Enter

Thank you for your patience. T-S Horizons is intended to be monthly but as you can see, you are holding the April/May issue of T-S Horizons in your hands. Income tax matters were only one of the reasons we are late. At any rate thank you tor bearing with us.

There is a lot ot news concerning the Timex computing world these days – largely bad news, but enough good news that we are encouraged. We hope you will be too.

I got some critical comments regarding last issue’s cover, and I suppose 1 deserve it. I’m usually an optimist but Timex’s lay-down-and-die attitude really upset me. The 2068 tombstone represented the Timex Computer Corporation only, and not the TS-2068 itself, Timex users in general, or the future of T-S Horizons. Actually I’m optimistic about the last three.

Hope for the TS-2068?

Due to recent ads selling Timex products at 1/2-off and last-minute buying by TS-1000 owners, the stockpile of TS-2068’s at Timex is nearly gone. All of the TS-2040 printers have been sold (except for the few being returned by dealers). Some software and TS-2020 program recorders are still available for an unknown period of time. The TS-1000 is out of production. However the TS-1500 is still being made on a limited basis for educational use. (You know, those correspondence schools that advertise in magazines like Popular Mechanics, that offer to teach you how to program and give you a free computer.)

However if you’ve heard rumors that someone is seeking the rights from Timex to market the TS-2068 and/or TS-1000, they’re not just rumors. Our sources at Timex say no less than 20 parties are inquiring about the prospect – some of them seriously. As we understand it Timex will manufacture the 2068 if they can get a firm order for 25,000 units. It will be the same machine, but will not carry the Timex name. (This makes some sense. Timex was perfectly happy with the TS-1000 as long as it was selling itself. But when they really had to market it and the 2068, they dropped them.)

So it seems there is some hope for the Timex (?) computers. (Notes Clive Sinclair still has made no reassuring gestures to American users.)

Publishing – Another One Bites the Dust

In case you haven’t heard Sync has sunk.

The March/April issue was the last. When I heard the news, I called their offices to find out why. Incredibly, the guy I talked to said it was because Timex got out the computer business – as if they thought all of us loyal Timex users would say, “Well Timex is gone. Let’s all go buy Ataris and cancel our subscriptions to Sync!” When I reminded him that when Sync was first started there was no Timex computer only the ZX80 – a Sinclair computer imported from England, he said he never thought of it like that. 1 suspect the true reason was a falloff of advertising income due to excessive ad rates.

Timex Sinclair User is still dead, despite rumors to the contrary. The only hope 1 see is if they get dollar signs in their eyes over Sync’s dropped advertisers.

Bad news for TS User (newsletter) fans. Despite the big talk in the April issue (“If you are a (TS User) reader then you are OK. TS User is full of optimism. TS User will continue production and coverage of Timex and Sinclair Microcomputer products…”), in a recent phone conversation, Derek Stubbs informed me that his company was moving on (into robotics and software development – not Timex software), and dropping the Timex market. He had offered in that same issue to establish a clearinghouse for third party merchandise but, of course, that will not materialize now.

So what’s left?

T-S Horizons. To be honest I hate to see Sync, TSU (mag), and TSU (nl) go. They were all good resources for us at T-S Horizons and other Timex users. But TSH is here to stay. We may be late occasionally but trust us – we plan to be around for a long time.

Some other worthy T-S dedicated publications are:

• SyncWare News, P.O.Box 5177, El Monte, CA 91734 (for the technically inclined – a nice publication).
• Basic, 3705 Biscayne B1., Miami FL 33137 (BASIC programs for the ZX81/TS1000/1500).
• Syntax, RD 2, Box 457, Harvard, MA 01451.
• Also see USR News for some very good Timex Sinclair user group newsletters.

In addition there are two other magazines we would like to mention:

• The Computer Trader (1704 Sam Drive, Birmingham, AL 35235). This magazine covers all computers, from Apple to ZX81. In a typical Issue there are four to six articles for the Timex-Sinclalr. Currently they are running an excellent machine code tutorial series.
• The Computer Shopper (P.O.Box F, 407 S. Washington Ave., Titusville FL 3279d). In a recent phone conversation with the magazines’ editor, Stan Veit (who provided this issue’s Guest Editorial), I was told that they are planning to add two new features for Timex-Sinclair users: a general Information-type column and a telecommunications column specifically for Timex users.

Third-Party Support

Although a few companies are getting out of the Timex-Sinclalr market (most notably Memotech), most of the significant software and peripheral companies are hanging in there. The folks at Byte-Back told us their business has tripled since Timex “pulled the plug.” 21st Century Electronics has a full line of TS1OOO products, and is developing many TS2068 products. They have secured the rights to Timex’s word processor for the 2068, which they say is as good as any WP for any computer on the market. (2lst Century, 6813 Polk St., Gutenburg NJ 07093, 210-869-2616). Gesang Associates (P.O.Box 452, Randallstown, MD 21133, 301-922-0767) also has a full line of TS1OOO and 2068 products.

All of the following companies are expanding their product lines or maintaining status quo (in addition to those who have ads in this issue): G. Russell Electronics, E-Z Key, Aerco, E. Arthur Brown, Computer-Wear, Paul Hunter, Rompak. Thomas Woods has been especially vocal about his support for the Timex computer line.

The Future?

There are encouraging signs for Timex-Sinclair users.

• Timex User Groups are as active as ever.
• New companies with new products are still coming out; JRC Software (see T-S News); Minny Electronics Graphics and 64K package for the TS1OOO (see last issue); Interface Design High Speed Interface (see TSH #3).
• Some companies and user groups are trying to ‘import* support for the TS1OOO and 2068 from English Sinclair users who weren’t subjected to Timex’s demise.

Hopefully some good will come of it.

As I stated above the TSIOOO and 2068 may be resurrected in the near future under a new name.

One thing that is important for us to do now is to “strengthen the things that remain.” Companies that are now supporting TS-related products need to know there are people “out there” who are hanging on and will buy their products. I think if we all band together we come through this in great shape.