At a recent meeting of the LIST (Long Island Sinclair Timex) users group, the former head of the Research and Development department of the Timex Computer Corporation, Billy Skyrme, attended and gave a talk. Mr. Skyrme is currently the president of PSION, Inc., the manufacturer of the Organizer pocket computer.
While, Mr. Skyrme admitted that he still was under contractual agreement with Timex, and that certain information couldn’t be discussed, he did mention some items that turned many members of LIST green.
The TS2068, related Skyrme, was to have been either a “cleaned-up” 48K Spectrum, or a totally re-engineered design. While a clean Spectrum was submitted for FCC approval, the later model was selected for manufacture.
Another computer was in the works, called the T/S 3068. It would have featured 1 Megabyte RAM, Virtual Memory, 256 colors and high-res graphics. “The only machine…that would be in its class today is the Amiga”, stated Skyrme. The T/S 3068 would have retailed for only $199.95.
Another interesting fact, was that the “BEU” (Bus Expansion Unit) for the TS2068, as seen in the photo published by TIME DESIGNS (see July/August ’86, page 23) was, according to Skyrme, completely engineered and ready for to be production. With an internal floppy disk interface built in, Timex would have sold external 3.5″ drives (in little silver boxes) for as little as $49.95. This plan was far enough along that Timex had a supplier lined out for the drives.
Most of the information on proposed products for the TS2068 (and the TS3068) will never be made public due to a myriad of legal reasons, and the engineers involved in the project have all gone their separate ways.
Mr. Skyrme also demonstrated the Organizer and accessories to the LIST group. This hand held computer (upgradeable to 256K RAM), has sold well in markets where recording and calculation of numbers in the field, and other simple “type-in” answers are required.
The LIST group can be contacted by writing c/o Harvey Rait, [address omitted], Valley Stream, NY 11581. The above information was supplied by member, Joe Newman.