Welcome to our second issue. Your response to our first was overwhelming and really gratifying. From all of us on this side of Timex Sinclair User to all of you, “Thanks”.
Our contest editor is screaming for more help to deal with all the great games that are pouring in. In case this is your first look at us, last month we started the first in our series of contests. It required that you write a great action game, but use only 2K of memory. The winners will receive a contract to have their programs published and sold nationally. Then they can rake in all those lovely royalty checks. The contest doesn’t officially close until June 10, so if you haven’t entered yet, it’s still not too late. For details of our latest contest, flip to page 70. This one, we’re sure, will challenge your imagination and skill.
Still on the subject of your input, the eight pages of Program Printouts that appear in every issue are also supplied by you the readers. For any that we use, we pay $20. We look for interesting and different programs. Programs that we feel will be enjoyed by the readers that use them. You’ll see one of the programs this month is by an eleven-year-old and another by a fifteen-year-old. And finally on your letters to us, may I remind you that we like to share your ideas, hints and problems. So many readers asked about graphics on the T/S1000,ZX81, that our Hints and Tips column this month is devoted entirely to that aspect of programming.
Timex Sinclair User was at the West Coast Fatre in San Francisco (see the news item on page 14). While it was a great fair, we were stunned by the fact that Timex had absolutely no presence there at all: not a hospitality suite, not a booth, not a table, not even a speaker! It is our opinion that at a personal computer show which attracted 50,000 spectators (each willing to pay $15) the company that has sold more personal computers than any other in North America has a need … no, an obligation to be there. An obligation to support all those who chose the Timex Sinclair computer as their personal choice. It would not have had to be a large, elaborate affair, but it certainly would have made us feel better if we could have had an identification point with Timex there.
It is important that Timex provide owners with visible support, if for no other reason than to show they consider those owners important. There is a feeling in the market place that Timex Sinclair computers are not serious machines; that they are toys; that they are not capable of doing interesting and involved work, T/S,ZX owners know this is not true. Anyone who has used the machine for a while realizes this is not true. It would not only help build a better image for the machine if Timex were at personal computer shows, but it would also make those people who own one now feel like they belong to a personal computer fraternity.
Any person who buys a T/S1000 is a potential purchaser of a larger machine. The Japanese have been threatening to flood the $100, $200 and $300 price ranges with a whole set of new machines. If we can judge by how the Japanese have entered markets in the past, then we can expect these new imports to arrive with great fanfare and much TV hooplah! They are sure to be serious competitors to Timex Sinclair, What better way for Timex to insure its place in the market than to maintain a high profile with current owners and keep potential owners thinking T/S? User loyalty can only be developed when users feel that both individually and as a group they are seen to be important to Timex.
it makes good sense (and dollars) for both now and the future that Timex become involved through fairs, shows and user groups with owners. Each owner is a potential second buyer, either of a Timex Sinclair machine or another make. Each owner is a salesperson for Timex Sinclair, either positively or negatively. Each owner has spent money with Timex Sinclair and deserves after-sale support.
Timex has a good reputation! The T/S 1000 is a good machine! We’re certain that the next computers from Timex will be equally as good, Timex Sinclair User wants to support Timex Sinclair computers. So, come on Timex, help us say great things about you!