The timex sinclair was the first computer produced by timex sinclair, a joint venture between timex corporation and sinclair research. If you havent heard of the onion architecture, you wouldnt be alone. Timex corporation and sinclair research continued their joint venture and released the timex sinclair ts and 1500 ts1500 variants of the zx81 for the us market in july 1982 and july 1983 respectively. Timex sinclair computer system with timex 2040 printer. Timex sinclair was a joint venture between the british company sinclair research and timex corporation in an effort to gain an entry into the rapidly growing early1980s home computer market in north america. Supplied as either a full version for the expanded sinclair zx81, timexsinclair ts and ts1500 min 4k ram, a 2k version for an unexpanded timex 2kb of ram and a 1k cutdown version. In this video we take a look at the timex sinclair, a lowcost. This app focuses on the sinclair zx81 experience and is loaded with example software. Excerpts taken from timex sinclair box back the new computer from timex represents a major breakthrough, a real computer at an almost unreal price. The timex sinclair ts was the first computer produced by timex sinclair, a jointventure between timex corporation and sinclair research. The zx81 was designed to be small, simple, and above all, inexpensive, with as few components as possible. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. It was still very popular when they came out with the improved zx81 in 1981. Eightyone source code is released under the gnu gpl.
The timex sinclair musings on everything from cross. The software shows how far programming techniques have advanced since the. Finally, in july 1983, the transformation is complete. If the emulator does not respond when you type, try clicking on the emulators window. Eightyone is designed to run on windows xp, but should work on windows 98 and above. Nov 19, 2016 tynemouth software llp old computers, new computers, bespoke web design and software development, computer repairs, it and media services uk saturday, 19 november 2016 ts multiregion composite video modification. Revival studios indie retro game development for the. Lemke software development produced programs for the timexsinclair 2068 computer. Ken developed an add on board that attached on the expansion port to run rtty.
Vintage is the new old new games for the zx spectrum. Programming projects for your timexsinclair paperback september 1, 1983 by frank wattenberg author. Then, in the summer of 1982, timex released the first truly affordable home computerthe timexsinclair, with a whopping 2k of memory. It automatically adjusts for a uk sinclair zx81 running at 50hz, or an american timexsinclair running at 60hz. Timex bought usa production rights and rebadged it as the timexsinclair.
Although still identical to the sinclair zx81, it will now be known as the timex sinclair. Timex sinclair ts timex sinclair is a result of joint venture between sinclair research ltd and timex corporation. Even by 1981s standards, it was slow but it also cost a mere 100 bucks, making it an attractive entry point for aspiring hobbyists who couldnt spend a thousand dollars on a pc. In 1981, sinclair released a computer at a price that is still crazy 30 years later. Timex sinclair 1500 computer steves computer collection. The timex sinclair , also known as the zx81, was small, ran on basic, and offered a mere 2kb of ram to go with its 3. Sinclair zx81 timex grandaddy of computers nostalgia nerd duration. World of spectrum official world archive for the sinclair zx spectrum. Aug 08, 20 sinclair zx81 timex grandaddy of computers nostalgia nerd duration. Please respect this licence and feed back any changes into the project. Timex later produced its own versions of the zx81 for the us market the timex sinclair and timex sinclair 1500. However, its been around for a while under the name of hexagonal architecture, due solely to a graphic created when alistair cockburn first described it. Basic programming snippets for the timex sinclair and sinclair zx81 computer. Unauthorized zx81 clones were produced in several countries.
Revisiting the 8track with a new 1975 pioneer hr99 recorder. Product announcement for games from software development associates. The timex sinclair, with the optional 16k ram pack accessory, is a compact computer with all the power and highperformance capacity you are likely to need for personal use. This was obtained in the early 90s from an engineering friend who came from a teaching background in the buffalo, ny area. Unfollow timex sinclair to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Video output is to a television set rather than a dedicated monitor. Texter bob lucasbarlog software textwriter curry computer the bookkeeper gibson data services the cambridge collection richard francis the check book softsync, inc. Timex corporation and sinclair research continued their joint venture and released the timex sinclair ts and 1500 ts1500 variants of. The ts was a slightlymodified sinclair zx81 with an ntsc rf modulator instead of a uk pal units sold in portugal have a pal rf modulator device and the onboard.
Sinclair zx81 archive of software for sinclair zx81 computers. The zx81 was designed to be small, simple, and above all cheap, using as. Personal computer software for timex sinclair dataquester personal finance planner timex computer corporation phrase challenge funtech software pick em stuart software picture plot bob lucasbarlog software pinball timex computer corporation plane frame zeta software plotting work sheet ezra group ii plotting work sheet. Zx81 emulator written in visual basic can you believe it windows. Machine code development system for your timex sinclair part ii turn your timex sinclair or sinclair zx81 into a highspeed, machinecode development system. It was launched in july with a us sales price my first computer. It is just a small demo with some animation and a scroller, but it was enough for me to get some of the basics down, before starting on actual game development. Contained an ntsc rf modulator replacing the pal version. Here is a complete working vintage timex sinclair computer setup running a program called vucalc a excel type spreadsheet. Unauthorised clones of the zx81 were produced in a number of countries.
