 47K and needs replacing with a 10K. It’s a surface mount resistor but doable. Other option is to piggyback a resistor over the top. On Facebook someone calculated the right resistor value for a piggyback as 12.7.

@thesadken 6 лет назад

Looks really interesting, definitely one to add to the ever growing wish list ;)

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

My list is growing longer by the day. The Omni is a great idea though.

@BongWeasle 6 лет назад

Don’t buy one it’s a scam, they just take your money and send nothing.

@10p6 5 лет назад

Nice video. I really wish though that people would not refer to Sinclair basic as tokenized as it is not. A tokenized basic sets a token for a specific keyword, but Sinclair basic does not do that, as every keyword is part of the character set so can be chosen in 1 byte, just like A, B, C....

@MarkFixesStuff 5 лет назад

+10p6 Ah. I see what you mean. I must admit that I just read that the basic was tokenised in a couple of places because one keypress invokes a command and thought it was correct. Thanks for the info and thank you for watching :)

@10p6 5 лет назад

@@MarkFixesStuff I think some jealous Commodore fans have been editing Wiki as to not be left out LOL. Keep up the great videos :-)

@MarkFixesStuff 5 лет назад

@@10p6 LOL. This beige loving gits.

@Rick_Todd 6 лет назад

Hi , Mark , Nice to you back , Still waiting on that Part 3 C64 Tapuino Build . LOL

@Rick_Todd 6 лет назад

There's a Tiny Mini Tapuino out now as well.

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

Would you believe that I STILL haven't had a chance to finish the Tapuino!

@Rick_Todd 6 лет назад

I look forward to it ...

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

Me too!

@krige 5 месяцев назад

16:26 What's the difference between the speccy rom and the toastrack? What's the battery life?

@MarkFixesStuff 5 месяцев назад

Sorry Krige, this was lost when my house burned down. I think there is still a facebook group with FAQs.

@rjethorpe 8 месяцев назад

I have one. Its great. but how on earth do you load on roms? I have put a memory card in withg a couple but I cant see how you navigate through the memory? Any ideas?

@MarkFixesStuff 8 месяцев назад

Mine was lost in my house fire and I can’t remember. There is a useful group for the ZX Omni on Facebook with docs etc in their files section.

@picklerick4944 6 лет назад

So for only £15 more than a Vega + you could have this bad boy? I kind of regret buying a divMMC for £69 when I could have had this!

@sbmicro1896 Год назад

Hi, Did the formatted SD card come with the computer?

@davidspencer7254 6 лет назад

I'm sold.

@discoHR 6 лет назад

Z key is already stuck... While I do like the features, I'm not a fan of two different items hinged together and using an external cable in-between. They should really do it properly with two pieces of the case with same design and flat cable(s) going through the hinge(s).

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

Yes, with the new key mats they are very springy when brand new and take a while to "break in". On my own machines I give them a good stretching out and a bit of a hammering which sorts out the key tension. It's hard to explain. On your second point, yes it is a ZX Omni with a portable screen attachment and that shows. It reminds me of the Gamecube and Playstation screens that were available. I'm sure Djordje will see your feedback here regardless, as he's the guy who needs to see any and all reactions. He's very open to opinion.

@BongWeasle 6 лет назад

Your lucky you got one all I got was a 176 quid hole in my bank account. Scammers.

@kaiser76 4 года назад

AY sound chip is in or emulated?

@BBC600 5 лет назад

That looks cool if only the edge connector worked with a printer for use with Tassword II.

@neilgillmore 6 лет назад

A piece of spectral art.... :)

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

It is simultaneously the most beautiful and the most nuts thing I've ever seen 😂

@stevengailey2884 6 лет назад

Interesting wee thing, I'll keep an eye on it's progress & probably get one in the future Now...my question is where can I buy hinges like those? They look like laptop screen hinges but more genetic.

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

I genuinely don't know. Djordje might be able to help though. I suspect he makes them in-house.

@BongWeasle 6 лет назад

Don’t buy one it’s a scam.

@Muckypaws 3 года назад

Anyone know how I can get HDMI working? I've tried a SCART to HDMI adaptor but the machine won't start up.

@8bitromania263 2 года назад

i will also buy one

@ba55bar 6 лет назад

hate the speedking as i'm lefthanded. my brother had one and i just couldn't use it

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

ba55bar so many joysticks were unfriendly for lefties.

