Emulating the ZX Spectrum
Emulating the ZX Spectrum (On Ubuntu)
What do you need to Emulate the ZX Spectrum Computer
Under Linux the Spectrum Emulator is well supported even for Ubuntu there are two methods by which you can install a Linux Spectrum Emulator however you will need to follow one of the possible methods to install it.
The first package we will look at is the "spectemu" it comprises of at least three dependent packages which in addition to spectemu-common will need to be installed also.
For Linux/Unix we have recently stumbled on a site that offers a full catalogue of emulators not least of which the ZX Spectrum, we'll not elaborate past those mentioned below however it may be possible to refine your installation method based on alternative installations, on the information given below.
You can visit the following site location for additional information on Unix/Linux emulators sporting various types not just the ZX Spectrum. The website http://worldofspectrum.org has a considerable number of Emulators for a vaiety of different systems, locate the OS of choice and select from available options for ZX Spectrum, none of the given files are pre-compiled packages all will need to be compiled from source so you will need at the very least Ubuntu package "build-essential" installed, if this is the distro you are installing to.
System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager
You will be asked for your current password before you can use Synaptic so enter your password and press Ok.
Use the search button to locate the package called "spectemu"
You will need to mark for installation the following packages,
spectemu-common
spectemu-svga
spectemu-x11
You will also need to mark for installation the following package
spectrum-roms
To install selected packages press the apply button
The best way we have found to run the Spectrum emulator is from the terminal window (So Far).
You would think as the application would be called spectemu the same as package installed, but no you would be wrong. Open a terminal window in Ubnutu Gnome Window Manager.
Applications > Accessories > Terminal
Type the following command
xspect
Then hit the return key
A new window with what looks like a ZX Spectrum Window will appear adjacent to the terminal, it is very important you do not close this terminal window as this will cause the Spectrum window to close also.
On the assumption you have pre-downloaded your selected game you wish to play you must somehow tell the Spectrum window how to find and install it. Such a file may have the .tap extension on it, presumably standing for tape.
With the Spectrum Window in the foreground (Topmost) select the following Key Sequences.
Select the "j" key on the keyboard this displays the "load" command this is normal
Using the right hand Shift Key press the "P" key twice this will give the quote marks
Press the return key and then select Ctrl P then select the your terminal window instead
Your Terminal window now requests your intervention displaying the following information
Enter tape file path:
Enter the full path of the location of your file with the .tap extension perhaps similar to this.
It is very important that you maintain the case of the path and the filename exactly failure to do so will prevent the game from loading. You do not need to include the extension of the filename this is the .tap extension.
/home/gyoml/jetpac
The "spectemu" is just one of a whole family of Emulators that cover a broad range of different systems, to experience the spectrum is one thing to load tapes from a tape machine is another. Having an emulator doesn't mean you need miss out on the tape load squelching or the time it takes to load, as these are emulated as well. But one of the benefits of an emulator is the ability to bypass the load speed and jump this forward a notch or two.
With the Spectrum window in the foreground the following Key sequences allow you to control the speed at which a game may be loaded.
