ZX Spectrum Emulators

[EgoTrip]

Which is the best ZX Spectrum emulator available, which supports AVI video recording, and most importantly is free, with no restrictions, nag screens or other ways to attempt to rob you of money for something that should be free?


(I have issues with people who charge for emulation of other people's devices, if I was going to pay for it I would buy the hardware. Besides is it even legal to do so?)

[Gryzor]

Why wouldn't it be legal? Of course it is, and of course every legal software maker has the right to charge for his efforts. You're confusing intellectual property of the original creator with a work describing it. It's like saying that an analysis on Finnegan's Wake should be free. It's only the ROMs that remain the IP of the original manufacturer, and in the case of Amstrad those are given away, too.

I dislike paying for emulators because it runs against the grain of the scene, but it's not like I don't recognise the dev's right to do so.

[SyX]

EgoTrip, i use ZX Spin in my netbook

[Gryzor]

Just downloaded ZX Spin and played a little Cybernoid II since it's included with the emulator. Lovely game, and a nice emu!

[Devilmarkus]

True: Not all software available for emulators is legal: For example Activision does not allow to share old game roms like Ghostbusters etc...
But 90% of all game websites offer such games.

Emulators are always legal. The roms and games not always.
Thats the reason, why WinUAE is never shared incl. roms.

And true: I also dislike paying for emulators. It's much more motivating for an emu coder, when someone sends a donation.
Most "payable" emulators are also offered as "shareware" incl. spyware

[Gryzor]

Well, that is of course true, but we were talking about the devs charging for the emulators themselves, not about ROM files (which, in many, if not most of the cases, is indeed illegal).

[Devilmarkus]

You are allowed to emulate everything.
You are also allowed to use all available roms for the emulated machine, if you own the real machine and real software.
You are not always allowed to spread this sh*t

[Gryzor]

Not even that - the idea that if you have the original you have the right to download the ROM is widespread, but is a misconception - the laws are not that simple...

[Devilmarkus]

You are not allowed to download the rom. (This is a grey zone, too, because the person who offers such roms already acts illegal. The download normally cannot be tracked)

But you are allowed to dump roms from the real machine and use it in your private emulator.
(Is like recording TV to VHS)

[Sykobee (Briggsy)]

You are not allowed to download the rom. (This is a grey zone, too, because the person who offers such roms already acts illegal. The download normally cannot be tracked)

But you are allowed to dump roms from the real machine and use it in your private emulator.
(Is like recording TV to VHS)

Technically, no. Many countries have not allowed format shifting in copyright law.

[MacDeath]

ZX spectrum emulator

why would you do that ? 


Jokes appart, weren't there a Speccy emulator on the amstrad CPC ?

[TFM]

Sure, but I never felt need to use it 

[steve]

Most commercial software turned the CPC into a speccy emulator.