View source for Timex Sinclair 2068

{{Short description|Home computer released in 1983}}
{{Infobox computer
| Photo = [[Image:Timex Sinclair 2068 Manipulated.png|280px|Timex Sinclair 2068]]
| Type = [[Home computer]]
| Released = {{Start date and age|1983|11}}
| Discontinued = {{End date|1989}}
| Processor = [[Zilog Z80]]A @ 3.5 MHz
| Memory = 48 [[kilobyte|KB]]
| OS = T/S 2000 BASIC (based on [[Sinclair BASIC]])
| predecessor = [[Timex Sinclair 1500]]
| successor = [[Timex Computer 2048]]
| display = [[NTSC]] TV or video monitor; text: 32×24 lines, 16 colours; graphics: 256×192, 16 colours or 512×192 pixels, two colours; attributes: 32x24 or 32x192, two colours per area.
| graphics = Timex SCLD
| sound = Beeper, [[AY-3-8912]]
}}

[[Image:Timex sinclair 2068 (2).jpg|thumb|250px|right|TS 2068 with open [[ROM cartridge]] port and a cartridge]]

The '''Timex Sinclair 2068''' ('''T/S 2068'''), released in November 1983, was [[Timex Sinclair]]'s third and last [[home computer]] for the United States market. It was also marketed in Canada, [[Argentina]], [[Portugal]] and [[Poland]], as '''Timex Computer 2068''' ('''TC 2068''').

==History==

Following Timex's [[Sinclair ZX81|ZX81]]-based [[Timex Sinclair 1000|T/S 1000]] and [[Timex Sinclair 1500|T/S 1500]], a new series of [[ZX Spectrum]]-based machines was created. Initially named T/S 2000 (as reflected on the user manual<ref name="auto">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/TimexSinclair2068Manuals/TS2068-Manual/page/i/mode/2up |title=Timex Sinclair 2068 PERSONAL COLOR COMPUTER USER MANUAL |publisher=Timex Computer Corporation |year=1983}}</ref>), this early version featured a case and keyboard very similar to that of the ZX Spectrum and was exhibited at the early 1983 [[CES (trade show)|CES show]] where [[Creative Computing]] gave it a positive reception.<ref name='cc_1983_04'>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/CreativeComputingbetterScan198304/page/n43/mode/2up?q=%22timex+2000%22|magazine=[[Creative Computing]]|date=April 1983|title=Report from CES|quote-pages=42|quote=Timex has brought [the ZX Spectrum] to the U.S. as the Timex 2000 [sic] [priced at] $149 for [16K] and $199 for [48K] [..it..] is an outstanding computer. [Article includes image also captioned as "Timex 2000" but badge on computer case itself- clearly similar to that of the original Spectrum- reads "Timex Sinclair 2000"].}}</ref>

This model machine evolved into the T/S 2048 prototype, and was eventually released as T/S 2068, with the name chosen mainly for marketing reasons.

Advertisements described the T/S 2068 as offering 72K of memory, color, and sound for a price under $200.<ref name="byte198312">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1983-12/1983_12_BYTE_08-12_Easy_Software#page/n281/mode/2up | title=Now from Timex...a powerful new computer. | work=BYTE | date=December 1983 | accessdate=20 October 2013 | author=Advertisement | pages=281}}</ref> Like the T/S 1500 was announced as a 40K memory machine (16K [[Random-access memory|RAM]] + 24K [[Read-only memory|ROM]]), so the 2068 was announced as a 72K machine (48K RAM + 24K ROM).

Although Timex Computer Corporation folded in February 1984, the independent Portuguese division continued to sell the machine in Portugal as the Timex Computer 2068, and Poland until 1989, as the [[Komputer 2086|Unipolbrit Komputer 2086]]. Although the Portuguese-made TC 2068 was also sold in Poland, only the Komputer 2086 was actually made there.

Timex of Portugal sold 2 versions of TC 2068: the silver TC 2068 version came with a ZX Spectrum emulator [[ROM cartridge|cartridge]] and a black TC 2068 version sold with TimeWord word processing cartridge plus the Timex RS232 <!-- should this really be capitalized?  Was "Interface" really part of the name? --> Interface to use TimeWord with a [[RS232]] printer. Strangely the black version came with a silver keyboard template with TimeWord commands to be used with the program. It can be removed because it is not glued to the black keyboard template.<ref name="homecomputerde" />

Although the T/S 2068's main improvements over the original Spectrum were in areas that had come in for widespread criticism (graphics, sound, keyboard and—to a lesser extent—the lack of joystick ports and cartridge support), it was not used as the basis for the Spectrum's successors. The ZX Spectrum+ (1984) changed the keyboard only, and even the ZX Spectrum+ 128K (announced in May 1985, but not released in the UK until February 1986) retained the original machine's graphical capabilities. However, unlike the UK models, the T/S 2068 was not burdened by the requirement of compatibility with previous models.

