TIMEX is learning from its close association with Sinclair Research and introducing its own low-cost microcomputer in the States.
Selling at $99.95, the Timex Sinclair 1000 is a 2K RAM version of the ZX-81 and is the first computer to sell for less than 100 dollars. The ZX-81 costs slightly less than 150 dollars.
Sinclair will continue to sell the ZX-81 by mail order until sales of the Timex machine reach a certain level, which is expected to happen before the end of the year. Sinclair will then concentrate on sales of its flat-screen television set.
Timex will pay Sinclair five percent royalties on all hardware sales, five percent on Sinclair-originated software and two-and-a-half percent on Timex-originated software.
The new computer will be on sale through 100,000 Timex retail outlets from July.