Timex reports it will begin sales this August of TS2000s with 16K or 48K RAM, color/sound capabilities and bank-switching. The 16K version will sell for $149.95; the 48K for $199.95, says Timex. Both versions contain 24K ROM, including 8K ROM for cartridge capabilities and bank-switching. With bank-switching the computer can potentially use up to 256 blocks of 64K memory one at a time. Color capabilities include an eight-color range, flash command and brightness control. Sound broadcasts in an eight-octave scale.
Users can individually address 256 horizontal and 192 vertical dots that provide high resolution graphics. The TS2000 features a display area of 24 lines with up to 64 characters and allows monitor connections.
Other features include a built-in time clock, moveable keys, upper and lower case letters, repeat feature on all 40 keys, and instant-load software cartridges that plug into the computer, at $12.95 to $29.95 each. TS2000s will run ZX Spectrum cassettes.
Sales of $79.95 16K TS1500s with moveable keys will begin in July with compatible modems and software cartridges available in August. Existing Timex peripherals will run with both new computers. TS1500s will sell with a rewritten, user-friendly manual, says Timex’s Sue Mahoney.