==Related machines==
===Timex Sinclair 2048===
[[File:Timex Computer 2048 (Thomas Conté) (xparent bg and retouch).png|thumb|Timex Computer 2048 (based on the T/S 2048 prototype)]]
A cut-down version of the T/S 2068, based on the T/S 2048 prototype named '''T/S 2048''', was cancelled before entering intended production in 1984. This was due to the commercial failure of the [[Timex Sinclair 1000|T/S 1500]].
According to an early Timex Sinclair 2000 computer flyer, it would have 16&nbsp;KB of [[random-access memory|RAM]], add a [[Kempston Interface|Kempston-compatible]] joystick interface and a two color high resolution mode for 80 column text.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Owen |first=Chris |date=2003 |title=Computers: Timex/Sinclair: TS 2048 |url=https://rk.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/timex/ts2048.htm |website=Planet Sinclair}}</ref>

The 2048 model number was the intended model number for what finally got named Timex Sinclair 2068. In an interview with Lou Galie, Senior Vice President of Technology at Timex, he tells what he claims to be the real story. Danny Ross, Timex Computer Corporation president, was giving a speech. Lou points: "When Danny announced what was supposed to be the 2048, he mis-spoke and called it the 2068. When I called him on it, he laughed and said: - Rename it. 2068 is better than 2048.".<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Florindo |first=Bruno |title=CIRCE - AMERICAN COUSINS |url=http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/files/Circe%20-%20Timex%20Computers.pdf |journal=Byte High No Limit |issue=22 |pages=64}}</ref>

Although the T/S 2048 was cancelled, the '''[[Timex Computer 2048]]''', based on the T/S 2048 prototype and released in 1984, was sold in [[Portugal]] and [[Poland]].

===Timex Computer 2068===
For the '''TC 2068''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=TC2068 – LOAD ZX – TIMEX COMPUTER World |url=https://loadzx.com/timexcomputerworld/tc2068/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> Timex of Portugal made some changes the original T/S 2068 hardware, in order to improve compatibility with the original ZX Spectrum. It also created a Spectrum emulator cartridge that would auto-boot. This cartridge was larger, so the TC 2068 casing was changed to accommodate it.

Main hardware changes:
*Replaced the bus buffers with [[resistor]]s like ZX Spectrum
*Changed the I/O connector to be ZX Spectrum compatible (not requiring the Zebra Twister board)
*Changed the cartridge slot top casing to accept bigger cartridges (for example "Spectrum emulator"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/4000071/Timex/Spectrum_Emulator|title=Spectrum Emulator at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware|website=Spectrum Computing}}</ref> and "Timeword"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/4000128/Timex/Time_Word|title=Time Word at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware|website=Spectrum Computing}}</ref> cartridges)
*Uses 9V instead of 15V

===Unipolbrit Komputer 2086===
{{Main|Komputer 2086}}
[[File:Unipolbrit JC-removebg-preview.png|thumb|Unipolbrit 2086]]
A variant of the T/S 2068 was sold in Poland after 1986 under the name '''Unipolbrit [[Komputer 2086]]''' (or UK 2086).<ref name="homecomputerde">{{Cite web |last=Walgenbach |first=Stefan |title=Unipolbrit: Komputer 2086 |url=http://www.homecomputer.de/pages/easteurope_pl.html#unipolbrit |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=HCM: East-European Home-Computer ...}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 1986 |title=Timex in Polish Export Triumph |work=Timelinez |url=http://worldofspectrum.org/timex/poland.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230203546/http://worldofspectrum.org/timex/poland.htm |archive-date=2019-12-30 }}</ref>

The machine was based on the TC 2068, with further changes introduced by that company:
*Modified ROM
*Replaced a joystick port with a [[parallel port|parallel printer interface]]

