Timex Sinclair 2068

From: Glenatacme_at_aol.com <(Glenatacme_at_aol.com)>
Date: Sat Jun 19 16:22:23 1999

In a message dated 6/19/99 1:04:30 AM EST, ckaiser_at_oa.ptloma.edu writes:

<< The 2068 is even harder to find than the TS1000. (It's just TS1000,
 not TS ZX1000.) UK people, what was the 2068 a clone of? The Spec +3? >>

I'm a Timex/Sinclair collector, and happened to strike up an e-mail
conversation with George Grimm, formerly head of Timex Computer Corp. (may it
rest in peace).

George says the 2068 was a modified clone of the original 48K Spectrum -- the
+2, +3 came later. The "modified" bit is what put Timex off the computer
business. If Timex had simply changed the RF modulator & power supply to US
standards they would have made a buck. Unfortunately (or fortunately, for
collectors/users), Timex spent huge amounts of time & money "improving" the
Spectrum, thus making it late to market and incompatible with 97% of Spectrum
software -- a complete flop in the US market, whereas millions of Spectrums
were sold throughout Europe. Third parties soon marketed a Spectrum ROM
cartridge which allowed 97% compatibility, but by then Timex had bailed out.

Regards,

Glen Goodwin
Received on Sat Jun 19 1999 - 16:22:23 BST