Big Bytes For Little Bucks

Time for computing?

The Timex unit is easy to program, thanks to both its built-in graphic commands and, to a lesser extent, its keyboard. The keyboard is a mixed blessing. Rather than full-size typewriter keys, Timex uses small rectangular keys, so the keyboard is referred to in the industry as “chiclet” style.

At the best of times it’s difficult to type on a chiclet keyboard. And Timex has made things even more confusing by assigning up to five meanings to each key. The keys are labeled above, below and three times on their tops — quite a feat of miniaturisation in itself.

But, the good news is that this Timex machine, like its venerable ZX-81 ancestor, is programmed to deliver many often-used entire words or commands with only one keystroke. There is no need, for example, to type “PRINT”. Just hit the “P” key in the right mode and the computer does the rest.

Drawing lines and circles and plotting points in eight colors are easy using the built-in BASIC commands. And, there are also some built-in graphic symbols which may be used building-block style. The user can also design his own graphic symbols.

This little computer can sound off, too. Easy commands allow for anyone to program musical notes. And slightly more complex commands can allow for three-part harmony.

For $200 the 2068 is a nice package. About the only not-quite-right detail we can point to is the quality of the 2068 display. The unit we used would not deliver a picture free of waviness or interference on three televisions or a direct-input monitor. Other units we saw functioned similarly. Take a look before you buy and be sure that the display is acceptable to you (we got used to it but we know many porfoclionists who would never be happy).