Timex Sinclair 1000 Microcomputer
date: label: Date made
content: 1981-1983
label: date made
content: 1982-1983
name: label: maker
content: Timex Computer Corporation
notes: label: Description
content: The Timex/Sinclair 1000 was the U.S. version of the Sinclair ZX-81, which was made by Sinclair Research, Ltd. One of the earliest versions of the home computer, the TS-1000 hit stores in 1981. At $99 it was certainly one of the most affordable early machines, and Timex sold over 600,000. Its introduction caused other companies to lower their prices and include more features in their computers in order to compete.
label: Description
content: The size of a book and weighing 20 ounces, the Timex/Sinclair used a television set as a monitor. Data was stored on cassette tape. The processor was a Z80A microchip running at 3.5 MHz, and the ROM was 8 KB (the earliest version had only 1 KB). The computer keyboard was flat and the keys used black characters on a white background. The Timex could be used around the home for such tasks as budget management, checkbook balancing, and entertainment, but the limitations of the machine made tasks rudimentary. Users could also write programs in BASIC. Accessories included a small "adding machine" type printer and a 16 KB RAM drive. Purchasers of it could also buy pre-programmed cassettes, among them BASIC versions of games such as space invaders.
label: Description
content: This particular computer was given to the Smithsonian by Daniel Ross, Vice-President of Computer Products of the Timex Computer Corporation. It was one of a series of TS-1000s donated to science museums across the United States. Included with the donation are a power supply, a TV connector, and an instruction manual. The object has serial number T-000001.
label: Description
content: Despite brisk sales, Timex dropped out of the computer market in the spring of 1984.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Timex Sinclair
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Computers
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content: Family & Social Life
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content: Work
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content: Computers & Business Machines
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Timex Computer Corp.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1983.0289.01
label: catalog number
content: 1983.0289.01
label: accession number
content: 1983.0289
objectType: label: Object Name
content: microcomputer
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 1/2 in x 6 1/2 in x 7 in; 3.81 cm x 16.51 cm x 17.78 cm