@medes5597 6 лет назад

Have you tried the speedking left handed mods? I just did a few for someone and they seemed pretty great. No idea where he got the left handed speedking shells from, as they just sent me the joysticks and the new plastics to put together for them (via Fiverr) but I'm assuming someone on Etsy or similar must be selling them.

@ba55bar 6 лет назад

anything with a grip was generally only for right hookers. this is how i became a whizz on the keyboard

@ba55bar 6 лет назад

homemade shells?

@medes5597 6 лет назад

@@ba55bar the plastic outer shell I mean (the grip and everything). It's possible he 3D printed them at home but he had a few and they didn't seem 3D printed to me, more injection moulded. So I would guess someone out here is selling left handed speed king shells for leftys.

@ronnyverminck2741 3 года назад

at 14:58 the switches say S1 S2 S3 for rom select, but you change S7 S8 S9 ??

@MarkFixesStuff 3 года назад

I'll be honest and say I think I might have messed up there. I had so little time with the unit and was a bit green around the gills. I wonder if it's worth revisiting the Omni now it's been released properly and giving it a proper in depth video?

@ojbeez5260 3 года назад

Has Clive Sinclair see this?

@dafoex 4 года назад

Its sort of a shame they are stretching the screen to 16:9 rather than zooming it. With the spectrum having those overscan bars they could cut away a lot of the top and bottom of the screen without cutting off important data; filling the screen and maintaining a 4:3 ratio. They probably can't do that, though, because something tells me the screen internals are off the shelf.

@robertmiles9942 Год назад

Yeah it's just a straight up spectrum with no custom video emulation, and the LCD panel is a very basic AV monitor like you'd attach to a car DVD player in the 2000s. It's really just fine in 4:3 mode though, plenty of resolution.

@chrisshaw451 6 лет назад

Looks very interesting, tried the zxrenew.co.uk site but It comes back with a server not found error page.

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

Thanks for the heads up. It looks like the www must be used as it won't get to the site without it! I have edited the text above. www.zxrenew.co.uk

@BongWeasle 6 лет назад

Don’t buy one it’s a scam

@BazzaHSpeccymad 6 лет назад

That looks great. You have a woman's hands btw

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

You have a woman's beard..

@BazzaHSpeccymad 6 лет назад

Mark Fixes Stuff - Retro Console and Computer Repairs, Reviews and MORE! My wife lets me borrow it

@AlexOjideagu2 6 лет назад

You have a woman's purse m'lord

@stevenixx3595 5 лет назад

@@MarkFixesStuff haha you DO have a womans hands

@MarkFixesStuff 5 лет назад

@@stevenixx3595 Why are you even looking in my fridge?

@ruicunha103 2 года назад

where to get the software to install into sd card?

@MarkFixesStuff 2 года назад

There is a ZX Omni group on Facebook. Try asking there.

@JJbm4233 3 года назад

I truly amazing device at the right time, however in Atari ST or in amigo laptop to truly change the world especially here in North America.

@ZXDunny 3 года назад

I used to work for a company back in 1993 that made an Amiga laptop. They did exist, but they didn't change the world.

@RichSzerman 5 лет назад

The display doesn't show in the entire screen area

@jamesroberts7339 4 года назад

Rich Szerman It’s up to the user whether he chooses to stretch the screen to 16:9 aspect ratio. The controls to do this are on the side of the screen.

@JJbm4233 3 года назад

An amazing device, but the North American world to change with the Atari ST or commodore Amiga laptop

@NM-zq5tf 5 лет назад

Does it work on American tvs?

@MarkFixesStuff 5 лет назад

I think it is a PAL RGB signal, so your set would need to support that? I think some LCDs might by it's unlikely that many CRT screens in the states would.

@NM-zq5tf 5 лет назад

@@MarkFixesStuff Finally an answer, this information should really be on the website. Thank you

@oleg6119 3 года назад

Даа. Были времена, когда цвета радуги не несли скрытый смысл...

@BongWeasle 6 лет назад

I ordered an omni 3 months ago....and nothing, they don’t even answer my emails. It’s a scam.

@MarkFixesStuff 6 лет назад

Hi Hooded Claw. Of course I'm just a reviewer but I have contacted Djordje and asked him to get in touch with you in order to sort this issue out. He responded to me last night that he will investigate.