$99! Computer

What can you get for S99 these days? Dinner for two at a fancy New York restaurant. A few pairs of designer jeans. A couple of speeding tickets if you’re lucky. But that’s not all. Timex, the company that until now was perfectly content to strap its watches onto outboard motors, has come out with a S99 computer—the most inexpensive computer in the world.

You’re probably thinking, “Just $99? Is this REALLY a computer? Will it play games? Can I program it, or just use cartridges like those other ‘computers’ that only play games? What else will it do? Is this for me?”

Yes, this really is a computer, one you can program, one that will play games and has the power to do the things you expect a computer to do.

We take the TS 1000 for a Test Disk Drive

The video games you play at arcades or at home are dedicated computer programs. You’ve probably spent many bleary-eyed hours blasting invaders, munching dots or trying to get frogs safely across a road. You have simply been giving commands—using buttons and joysticks—to a computer ‘‘chips,”’ which then follows either a built-in program, or one provided in a cartridge or cassette. Wouldn’t it be even more fun to create your own programs? Well, you can do that with the Timex Sinclair 1000. The TS 1000 is changing the whole picture by offering a powerful built-in programming language and low-cost printers and other peripherals.

What Will It Do?

Well, for one thing, it will play games—from chess to arcade-type—although not with the same dazzling speed, color or graphics as the Atari, Intellivision or the other game machines. The TS 1000 displays only in black and white. Its graphics are low-resolution and it’s comparatively slow in many functions. But these very restrictions make it a superior program training tool, allowing you to learn, not just do. Furthermore, this little computer can keep financial records and help compute income tax. It will inventory your collections—books, records, tapes, coins or whatever. It will teach a wide range of subjects, from spelling to history, geography and even languages. It will allow you to compose music. Using a modem, you can also use the TS 1000 to access the vast information of large computers through a simple phone hookup in your home. And an inexpensive printer can keep “hard copy” of all computer output and programs.

Timex Sinclair 1000 Genesis

The TS 1000 did not spring up out of nowhere. Its heritage goes back to the fertile mind of Clive Sinclair, head of Sinclair Research Ltd. in England. “‘Uncle Clive” has been responsible for many innovations in the microelectronics field, including the first digital watch in kit form and the first micro TV with a one-inch screen.

In early 1980 Sinclair shocked the computer world by offering an under-$200 computer, the ZX80. It was small, self-contained and could be used with any TV set. Inside there was a remarkably small number of components, and where most microcomputers at that time used dozens of IC (integrated circuit) chips the ZX80 used only 18 IC’s. The ZX80 was an immediate hit in England and was offered in the United States about eight months later.

The next version, the ZX81, used only four IC’s, and contained a very powerful programming language, expandable memory and provision for a printer and other accessories—all for $150 assembled or $100 in kit form. Manufactured in Scotland by Timex, the ZX81 quickly became the largest-selling computer in the world.

In April of 1982, the Timex Computer Corporation announced that they would be distributing their version of the ZX81—the Timex Sinclair 1OOO—in over 100,000 outlets in the United States and Canada for only $99 assembled.

Now — And Coming Attractions

The 1000 is contained in a black plastic case about the same size as this magazine, though a bit thicker. It weighs only 12 ounces and the $99 price includes a power pack that plugs into any standard 110-volt 60-cycle AC outlet and a Computer/TV Switch that can be connected to the TV’s antenna terminals with a screwdriver. A double cable is used with any tape recorder to save and load programs. An excellent 154-page User’s Manual, designed for beginners, is also included with the 1000.

Several peripherals are already available. A memory-expansion module, the Timex Sinclair 1016, provides 16,384 memory locations (bytes) in place of the 2.048 built-in bytes for only $49.95. A specially designed printer, the Timex Sinclair 2040, is available for $99.95. A $99.95 modem, which plugs into your phone line and will automatically dial your telephone, allows the 1000 to communicate with other computers, large and small.

Timex will be supporting the 1000 with a lot of new programs that will add to the extensive library of software already available for the ZX81. Fortunately, ZX81 programs will operate on the 1000.

Timex Sinclair 1000 vs. ZX81

You may wonder what the differences are between the TX 1000 and the Sinclair ZX81. Paradoxically, very little—but also a great deal. The ZX81’s 1K RAM (Random Access Memory) has been replaced in the TS 1000 with a 2K RAM. “Big deal,’’ you might say. But, in fact, it is. What is generally not realized is the manner in which the first 1K of RAM is used. Almost three-quarters of the 1,024 bytes of RAM in the ZX81 is used by the display. The more on the display, the less memory is available for your program.

