The team behind the FPGA-based ZX Spectrum Next has just successfully funded a follow-up Kickstarter. This third production run includes a more powerful FPGA, as well as new cores for the Sinclair QL and Commodore 64. Complete units start at about $400 and there’s options to upgrade the original two ZX Spectrum Next’s, board-only options and versions with an accelerator board. All are due to ship to customers by the end of this year:
Pre-Order Here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spectrumnext/zx-spectrum-next-issue-3-0
This is a cool project and I’m happy that they’re offering upgrade options for existing customers as well! Also, I personally wouldn’t be worried about the (relatively) soon delivery date they’re promising. Things that often take the longest time are the injection molded enclosure, which isn’t changed from the last run, making that much easier to sort out. Also, even though the motherboards are new, they’re similar and we’re not in the middle of a part shortage like last time. So while the last run of production had tons of delays, most were a result of the part shortage and other things that should be ironed out by now.
Also, the previous rounds produced a high quality product that people really seemed to like. So while this is all speculation, my gut’s telling me this round will go much easier and ship on time.
