Nidd Valley Extender Bar & Reset Button

Sinclair User

ROOM TO MANOEUVRE The Nidd Valley Extender Bar and Reset Button is one of the simplest pieces of hardware I have seen for a while. It just plugs into the back of the Spectrum and extends the connector by roughly three centimeters. That is just enough to allow you to fit add-ons which, due to the case design, will not fit naturally. As a bonus, there is a button on the side of the extender which gives a reset when pressed. That is better than pulling the power plug as you are less likely to damage such things as microdrive cartridges, and it will not de-program programmable joystick interfaces. The extender is priced at £4.95 inc. Nidd Valley Micro Products Ltd, [redacted].

Crash

Franco Frey

RATIONAL RESET Nidd Valley will no doubt want to send us their combined Slomo and joystick interface once they read our Games Controller review, and in the interests of fair play, we'll try to take a look at their product next issue. Meanwhile, here's a few words about their gentle reset add-on.... 'Switching the power off on the Spectrum to cure a program crash is about as non sensible as switching off the National Grid to change a light bulb'. Or so Nidd Valley Micro Products would have us believe. Funny, but when I turn my Spectrum off all the computers in the country don't stop working too.... Mind you, Nidd Valley are justifiably pleased at being able to supply a little doobry which clips onto the edge connector and allows you to effect a reset of the Z80 chip only by pressing the 'small, unobtrusive red button' affixed to the casing. Not a bad deal at £4.95 including P&P, VAT and all the rest. [redacted] if you don't want to keep reprogramming joystick interfaces etc.