puck@omsvax.UUCP (11/10/83)
I have a Timex/Sinclair 1000, and happened to pick up a little book that has more hardware information in it than any other book I've seen (by the way, I haven't seen the Explorer's Guide to the ZX81). It's titled 'The Ins and Outs of the Timex TS 1000 & ZX 81', by Don Thomasson and subtitled 'A Hardware Manual for TS 1000 & ZX81'. The book is published by Melbourne House. The text on the back cover describes the contents of the book (reprinted without permission, of course): "THE INS AND OUTS OF THE TS1000/ZX81 contains the complete circuit diagram of this amazing microcomputer, as well as a full discussion of the unorthodox methods which are used in making this microcomputer do what it does. "Don Thomasson discusses the structure of the TS1000/ZX81, and how you can add additional memory and expand its capabilities. "The book also includes a number of projects which demonstrate the potential of this microcomputer, from using it to control a model train set, right through to connecting it to a printer." This is the only book I've seen in bookstores that contains the internals of the TS 1000/ZX81. It also gives plenty of information for adding peripherals. I still can't believe where I found it: I was browsing through the book section of the local K-MART! Even there, I found the price a little steep ($11.95), but it seems to be worth it. Since I've paid for my admission to this newsgroup with the above information, I have a question I'd like to put to the readers here: Just what do you people *do* with this "marvel of electronics design"? (Quoted from the aforementioned hardware book.) I've owned one for a year, and have yet to find any real use for it. I'd appreciate hearing from someone who has come up with a purpose for owning a TS 1000/ZX81. I'm not terribly interested in hearing about games on it; it seems as though most *any* other micro would handle them better than the Sinclair in terms of graphics and memory capabilities (although arguments against this position are welcome, of course!). If you do have a use for it, tell us about it, including any hardware modifications you made and why. I'd like to see the responses posted to the net, as this has been a pretty dead newsgroup lately, but I will summarize and post any responses mailed to me. puck (never could spell that word right), also known as Jerry Wheeler Responses to: ogcvax \ microso \ !omsvax!puck uwvax / hplabs /
dce@hammer.UUCP (David Elliott) (11/30/83)
I have been using my ZX81 as a doorstop. It does a very good job and has not shattered from any impact. I highly recommend the ZX81 for your doorstop needs. It really makes me mad to think that I paid $200 for the ZX81 and 16K RAM pack and haven't used it for anything. Hell, I can't even get it to load a tape half of the time. BTW, I have a copy of Frogger (unused) and some other commercial programs that I would like to sell cheap. Interested parties should contact David Elliott tektronix!tekecs!dce
alpert@inmet.UUCP (12/10/83)
#R:hammer:-36500:inmet:6300001:000:229
inmet!alpert Dec 2 11:09:00 1983
What should make you even madder is that the Timex/Sinclair
TS1000 (newer version of the ZX81) has been selling for
around $15.00. (I saw this personally not long ago at a local
computer store in Tewksbury, MA).
Bob Alpert