The Apple Lisa (1983) was the first successful computer with a graphical user interface (GUI) and a mouse. It cost $10,000.

The GRiD 1101 is the grand-daddy of all modern-day laptops. It cost over $8000 in 1982.

Their new VIC-20 (1980) was so embarrassing to parent company Commodore, that they considered giving them away. Instead, it sold over 1,000,000 units within just a few years, making Commodore hundreds of millions of dollars.

The first portable Macintosh computer, the Macintosh Portable (1989) weighs 16 pounds and had a 16MHz processor.

The first-ever handheld/palmtop MS-DOS "PC" was the Portfolio, sold by --- Atari, in 1989.

The first "IBM" computer to run on batteries was the IBM Convertible PC from 1986.

The Timex Sinclair 1000 was the most successful computer ever, that cost less than $100, that is.

The Commodore 64 (1982) retains the record as the most successful single computer model ever, selling over 10 million units.

The portable version of the Commodore 64 is the SX-64 (1984). It weighs 23 pounds, and has a built-in 5-inch color CRT screen.

The Coleco Adam (1983) will not run without the printer attached and plugged-in. The computer's power supply is in the printer.

The Jupiter Ace (1983) was advertised as "Probably the fastest microcomputer in the universe!".

Apple Computers sued the maker of the Franklin ACE 100 (1982) for copyright infringement. The Franklin company copied the Apple II operating system, changed a few words, and sold it as their own.

In 1981, prior to the famous PC, IBM sold a desktop computer called the Datamaster.

The Osborne 1 (1981) is considered to be the first practical and useful "portable" computer. It weighs 25 pounds.

The first great flop for "Apple Computers" was the Apple III in 1981.

The Radio Shack Pocket Computer from 1980 was the first programmable computer to fit in a shirt pocket.

Possibly the heaviest desktop computer ever may have been the IBM 5120 from 1980 - it weighed 105 pounds, not including the 130 pound external floppy drive.

The custom CPU (central processor) of the HP-85 from 1980 runs at 0.6MHz.

When fully expanded, the "Texas Instruments" TI-99/4 from 1979 can be over 3 feet wide.

In 1979, Apple licensed the Apple II to Bell & Howell to sell to public schools. The beige case was painted black.

NorthStar, which built and sold computer in the late 1970's, was originally called "Kentucky Fried Computers".

The Commodore PET-2001 (1977) has the worst keyboards of any full-size computer.

The portable desk-top sized IBM 5100 from 1975 could cost up to $20,000, depending on options included.

The Zenith MiniSport (1989) was the only computer to ever use a 2-inch floppy drive.

The Apple Macintosh and Commodore Amiga 1000 have the developer's signatures cast into the inside of their case.

Back to gaming boys and girls

Having recently seen an ad for a Timex Sinclair 1000, my old memory cells became alive, as this was my own first computer. Bought in Toronto for $49.99. I was able to get the thermal printer, 16K expansion pack, a bunch of books, and around 15 games for less than $200!


The Timex Sinclair was a joint effort between Sinclair research and Timex Corporation in an effort to gain entry into the fast growing early '80s home computer market in the US. The partner ship was natural as Timex was the main contractor of Sinclair's ZX81 and ZX Spectrum at its plant in Dundee, Scotland.

Timex of Portugal, took on research and development, and local manufacturing of the models to be exported to the US.

Timex of Scotland & Timex of Portugal were full subsiduaries of Timex, internal rivalries meant there was no contacts or experience shared between the two plants. Timex of Portugal also sold the Timex Sinclair model in Portugal and Poland under the Timex Computer Brand.

Four Timex Sinclair computers were released, all of them based ( to some extent ) on Sinclair Researches existing machines:
-- TS 1000, essentially a modified ZX81 with 2KB ram
-- TS 1500, a TS1000 with 16KB ram and a ZX spectrum like case

-- TS2068, a ZX Spectrum based machine with enhancements, namely a cart port to make it compete with videogame consoles, which made for poor compatability with software for the original. Its European sibling, TC 2068 featured improved compatability with the ZX Spectrum.


-- TC 2048, a ZX Spectum based machine with a 2068 like keyboard, not sold in the US.


In July 1982, Timex Sinclair introduced the first computer touted to cost under $100, marketed in the US, the Timex Sinclair 1000. In spite of flaws in early versions, half a million sold in the first six months alone.