Changing the memory chip from 1K to 2K gives you an additional 1,024 bytes for programming. That means perhaps six times as much programmable memory is available in the TS 1000 as compared with the ZX81. If you use the 16K add-on memory, both the 1000 and the ZX81 have the same capacity, since the add-on replaces the internal memory.

The Slightly Technical Stuff

Without getting too detailed, here is some technical information about the 1000, so you can compare it with the specifications of other home and personal computers you might be considering.

The 1000 uses a Z80A microprocessor—the same chip used in many of the most powerful microcomputers—running at a “‘clock”’ speed of 3.5 MHz (megahertz, or cycles per second). Its built-in switch-selectable, Channel 2 or 3 VHF modulator converts the computer’s black-and-white video signal for connection directly to the antenna terminals of any TV set that uses U.S. receiving standards.

The screen is divided into two sections. The top section displays 32 characters on a line. This can be the program listing or the program in operation. The character set includes numbers, letters and punctuation. There are also 22 graphic symbols of various shapes, including six with tiny checkerboard patterns that look like gray on the screen— particularly useful for bar graphs. Pixels (or blocks of dots), each equal to one-fourth the size of a character, can be placed anywhere along 64 horizontal or 44 vertical screen positions under program control. This allows animation and graphics, mostly used in games. Text and graphics can be freely intermixed.

The bottom screen section shows the command or program line currently being entered. Editing is supported with a left-right cursor, insert and delete keys—very simple. The lower-left corner of the screen is also used for report messages indicating normal or error status. Fifteen error codes help in finding and correcting program errors.

The keyboard is the flat, plastic membrane type. There are 40 keys. some of which have six functions. The keys do not provide tactile feedback, but the screen shows the result of each key contact. The letters and numbers are positioned in the standard QWERTY format but the keys are closer together than on a regular typewriter or computer keyboard. An advantage of this type of keyboard is that it is impervious to coffee spills and cigarette ashes.

The built-in programming language is a surprisingly powerful version of BASIC (Beginner’s Allpurpose Symbolic Instuction Code), the most common microcomputer language. This BASIC (and the operating system) uses over 8,000 bytes of ROM (Read-Only Memory) with a full range of mathematical and scientific functions accurate to nine-and-a-half decimal places. Programmers will recognize the power of multi-dimensional string and numerical arrays, string comparisons, string slicing, concatenation, conditional expressions, up to 26 FOR-NEXT loops, syntax checking on line entry (with exact error position on the line), error codes and single-key entry of all keywords.

Tape SAVE and LOAD is at 250-baud (about 30 characters per second) with file names. Although READ/DATA/RESTORE are not supported, the tape SAVE and LOAD can include all variables and arrays, which can be an advantage.

Can I Learn To Program?

Sure you can. The TS1000 can be programmed in BASIC or in machine language. BASIC uses an ‘‘interpreter”’ to translate your program into the machine language the computer uses internally. Machine language (the ones and zeroes that comprise pure computer language—binary code) is achieved in a more complex manner, using assemblers, disassemblers, monitors and assembly-language. You’ll most likely start with BASIC, which is supported by a tremendous number of users, magazines, books, programs and peripherals. ZX81/TS 1000 User Groups are popping up all over the country. Programs are available from Sinclair and Timex, as well as various other suppliers (see box). Independent manufacturers are offering devices to interface with larger printers. Several manufacturers offer expanded memory capacity up to 64K (65,535 bytes).

Learning to program in BASIC is mostly a matter of practice with existing programs and then starting to write your own. The 1000 User Manual assumes no previous computer knowledge, is full of examples and exercises and gives you plenty of hands-on practice.

Software Galore

Do you like games? How about Chess, Backgammon, Supermaze, H-A-N-G-M-A-N, The Cube Game, Road To Riches, Super Invasion, Wallbusters, Space Trek, Adventure A, B or C? One cassette, for only $14.95, has ten programs: Lunar Lander, Corridors of Death, Star Trek, Shuttle Pilot, Alien Alert, Shoot Out, Kamikaze Pilot, Battle Zone, Space Escape and Brands Hatch (English race-car driver). These are available from Softsync.

Gladstone has four different $9.95 Game Packs, each with two to eight game programs on a cassette. Dictator, Damsel & the Beast and two fantasy games, plus Chess, Backgammon, Star Trek and Invaders are available as well. They also offer Constellation (sky charts), Multifile, Vu-Calc, Flight Simulation, Viewtext (screen graphics) and, for machine-language programming, ZXAS Assembler and ZXDB Disassembler/Debugger. Gladstone has six *‘Computer-Aid Math”’ program packages running from grades one through eight.

