TS SALES
are far below expectations! One source has it that less than 30,000 units of the TS-2068 have been sold since its introduction in late 1983. About the same amount of TS-1500s were manufactured. Compare that with TS-1000 sales about a year ago and you’ll find the ratio about 10 to 1.
Some suppliers have said that Timex isn’t shipping the amounts of 2068s that were ordered and most orders were short.
This can have the effect of creating an artificial demand as consumers are being told that the computers are on back order.
I am not aware of anyone who has received any of the peripherils, other than the 2040 printer. The 1-800-24 TIMEX is constantly busy.
TS-1500 QUALITY CONTROL
One short note regarding the 1500 – programs saved on tape from the 1500 seem to receive an extremely strong signal with much less noise than the 16K ZX-81s or TS-1000s. The detachable rampacks were the culprits for many of you who have difficulty trying to re-load programs that were saved by your own computer. The quality of the 1500 sound pulse output to tape seems to be better than any 1000/rampack combination I’ve used, including Memotech, which was the best.
I have had problems trying to load programs made with the 1500 back into the 1000 though.
CHEAPEST 1000S?
With rampack, 29.95 almost anywhere the’re sold. $24.95 was a liquidation price at a couple of stores in our area and rumor has it that one store was selling out the stock for $9.95 with rampack.
If stores can sell them that cheap, what are they paying for them?
Remember, Timex is contracted to Uncle Clive for a 5% royalty. When they sold for $150.00 with rampack last year, Sinclair got $7.50 on each one sold (if his royalty was figured on the consumer price). Now he has to settle for less than a buck and a half.
I wouldn’t be suprised if Sinclair severed relations with Timex very very soon. The QL (see article this issue) is the first step.
ADAM PROBLEMS
Just to keep you abreast of other news in the microcomputer world, we’ve been told Coleco’s Adam is experiencing a very high return rate. I have yet to talk to anyone who has one and was satisfied with the product.
It’s a shame because it offered more for the money than any of the competition when announced – 80K computer, letter quality daisy wheel printer, word processor, high speed tape drives and game package for under $600.00. The QL offers more for more than $100 less.
I hope Coleco can overcome these setbacks, but I don’t think they will in time.
NO NEWS ISN’T GOOD NEWS
About Timex’s peripherils – the market moves so fast and the consumer tires of waiting. Timex has a very tight-lipped information service to the public. Queries about the announcements made at the CES show in June 83 regarding add-on items for the 1000, 1500 and 2068 have been met with replies of little or no information. What’s happening? Will the modem ever see daylight? What about the much heralded micro-drives?
Timex advertises them in their Ramblings publication but people I have spoke to who have ordered items have been told there would be a waiting period before delivery on many of them.
The 2068, in my opinion, is the best computer for the money! The quality control of it and the 1500 far surpass the 1000 – but if it doesn’t get support soon, in both market exposure and peripheril support, Timex will lose, and lose big!