I bought a Timex 1000 back in the early 80's for $100. and it's companion 16K RAM module for another $50. My son 'frustratingly' worked with it, learning it's supposedly quick entry keywords and typing on it's less than useless keyboard. As if that wasn't painful enough, if you moved the Timex ever so slightly sometimes the RAM pack would glitch and you just lost all your programming! Next problem was trying to save programs to tape. More frustrations, and finally we threw in the towel. I returned it to the store and got my money back.
Years later, I acquired several Timex 1000's from different thrift stores. I only bought them for their historic value - nothing more. I never planned on using it for anything except to demonstrate that it actually was 'almost' a real computer. Well, down through the years they've thinned to 1 working unit and just lately even that one bit the dust.
So . . .
I'm wondering if a replacement is in order. Here's my thinking on the subject . . .
The Radio Shack TRS80 MC-10 was a direct competition for the massive selling ability of the Sinclair and Timex $99. computers. (Radio Shack wanted to cash in on this market.) Can't blame them there. The thing is, although I've never had an MC-10 it's starting to appeal to me more and more as a 'replacement' for that poor excuse for a tiny computer, the Timex 1000. It 'appears' to have several advantages over the Timex.
It has color. It has 'almost' a keyboard, certainly the chicklet keys are a vast improvement over the Timex membrane type. It has an on/off switch and a reset. The keyboard will 'probably' have less problems (over time), than the Timex. It has twice the onboard memory (4K vs 2K of the Timex), although only 3.142K is available for use in the MC-10. Both had RAM module expansions of 16K available.
Now, I realize that from a historic standpoint the Sinclair's in ZX80, ZX81, and even the Timex 1000 will always take the nod. I'm talking from a - "Hey, I'd actually like to use the thing once in a while" ability. Isn't the MC-10 more useable?
So, there you have it -
Which is 'better' - - the TRS80 MC-10 or the Timex 1000? Any opinions?
Years later, I acquired several Timex 1000's from different thrift stores. I only bought them for their historic value - nothing more. I never planned on using it for anything except to demonstrate that it actually was 'almost' a real computer. Well, down through the years they've thinned to 1 working unit and just lately even that one bit the dust.
So . . .
I'm wondering if a replacement is in order. Here's my thinking on the subject . . .
The Radio Shack TRS80 MC-10 was a direct competition for the massive selling ability of the Sinclair and Timex $99. computers. (Radio Shack wanted to cash in on this market.) Can't blame them there. The thing is, although I've never had an MC-10 it's starting to appeal to me more and more as a 'replacement' for that poor excuse for a tiny computer, the Timex 1000. It 'appears' to have several advantages over the Timex.
It has color. It has 'almost' a keyboard, certainly the chicklet keys are a vast improvement over the Timex membrane type. It has an on/off switch and a reset. The keyboard will 'probably' have less problems (over time), than the Timex. It has twice the onboard memory (4K vs 2K of the Timex), although only 3.142K is available for use in the MC-10. Both had RAM module expansions of 16K available.
Now, I realize that from a historic standpoint the Sinclair's in ZX80, ZX81, and even the Timex 1000 will always take the nod. I'm talking from a - "Hey, I'd actually like to use the thing once in a while" ability. Isn't the MC-10 more useable?
So, there you have it -
Which is 'better' - - the TRS80 MC-10 or the Timex 1000? Any opinions?