Most “sophisticated” computer people who can even remember the Timex Sinclair, would like to think that it dried up and withered away. But remember the old saying “you can’t keep a good man down”? Certainly holds true with the Timex Sinclair community. Participation of both dealers and users at the 1987 Midwest TS Computer Fest held on May 2nd and 3rd in Indianapolis, Indiana, reaffirmed and demonstrated that there still is tremendous interest in Sir Clive’s computers.
Something must be said of this phenomena of getting behind an “orphan” computer and supporting it long after the manufacturer has severed ties and even forgotten it exists. (Evidence of this is seen elsewhere; some 10,000 die-hard TI994/A fans recently held a computer fair in Chicago. One enterprising individual is manufacturing TI clones. There is even a large support group for the Adam and another one for the IBM PCjr.) It is like a silent revolution, where the consumer takes action into his or her own hands. In a conversation with one long-time TS supporter at the Fest, he told me, “I have grown to be comfortable with my Timex system and it’s kind of a challenge to find where I can still get programs and hardware for it. Sure there are faster, more powerful machines, but I am very happy with what I have. Why should I go out and plunk down some bucks for an IBM clone or an Atari ST, when I haven’t even explored all of the potential of my own machine? And I’m having a lot of fun too!”
Several new items were displayed or announced for the first time ever at the TS Computer Fest. Many of the exhibiting dealers had large booths with monitors set up to demonstrate their wares.
Mark Steuber from Sharp’s Inc., of Mechanicsville, Virginia (who also happens to be the author of WAR IN THE EAST, a program that has sold quite well in the U.K. recently), had several new offerings for the QL, along with some news of other developments. Most important perhaps is that a new board called the TRUMP CARD, will available by the time you read this, for $299.95. And get this–along with a full-featured disk interface you also get additional RAM that will boost your QL’s memory to 900K!! At the Sharp’s table were some hardware upgrades from Miracle Systems and Sandy (including the SUPERQBOARD and SUPERMOUSE). A new keyboard replacement for the QL called the Schon Keyboard was also shown. Reportedly it only takes about three minutes to install, and is priced at about $90. It had the feel of a very good typewriter keyboard. Mark said that several of his customers are interested in the new CP/M operating system from Ultrasoft, and that he has it on order. This should open a vast amount of public domain software for the QL.
On another note, it was announced that Sharp’s Inc. had bought out Knighted Computer’s QL business. Knighted Computers (of Fulton, New York) will no longer stock QL products, but instead will be concentrating on the other computer lines like the Amstrad, but will also continue to support the Timex Sinclair 2068. Ray Payne, co-owner of Knighted mentioned that the QL business had been an “up and down” affair, yet the TS2068 has proven to be a very steady enterprise. They have a whole list of superb programs for the Timex that have been converted from the Sinclair Spectrum, including their latest, TOMAHAWK, a helicopter flight/air battle simulation.
Zebra Systems of Woodhaven, New York, again (as in Cincinnati last year) had the largest display of Timex Sinclair merchandise. Everything from books, Memotech interfaces, programs, and even a new Wico Trackball controller for the Sinclair QL. For months, rumors had been circulating in the Sinclair community that Zebra was “getting out” of the Timex business. But the truth is, while they do have on-going development for other lines (like the Tandy and Atari), they have committed to continue support for the Timex. They have a large inventory of related merchandise including a number of used ZX81s, ZX power supplies, and un-tested 2050 modem cards. Stewart Newfeld, manager of Zebra Systems even reported that an all new catalog would be printed shortly. I think that most Fest attendees were impressed with Zebra’s attitude and confirmation of support for TS users, which greatly differs from some of the rumors that were floating around recently.
It was a real joy to see that Curry Computer could make it to this year’s Fest (all the way from Phoenix, Arizona). They brought with them a good sampling of their Sinclair product lines, which leans heavily towards the Sinclair QL. On display was both a Sinclair Spectrum 128 (pre-Amstrad) and the CST THOR (the newest QL clone from the U.K.). They also had a video showing highlights from their recent trip to a Personal Computer Show in England. Rob Curry demonstrated how the Psion Organizer works. It’s a hand-held pocket computer, that can download and upload QL data via a serial cable. This is one powerful little device to watch, as versions are available for IBM compatibles and is even reported to be adaptable to Lotus 1-2-3.
Mark Fendrick was back again this year representing Markel Enterprises, and had teamed up with Peech II Productions (Jon Rokentenetz) to produce a new QL program called ELECTRIQL DESK. It has an icon-driven menu and is similar to “sidekick” programs that contain several useful functions in one software package. ELECTRIQL DESK is priced at $24.95.
There were many other exhibits geared to the QL including: A+ Computer Response, C.W. Associates (who had a striking all black dual quad-density disk drive system for $239), Don Banard of Sinclair Network (has a product guide on microdrive cartridge), Variety Sales (demoed networking and a QL-based BBS program), QUANTUM LEVELS magazine, and Quantum Computing.
Frank Toemay of Quantum Computing is a rather interesting fellow that has launched an ad campaign for the Sinclair QL in many elite PC engineering publications, to go neck-to-neck with PC’s and other 32 bit processors. Frank also offers two software packages of “freeware” (Freeware I and Freeware II) at no charge, by just sending a blank microdrive cartridge for each, or sending $2 for each package to cover the cost of a cartridge and postage. Each freeware contains utilities and other programs for the QL.
Two new QL books were on display: “Taking The Quantum Leap: The Last Word On The Sinclair QL” by Mike de Sosa was featured at the Time Designs Magazine booth, and “Archive Master” by Executive Workshop was available for viewing at RMG Enterprises booth.
