Timex Sinclair
≈ 4 min read
Names in other languages
No names in other languages are held for this entry yet.
Article bodies are English and are not machine-translated. A name in another language is not a translation of the article.
Timex Sinclair was a joint venture established in December 19821 between the British company Sinclair Research and Timex Corporation in an effort to gain an entry into the rapidly growing early-1980s home computer market in North America.
Timex Sinclair was a joint venture established in December 1982 between the British company Sinclair Research and Timex Corporation in an effort to gain an entry into the rapidly growing early-1980s home computer market in North America.
Released computers
Timex Sinclair released four computers, all of them based (to some extent) on Sinclair Research's existing machines. In chronological order: T/S 1000, introduced in July 1982 and essentially a modified ZX81 with 2 KB RAM. T/S 1500, introduced in August 19831, it was a T/S 1000 with 16 KiB RAM and a ZX Spectrum-like case and keyboard. T/S 2068 (TC 2068), released in November 1983, was a ZX Spectrum-based machine with enhancements, namely a cartridge port to make it compete with video game consoles, which resulted in poor compatibility with software developed for the original. Based on the T/S 2000 prototype. It was marketed under the Timex Computer brand in Canada, Argentina, Portugal and Poland as TC 2068. TC 2048, released in 19841, was a ZX Spectrum-based machine with a T/S 2068-like keyboard. Based on the T/S 2000 prototype and featured improved compatibility with the ZX Spectrum. Only sold in Portugal and Poland under the Timex Computer brand. File:Timex Sinclair 1000 FL.jpg|T/S 1000 File:Timex-Sinclair-1500-White-BG.jpg|T/S 1500 File:Timex Sinclair 2068 Manipulated.jpg|T/S 2068 File:Timex Computer 2048 (Thomas Conté) (white bg and retouch).jpg|TC 2048
Hardware projects
TC3256 was the next proposed computer. It was designed as the third generation of Timex Computer Technology, but it vanished when Timex Portugal shut down its production line. Timex FDD or FDD 3000, a Z80-based CP/M-compatible computer. Most people only know it as a floppy disk drive controller but in fact, it is a computer without graphics circuitry. The FDD or FDD 3000 could be used in three different ways: as a disk drive controller for a TC 2048 or T/S 2068 or ZX Spectrum, running TOS (Timex Operating System) as a CP/M system, using a TC 2048 or T/S 2068 computer running the Timex Terminal Emulator as a console. as a CP/M system, using the Timex Terminal 3000, a terminal keyboard, as a console.
Peripherals
computer modem]] monitor]] Timex Computer Corporation, under the Timex Sinclair brand, and Timex Portugal, under the Timex Computer brand, produced a number of different peripherals for the Timex computer line:
Timex Sinclair
TS1016 - Timex 16K RAM Pack for use on a T/S 1000. Can be used on a T/S 1500. TS1050 - Not a real peripheral, but a "suitcase" to carry T/S 1000, tapes and peripherals TS1510 - A cartridge player for T/S 1500. It can be used on T/S 1000 with a 16K RAM Pack TS2020 - Analog tape recorder TS2040 - Thermal printer TP2040 - Thermal printer (badging variation, with "Printer" instead of "Sinclair") TS2050 - Communications modem TS2060 - Bus Expansion Unit (vaporware) TS2065 - Timex Microdrives (vaporware) TS2080 - 80-column dot matrix printer (vaporware) TS2090 - Command stick. Joystick to be used on T/S 2068 internal ports
Timex Computer
TS1040 - A multi-voltage power supply (printer + tape recorder (T/S 2020) + T/S 1000 + TC 2048 or T/S 2068) TC2010 - A digital tape recorder TC2080 - A serial 80-column dot matrix printer Timex FDD - A "cut down" computer that can be used as a floppy disk controller Timex FDD3000 - A "cut down" computer that can be used as a floppy disk controller (an upgraded Timex FDD) Timex Terminal 3000 - A "cut down" computer to be used as a CP/M terminal with FDD3000 Timex RS232 - A serial RS232 interface Sound/Joystick Unit - A sound amplifier for SLCD sounds and Kempston(?) Joystick Interface Neptun 156 - To export the Timex Computer to Poland (as the Unipolbrit UK2086), Timex Portugal had to be paid in goods. It chose to import the Neptun 156 12" green monochrome monitor, manufactured in Poland by Unimor company. Based on the Neptun 150 TV receiver, it proved very popular in Portugal and was frequently sold in bundles with the TC computers. Timex Printer 2040 - same as the TS2040 printer.
Software
External links
TIMEXsinclair Showcase Timex/Sinclair 1000 User Manual Timex Sinclair 1500 User Manual Timex Sinclair 2068 User Manual
Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1347818215 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.