==Technical specifications==
The T/S 2068 was a more sophisticated device, compared to its UK ancestor, the ZX Spectrum. Arguably one of the first Sinclair clones to significantly improve on the original design, it added a number of new features:
* an [[General Instrument AY-3-8910|AY-3-8912]] sound chip, as later used by Sinclair in the ''ZX Spectrum+ 128K'' (but mapped to different I/O ports and thus incompatible)
* twin [[joystick]] ports
* a slightly better "[[chiclet keyboard]]" with plastic keycaps
* a [[ROM cartridge|cartridge]] port to the right of the keyboard for ROM-based software{{r|byte198312}}
* Timex SCLD chip<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=SCLD Chip |url=https://www.timexsinclair.com/product/scld-chip/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Timex/Sinclair - The Authoritative Website for Timex/Sinclair Computers |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Scld in spectrusty::chip::scld - Rust |url=https://docs.rs/spectrusty/0.4.0/spectrusty/chip/scld/struct.Scld.html |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=docs.rs}}</ref> instead of the Spectrum's [[Gate array|ULA]], offering additional Extended Color, Dual Screen and High Resolution [[ZX Spectrum graphic modes|screen modes]]:
** Text: 32×24 characters (8×8 pixels, rendered in graphics mode)
** Graphics: 256×192 pixels, 15 colours (two simultaneous colours - "attributes" - per 8×8 pixels, causing [[attribute clash]])
** Extended Color: 256×192 pixels, 15 colors with colour resolution of 32×192 (two simultaneous colours - "attributes" -  per 8×1 pixels)
** Dual Screen: (two 256×192 pixels screens can be placed in memory)
** High Resolution: 512×192 mode with 2 colours (Four palettes: Black & White, Blue & Yellow, Red & Cyan, Magenta & Green).
* improved T/S 2000 BASIC, that extends [[Sinclair BASIC]] with new keywords to address new hardware and [[bank switching|bank-switched]] memory, allowing ROM cartridges to be mapped in.

However, these changes made the machine incompatible with most Spectrum [[machine code|machine-code]] software, which is to say virtually all commercial titles; less than 10% would run successfully.  In an attempt to remedy this, many TS users built a cartridge with a Spectrum ROM for emulation.

===T/S 2000 BASIC===
T/S 2000 BASIC<ref name="auto"/> was an extended version of [[Sinclair BASIC]], adding the following six keywords to the ordinary Sinclair BASIC ones:
*<code>DELETE</code> deletes BASIC program line ranges. {{keypress|CAPS&nbsp;SHIFT|0}} with the <code>K</code> cursor produces the command <code>DELETE</code>.
* <code>FREE</code> is a function that gives the amount of free RAM. <code>PRINT FREE</code> will show how much RAM is free.
* <code>ON ERR</code> is an [[error-handling]] function mostly used as <code>ON ERR GO TO</code> or <code>ON ERR CONT</code>.
* <code>RESET</code> can be used to reset the behaviour of <code>ON ERR</code>. It was also intended to reset peripherals.
* <code>SOUND</code> controls the AY-3-8192 sound chip.
* <code>STICK</code> is a function that gives the position of the internal joystick (Timex Sinclair 2090).

==Software==
Timex Computer Corp published 7 cartridges and 37 cassettes along with the launch of T/S 2068. Some titles were released both on cartridge and tape. The software ranged from utilities and personal accounting programs to educational titles and games. Based on the original software catalog, 4 cartridges and 22 of the planned tapes were never released.

Timex of Portugal released cartridges (including the "ZX Spectrum Emulator" and "TimeWord", that came with the TC 2068), tapes and software on disks (ex: [[Tasword]] for [[Timex FDD]]).

==Reception==
''[[Popular Mechanics]]'' in February 1984 called the Timex Sinclair 2068's keyboard a "mixed blessing" and reported a flaw in the video signal, but liked its BASIC and concluded that "for $200, the 2068 is a nice package".<ref name="shapiro198402">{{Cite magazine |last=Shapiro |first=Neil |date=February 1984 |title=Big Bytes for Little Bucks |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GuMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA98 |magazine=Popular Mechanics |pages=98–99,139–142}}</ref>

Magazines dedicated to Timex Sinclair machines were published in the US, like SYNC (from 1981 to 1984)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-11 |title=SYNC |url=https://www.timexsinclair.com/periodical/sync-magazine/ |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=www.timexsinclair.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''[[Timex Sinclair User]]'' (1983),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-11 |title=Timex Sinclair User |url=https://www.timexsinclair.com/periodical/timex-sinclair-user/ |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=www.timexsinclair.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and dozens of [[Fanzine|fanzines]] and group newsletters also exist.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-11 |title=Periodicals |url=https://www.timexsinclair.com/bibliography/periodicals/ |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=www.timexsinclair.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Komputer 2086]]

==Footnotes==

#{{note|name}} The "2086" in the name was not a corruption of "2068". The "86" derived from the year the computer was first made.<ref name="homecomputerde" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040329182827/http://www.timexsinclair.org/ Unofficial Timex Sinclair 2068 site]
*[http://timex.comboios.info/ Timex Computer World]
*[http://timexsinclairshowcase.rf.gd Timex Sinclair Showcase]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100822091610/http://www.armchairarcade.com/neo/node/3412 "American cousins" article, interview with Lou Galie]

{{Sinclair computers and clones}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1983]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum clones]]
[[Category:Z80-based home computers]]
[[Category:Timex Group]]