Sinclair has recently expanded its software offerings from five cassettes (with a total of 28 programs) to dozens of programs. Business applications include Vu-Calc, Vu-File, Collector’s Pack and Club Record Controller. The Fun To Learn series includes English Literature, Geography, History, Mathematics, Inventions and Music. The SuperPrograms series includes eight cassettes with games, quiz, conversion and household programs. One of the programs is the ever-popular Biorhythm. Most of these programs require the 16K add-on memory pack.

Timex has already announced 22 program cassettes selling from $9.95 to $19.95: Mixed Game Bag I, The Cube Game, States and Capitols, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Flight Simulator, Stamp Collector, Coupon Manager, The Organizer, Car Pooler, and a host of business-oriented programs as well.

Lamo-Lem’s Home Computer Package is an incredible value. Four high-quality 1K machine language programs include Billboard, Checkbook Balancer, Composer and Etch-A-Screen. Included with the program cassette are a manual, guide cards and two color keyboard overlays—all for $9.95, including shipping and handling. Lamo-Lem also offers ZX81 Classics (Lunar Lander, K-Trek, Mastermind, Life) and a ZX81 1K Disassembler.

Many other software houses are developing programs and hardware. Once the TS 1000 really starts flowing into the hands of users, many programmers will start supporting the 2K ROM with more elaborate programs for owners without the 16K add-on.

Books and Magazines

Over 30 books have been printed in England about the ZX81, from programming games to machine language programming. Some are well-produced, others look like they were Slapped together and printed in the dark. Here are some of the better ones.

Softsync and Gladstone both offer The Complete Sinclair ZX81 BASIC Course. Priced at $35, it’s loaded with good stuff for beginners and intermediate programmers.

Gladstone also carries Not Only 30 Programs For The Sinclair… 1K, with programming hints, spacesaving methods and some explanation of machine language techniques. One of the best books for beginners on the 1000 or the ZX81 is The Explorer’s Guide to the ZX81, which covers program translation from other basics and the essentials of machine language. Much heavier in the machine language area are ZX81 ROM Disassembly Part A, ZX81 ROM Disassembly Part B, Understanding Your ZX81 ROM and Machine Language Programming Made Simple For Your Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81.

The Sinclair ZX81 Programming For Serious Applications from Dilithium Press is not for beginners. It covers word processing, bulk storage (more than 18,000 pieces of information in 16K), financial, banking and educational programs.

What may be the best BASIC teaching book yet on the ZX81 is Howard W. Sams’ ZX81 BASIC Book. It is as simple to follow as its title and outstanding for beginners.

The most prominent magazines supporting the 1000 are Sync and Syntax. Other computer magazines publish occasional ZX81 articles. One newsletter that has been published is The ZX Newsletter South East Region. This is loaded with up-to-date information and reproduced ads—well worth $2 to anyone interested in keeping up with the latest in ZX-land.

The 16K RAM add-on memory is almost a necessity for serious use of the 1000. It certainly is required for most business programs. However, to use the 1000 to learn programming, the built-in 2K will keep you pretty busy. Don’t get the extra memory until you need it, since you will tend to develop memorywasting habits when you have a lot more than you need. Programming for minimum memory use is good practice for longer programs, where running time is increased significantly with inefficient programs.

Timex and Sinclair are not the only sources for add-on memory. Memotech offers memory packs of up to 64K. So does Data-Assette and Byte-Back.

Not A Toy

After you’ve got your memory all set, the next thing you’ll want is a printer. This is one of the most useful accessories you can have for learning programming, since you can list your programs. Timex is planning to get the ZX Printer, which it is calling the Timex Sinclair 2040, for $99.95.

Many computer owners have added their own full-size keyboards, with full-stroke keys, to their ZX81. And the same can be done with the 1000. Data-Assette offers two different versions—pre-wired and with the key caps properly identified with all the functions—for $75.

If you can’t wait for the Timex modem to connect your telephone to other computers, then Byte-Back has one, with an RS232 port, in kit form for $99.95.

Obviously, the TS 1000 is not a toy posing as a computer. If Timex could develop such an advanced product at such low cost, other companies will not be far behind. Calculators, video cassette recorders and single lens reflex cameras gained widespread public acceptance when their prices came down. It is truly the beginning of the computer revolution.