From many sources…Sinclair sells his computer business to Amstrad. New York Times, April 14, 1986 gives many details on both Clive and Amstrad’s Alan Sugar. Many facts have come to light via Compuserve, source unknown, but have heard same from other sources:” Sinclair Research Limited (SRL) has sold its home computer business. Includes all current and future manufactoring and marketing rights, to Amstrad Consumer Electronics. SRL will continue with its research and development, including the Pandora portable….Amstrad paid over $7 million for worldwide rights to produce and market Sinclair computers. Amstrad will have exculsive use of Sinclair’s name. …Amstrad will advise software developers on how to get the most from the computers(most like bundle packaging) and special Amstrad logo will go on approved software. …QL has ceased production, future is uncerain, Amstrad is destocking the QL stock and related stock. Possible redesign with disc instead of the microdrives. QL’s current price is less than Amstrad’s Word Processor system that they will be selling thru Sears. QL’s current memory capacity is small for the processor, so if continued, add on memory, discs and higher price tag. …SRL announced it has granted worldwide distribution rights for the flat screen TV to TIMEX. Timex will reduce the price from #99 to #79. …Amstrad is strictly a marketing venture, does not own manufactoring plants, instead contracts to Korean and other Far East electronic firms. Look for popular selling items, most likely bundled-computer, printer, software, monitor, etc for very low price. New ideas, new trends look to third party support as usual. …Clive will still be in the lab brewing up electonic widgets, and the marketing wizards will try to make the green on them. Like in the jungle, survival of the fitest, and Mr. Sugar makes money, and doesnt run a social club. As US vendors have been told -order 5g’s worth of QL goodies, or no business!
The TIMEX computer deal, a 68020 processor based computer to run all software ever written was carried in Syncware News, Mar/Apr and picked up on by every newsletter, and exposed as the annual April Fool’s Day joke, ha,ha and now a word from Timex/Amstrad…”Today we are happy to announce…here we go”
What’s going to happen to the QL? Another orphan computer? Are the prices going to fall? How many QLs are out there? Where do the QL owners turn to?? Sinclair is outa the selling business, and Amstrad isn’t selling them yet??!!
From Joe C. Smith Jr., PO BOX B-36085, Florence AZ 85232- Joe sent a flyer on his book “200 Computer Programs In BASIC For The T/S-1000 Z/X-81 T/S-2068” for $7.95 + $1.50 P&H and it is available exculisvely from: BIT/S Software, 3202 West Fillmore, Phoenix, AZ 85009 : the list of all 200 programs is impressive, has many interesting sounding names RANDVIGGIE, SECRET WRITING MACHINE, SUN DIAL, TEXAS, SOLAR and 195 others.
I read a story in a newsletter about a 2068 owner who couldn’t make mailing lists with out a bunch a hard work so he bought the QL-all we do is LOAD in the Aerco Print Driver Routine, LOAD in Vu-File, do the POKE for line suppress, and we’re off printing mailing labels like no sweat, a lot cheaper than the QL, and it works.
Mscript & modem owners-Jack Dohany and Kurt Casby have worked up some software to ease the pain of getting Mscript files to Mterm-contact Jack and Curt for their programs, and don’t forget a contribution for their efforts:
Jack Dohaney Kurt Casby 325 O'connor Street 25 Battle Creek Crt Menlo Park, CA 94025 St.Paul, MN 55119
Clyde Tackley got the program by Casby and will be giving a report next month on file handling capibilities. Jack also has finished version five of Mscript- and it is a much needed improvement over the last, and it doesnt CRASH so much as did the older new version I just brought in November.
CAPITAL AREA T/S USERS GROUP, PO BOX 725, Bladenburg, Md 20710 had a good idea-2 members are bulk purchasing 100 SCLD chips for the 2068 to solve future problems. Maybe we ought to look into this ??
TS1000 programs NEW- see ad on page 11, SUM, March 1986, Weymil Corp. Box 5904, Bellingham, WA 98227-5904…hi res graphic software for the 1000, also MINI XMOD for 1000/modem either Westridge or Byte-Back. SUM has a little something for everyone this month. Write SUM 3224 Northwest 30th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32605
As of this date, April 27, response to disc user survey has been a little slow, and response to dealer/manufactor has been likewise, for basically free advertising, I dont know why the foot dragging. Without manufactors help I will do the article based on user comments.
ZX Computing-“MONTHLY”recieved late April, distribution will be at the meet, for those I cannot deliever to. Since Gary and Carl are not with Computer Dome any more, that is out as a drop off point. A cassette game (Spectrum) taped to every mag! I dont want to mail it and have it destroyed. I like the new format-and they dont pull punches on software reviews!!
Check the date on the mailing label, if it says RENEWING?, this is your LAST copy until we get a renewal payment-still $8 a year. Thanks to Cem Barut and Bob Glider for the renewals, Hello and welcome to Peter Hoffmann, Conn.and Sheldon Weinberg, Brooklyn, NY-note to all-we always need your input-write an article today and mail in with the renewal check!!!!