This is where the big stores make their commitments for the Fall and Christmas buying season, so Timex was present with information on the TS1500 and TS2000 computers.
The TS1500 is a sleek, silver and gray 9″ x 5.5″ x 1.5″ computer with a Sinclair ROM but with built in 16K internally with the capability to be expanded to 32K by using either the Timex TS1016 or Sinclair 2X81 16K RAM
packs. It is compatible with the TS2040 printer and all ZX/TS software, BASIC or machine code.
The expansion port as well as all the plugs are on the back and as one plug is just 0.5″ from the port on one side with another only 1.5โ away on the other, this might make fitting the unit with some companies’ expansion devices difficult.
In addition, the new solid-state software device developed for the TS1500 (workable on older ZX/TS’s) will make some expansion products unusable.
The TS1500 also features moving keys, weighs in at 1.25 pounds, and will sell for less than $80.
The TS2000 series computers measure 14.75″ x 7.5″ x 1.75″ and weigh in at 3 pounds, 5 ounces. Using a 42-key typewriter format keyboard with a full size space bar and movable keys, these computers utilize a special high
resolution graphics mode for a 512 x 192 dot, 8 color monitor display.
It has a built-in speaker that offers 10 octaves and 130 semi-tones. The TS2000 series can address up to 256 64K blocks, and when sold, you will be able to pick one up in a 128K configuration for less than $200! The cassette system gives ten times the speed and many times the reliability of the old Sinclair system used on the TS1000. 48K will load in under 3 minutes.
Its power is through software cartridges. The TS2000 series will use the TS2040 printer for hi-res screen dumps. There are ports to allow the use of “industry standard” joysticks, and this computer offers video displays that are definitely as good as the dedicated video games on the market.