The motherboard of the sinclair had only 4 integrated circuit chips, including the z80 cpu. Following on from the previous post on zx81 composite video modifications, the same can also be done on the timex sinclair. This time klingons were flying through space with a ship full of goldpressed latinum for the empire. The timex sinclair ts was a rebadged version of sinclairs zx81, with a few minor changes. Multimachine emulates a whole range of 8 bit machines. The zx81 is a home computer that was produced by sinclair research and manufactured in dundee, scotland, by timex corporation. It was very similar to zx81, it only contained more ram 2k and had ntsc tv modulator with switch allowing to switch between channel 2 and 3. Ram packs and memory expansion for the zx81 and ts. Timex sinclair computer with timex sinclair 2040 printer and timex sinclair 1016 ram with programs on cassettes. In july 1982 watch maker timex began selling the timex sinclair clone of the zx81 at their dealership network in the united states. While studying computer science at texas state technical college and mclennan community college i accepted a job offer from american amicable life insurance co. Machine code development system for your timex sinclair turn your timex sinclair or sinclair zx81 into a highspeed, machinecode development system.
Timex sinclair i was 12 years old soon replaced with a commodore still have this machine in original box. Timex sinclair personal computer national museum of. Timex sinclair 2068 computer sold in the usa, portugal and poland only. His first line of code was written in 1983 on a timex sinclair bought by his father. Tynemouth software llp old computers, new computers, bespoke web design and software development, computer repairs, it and media services uk. Microkids issue 02 volume 01 no 02 i owned one of these.
Zx81 tapes, hardware and books collection collection of zx81 and ts tapes, hardware and books. The american version boasted a whopping 2k memory, double the zx81 1k, making the ram pack a necessity. By mid1982, timex was selling the zx81, renaming it as the timex sinclair. Born in silicon valley, dan marshall began programming at the age of in the early 1980s on home computers of that era, such as the trs80, commodore vic20, apple iie, and his favorite timex sinclair. For programs and samples, visit the ts software library. In spite of the flaws in the early versions, half a million units were sold in the first six months alone. Sort of an experimental unfinished zx81 emulator windows.
Basic on timex sinclair stage 1 happy hobbyist my father bought a timex sinclair, a cousin of the better known sinclair zx81. It was launched in the united kingdom 5th of march 1981 as the successor to sinclairs zx80 and was designed to be small, simple, and above all inexpensive, using as few components as possible to keep the cost down. The timex sinclair, also known as the zx81, was small, ran on basic, and offered a mere 2kb of ram to go with its 3. The zx81 was produced by sinclair research and manufactured in dundee, scotland by timex corporation. Net platform, and functional programming languages such as lisp and scheme.
Sinclair vintage computers and mainframes for sale ebay. The computer was unable to easily and properly address more than 16k, so i must respectfully take exception to your blurb that it was expandable to 32k. Please note that the system is completely self contained and this means you cannot remotely add code, more games etc. This little demo for the zx 81 and timex sinclair ts ts1500 systems was my first attempt at tackling these systems. The timex sinclair is the north american version of the sinclair zx81, from british based sinclair research ltd. Tynemouth software llp old computers, new computers, bespoke web design and software development, computer repairs, it and media services.
The choice of partnership was natural, as timex was already the main contractor for manufacture of sinclairs zx81. You posted the link i started from in post 5 of this thread so i thought you would be working from the same schematic. Programming projects for your timexsinclair paperback september 1, 1983. Mar 05, 2019 the zx81 was produced by sinclair research and manufactured in dundee, scotland by timex corporation. The timex sinclair ts was the first computer produced by timex sinclair, a joint venture between timex corporation and sinclair research. The timex sinclair launched in the summer of 1982. It was launched in the united kingdom in march 1981 as the successor to sinclair s zx80 and designed to be a lowcost introduction to home computing for the general public. It automatically adjusts for a uk sinclair zx81 running at 50hz, or an american timex sinclair running at 60hz. They are nearly identical, except for the name on the front, and minor motherboard layout differences. Even by 1981s standards, it was slow but it also cost a mere 100 bucks, making it an attractive entry point. His first line of code was written in 1983 on a timex sinclair bought by his father with the hope that it would bring satisfaction to the mind of his 11yearold son and a. This timex sinclair computer system is like new in the original boxes and includes. Revival studios indie retro game development for the sinclair. It was launched in the united kingdom in march 1981 as the successor to sinclairs zx80 and designed to be a lowcost introduction to home computing for the general public.
Basic programming snippets for the timexsinclair and sinclair zx81 computer addeddate 20150 05. The availability of emulators do help with development, as will the zx81 mmc. A year after the introduction of the zx80, sinclair released an updated model with floating point basic, a better case, and a new flicker free video mode which could be turned off because it make the computer run much slower. The choice of partnership was natural, as timex was already the main contractor for manufacture of sinclairs zx81 and zx spectrum computers at its scottish plant in dundee. My resources have been the book the explorers guide to the zx81 and timex sinclair and wilf rigters website. The lowly sinclair zx80 has now morphed into the semiuseable timex sinclair 1500, sporting a brandnew keyboard and much more internal ram. Personal computer software for timexsinclair dataquester personal finance planner timex computer corporation phrase challenge funtech software pick em stuart software picture plot bob lucasbarlog software pinball timex computer corporation plane frame zeta software plotting work sheet ezra group ii plotting work sheet. When running the program on an emulator, you will need to adjust the variable fps frames per second to match your picture frequency manually. Like the sinclair zx81, the ts used a form of basic as its primary interface and programming language. Keyboards and keyboard accessories for the zx81 and ts. John oliger developed hardware and software for the timexsinclair and timexsinclair 2068 computers, including a popular hard disk system for the 2068.
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