Timex Sinclair 2068

The Timex Sinclair 2068 (T/S 2068), released in November 1983, was Timex Sinclair's third and last home computer for the United States market. It was also marketed in Canada, Argentina, Portugal and Poland, as Timex Computer 2068 (TC 2068).

History

Following Timex's ZX81-based T/S 1000 and T/S 1500, a new series of ZX Spectrum-based machines was created. Initially named T/S 2000 (as reflected on the user manual[1]), this early version featured a case and keyboard very similar to that of the ZX Spectrum and was exhibited at the early 1983 CES show where Creative Computing gave it a positive reception.[2]

This model machine evolved into the T/S 2048 prototype, and was eventually released as T/S 2068, with the name chosen mainly for marketing reasons.

Advertisements described the T/S 2068 as offering 72K of memory, color, and sound for a price under $200.

Related machines

Timex Sinclair 2048

A cut-down version of the T/S 2068, based on the T/S 2048 prototype named T/S 2048, was cancelled before entering intended production in 1984. This was due to the commercial failure of the T/S 1500. According to an early Timex Sinclair 2000 computer flyer, it would have 16 KB of RAM, add a Kempston-compatible joystick interface and a two color high resolution mode for 80 column text.[4]

The 2048 model number was the intended model number for what finally got named Timex Sinclair 2068. In an interview with Lou Galie, Senior Vice President of Technology at Timex, he tells what he claims to be the real story. Danny Ross, Timex Computer Corporation president, was giving a speech. Lou points: "When Danny announced what was supposed to be the 2048, he mis-spoke and called it the 2068. When I called him on it, he laughed and said: - Rename it. 2068 is better than 2048.".[5]

Although the T/S 2048 was cancelled, the Timex Computer 2048, based on the T/S 2048 prototype and released in 1984, was sold in Portugal and Poland.

Timex Computer 2068

For the TC 2068,[6] Timex of Portugal made some changes the original T/S 2068 hardware, in order to improve compatibility with the original ZX Spectrum. It also created a Spectrum emulator cartridge that would auto-boot. This cartridge was larger, so the TC 2068 casing was changed to accommodate it.

Main hardware changes:

Replaced the bus buffers with resistors like ZX Spectrum
Changed the I/O connector to be ZX Spectrum compatible (not requiring the Zebra Twister board)
Changed the cartridge slot top casing to accept bigger cartridges (for example "Spectrum emulator"[7] and "Timeword"[8] cartridges)
Uses 9V instead of 15V

Unipolbrit Komputer 2086

A variant of the T/S 2068 was sold in Poland after 1986 under the name Unipolbrit Komputer 2086 (or UK 2086).[9][10]

The machine was based on the TC 2068, with further changes introduced by that company:

Modified ROM
Replaced a joystick port with a parallel printer interface

type	Home computer
release date	November 1983
discontinued	1989
cpu	Zilog Z80A @ 3.5 MHz
memory	48 KB
os	T/S 2000 BASIC (based on Sinclair BASIC)
predecessor	Timex Sinclair 1500
successor	Timex Computer 2048
display	NTSC TV or video monitor; text: 32×24 lines, 16 colours; graphics: 256×192, 16 colours or 512×192 pixels, two colours; attributes: 32x24 or 32x192, two colours per area.
graphics	Timex SCLD
sound	Beeper, AY-3-8912

Timex Sinclair 2068

History

Timex Sinclair 2048

Timex Computer 2068

Unipolbrit Komputer 2086

Technical specifications

T/S 2000 BASIC

Software

Reception

See also

External links

References