The most interesting 2068 display at the Fest was clearly (pun intended) a completely transparent, plastic moulded TS2068, which was obtained from the Research and Development Department of the Timex Computer Corporation shortly after that division shut down. Inside this rare bird, one could easily see the all-socketed printed circuit board, with EPROMS replacing the usual factory ROMs. A user from Florida is the lucky owner of this collector’s item. He also obtained Timex-designed stick-on keyboards for the TS1000. These would turn the normal membrane keyboard into small calculator type keys. These have the Timex logo on them, and would have been sold through Timex dealers.
Jerry and Til Champkif of AERCO from Austin, Texas, were back again this year supporting the Timex Sinclair 2068 with their FD-68 disk drive and RP/M systems. New for this year, was the long-awaited Spectrum “boot” disk which allows the FD-68 user to run Spectrum software. On Saturday evening, an exclusive Aerco users meeting was held. Jerry Champkif announced that Aerco was dedicated to finishing the FD-68 DOS, and that completion of this goal was not too far off.
Novelsoft from Toronto, Canada, had an impressive display of three monitors that gave a continuous demo of their popular software packages for the TS2068 and the Spectrum, including TIMACHINE, ARTWORX 1.1, The WORX!, and a new release called ZXPERT. It is an expert system and also (with the accompanying booklet) a study in artificial intelligence-type environments. On hand to answer questions were Novelsoft programmers David Ridge and Ariel Frailich.
Ed Grey of Grey & Clifford Computer Products was at his terminal demonstrating a Z-SI/O RS232 serial port card and the SPECTERM-64 software package, which will allow the TS2068 user to operate any 1200 baud modem. Grey & Clifford is also a dealer for PC Pursuit, and applications were available for signing up. A special separate drawing was held at the booth, and these lucky individuals won G & C merchandise: Don Walterman (MI) and John Kemeny (MA) both won Z-SI/O cards, and John Coffey (IN) and Oscar Sensabaugh (TX) were winners of SPECTERM-64 software.
Joe Williamson of Foote Software from Gainesville, Florida has one of the best printer interface values around for the TS2068. The FootePrint is a quality board that fits in the cartridge dock, and is compatible with print driver software for the Aerco/Oliger and both Tasman B and C. The $45 price includes the card, ribbon cable, and software on cassette. There is even a spare socket and switch, to run either a Spectrum ROM, or any EPROM based software (like Zebra’s OS-64).
Other Timex Sinclair 2068 displays included: Rod Gowen of RMG Enterprises (demonstrating the new Larken Disk System and many original software packages that RMG exclusively markets), Vern Tidwell of RT Mneumonics (the co-author of SPRITES 2068 demoed some new programs and displayed special AROS versions of each), the WDJUP Co. (offered a new catalog featuring a number of software packages), Stan Lemke of Lemke Software Development and regular contributor to TDM (demonstrated his new desktop publishing package for the TS2068 called PIXEL PRINT), Pete Fischer (had a new and expanded version of his GUIDE TO TS TELECOMMUNICATIONS), John Coffey of JRC Software (showed DIAMOND MIKE and other programs), and both Jeff Moore (editor) and Tom Woods (publisher) were on hand from SYNCWARE NEWS.
Speaking of Tom Woods, he has been shifting his talents a bit lately and has been envolved in developing a new program for use on PC compatible machines called FINDEX. It is a database inspired by his Pro/File series but makes use of disk drives, 80 col. video, and greater memory capacity. One interesting feature of FINDEX is that it can transfer data files from other computers (such as the Timex) into its database through an RS232 serial interface. The program will be marketed by the E. Arthur Brown Co. as “shareware”.
While not as plentiful, there were some displays of interest to ZX81/TS1000/TS1500 users, which included: Mike Amling of Semper Software (featuring the Partial Pascal software package), Dave Woods of SiriusWare (and author of a popular machine code book for the ZX81), Ted Sobel of The White Church Cabin (brought along an interesting industrial applications display based on a TS1500, some custom software and extensive control hardware). Many dealers had software packages for the TS/ZX based machines, and SYNCWARE NEWS and TIME DESIGNS had magazines and other publications available.
There were many other individuals and groups who participated and worthy of noting: John Oliger of The John Oliger Company, Dave Rothman (SYSOP for CompuServe), Mike Davis and Duane Malburg of MDM, Kurt Casby (programmer of LOADER V and CASBOARD 2068), Dick Kelly of Kelly’s Office Products (an Amstrad dealer), Dick Thatcher of Howard W. Sams Publishing, Gary Soloman of Brice Road Pharmacy, John Kemeny of the Boston Computer Society, Gary Ganger (President of DMA), Dave Franson (programmer of Extended Paint and editor of T.O.P.S.), Pat Spera (SYSOP for CompuServe), Jack Roberts (1986 TS Computer Fest Chairman), and the many members and representatives of the more than 12 TS Users Groups present at the Fest. I am sure that some person or group was accidently omitted from this list…for this I sincerely apologize. Perhaps another article could be written on things that were left out of this one.
Based on the success of the Second Annual Midwest TS Computer Fest, there will be another one next year. Several ideas were suggested, such as three separate shows (one in the West, one Midwest, and one on the Eastcoast). Even more localized computer shows on a smaller basis have been discussed for Florida and possibly the Northwest. I know that I will attend at least one if not all of the proposed TS Computer Fests. If you hesitated about Cincinnati, and procrastinated this year about Indianapolis, perhaps next year will be your chance. See you there!
Note: Photography at the 1987 Midwest TS Computer Fest by Joe Williamson and Tim Woods. Please read Joe’s accompanying article on the Fest.