They were not the success of the UK models, in contrast to the ZX spectrum, which was the best selling computer in Britain at the time.

The TS 2068 was a relative failure.

The next computer, TC 3256 was the third generation of Timex Computer Technology, but it vanished when Timex of Portugal shut down its production line. This happened just as the TC 3256 was to be launched. They also ceased repairing any of the Timex Sinclair brands.


Timex Corporation withdrew from the home computer market in February 1984, but Timex of Portugal continued to manufacture, sell, and develop hardware in Poland and Portugal for another 10 years.

Timex of Portugal also produced a Z80 based CP/M compatible computer, the FDD or FDD 3000. Most people 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 2048/2068 computer or ZX Spectrum running TOS (Timex Operating System )
-- as a CP/M, using a TC 2048/2068 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

Timex Sinclair produced the following peripherals for the Timex computer line:
TS1016 - Timex 16K RAM Pack for use on a TS1000. Can be used on a TS1500.
TS1050 - Not a real peripheral, but a "suitcase" to carry TS1000, tapes and peripherals
TS1510 - A cartridge player for TS1500. It can be used on TS1000 with a 16K RAM Pack
TS2020 - Analog Tape Recorder
TS2040 - Thermal Printer
TS2050 - Communications Modem
TS2060 - Bus Expansion Unit (vaporware)
TS2065 - Timex Microdrives (vaporware)
TS2080 - 80 column dot matrix printer (vaporware)
TS2090 - Joystick to be used on TS2068 internal ports
Timex Computer (TMX Portugal) produced the following peripherals for the Timex computer line:
TS1040 - A multi-voltage power supply (printer + tape recorder (TS2020) + TS1000 + TC2048/2068)
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 Kempson(?) Joystick Interface


Neptun 156 monitor. It came in matching black or grey colours.
TMX Portugal also sold the TS2040 and later renamed it to Timex Printer 2040.
To export the Timex Computer to Poland, Timex of 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 Vela TV receiver, it proved very popular in Portugal and was frequently sold in bundles with the TC computers.


Compatible systems
Jupiter Ace · SAM Coupé · Didaktik · Dubna 48K · Hobbit · Pentagon · Scorpion · Sprinter · One Per Desk · CST Thor · Q40/Q60 · Komputer 2086

The Timex Sinclair produced a cottage industry of makers of add ons as well for this little gem of a computer.

Back to gaming boys and girls

Being asked to write a blog on retro gaming and computing, was easy to say yes to, but actually doing so caused my mind to go blank.

Heck, I am no expert in either area, I have not even learned how to text on my cell phone.

I am, however, avid about saving and preserving the retro scene, in both computing and gaming. I consider myself a novice collector, and do so at yard sales, give away sites on the net, and from those willing to donate their old games, systems and computers. ( I call them care packages). I seldom make a purchase as I am not sure of values, not to say I don"t window shop and sigh, and mark them in my mental wish list.

I also spend a lot of time searching the web for information on items that I receive. Because, quite honestly, I don't know what a lot of the items are or their purpose is until I search the web.

In my search for information, I occasionally find something I think would be of interest to others here at The Old Computer, and submit it.

From doing so, and much to my surprise, I have been asked to do some blogs on some of the articles I have submitted.

Hopefully I can do so in an interesting and sometimes entertaining way. To quote Hot Trout when he started his blog:

"I have for better or worse decided to start a blog for the website. During a normal day, I often scan the web for retro gaming and computing material and on my way stumble across many weird and cool stuff. I guess this is the best place to spill my brain farts to. I don't expect you to enjoy it but I do expect you to comment.

Let the junk begin and the madness set in."

Having read that, I wish that Hot Trout would have had more time to blog, as I am sure that I at least have missed much.

Closing off, I would ask everyone, if you find something of interest, submit it as a blog. If you can not do that PM me a link and I will try a blog about it.

All blogs will have to be submitted for review, and keep in mind that the blogs should be concise, well written, with embedded pictures if possible and very few if any outside links.

If you blog please PM it to me.

Thanks in advance to those who contribute.

And just one last question for HT, "Don't you wish you were back in the day--- when at least there were a few that were normal?'

Back to gaming boys and girls.