Timex Sinclair 1000 (1982)

Timex Sinclair 1000

The Timex Sinclair 1000, or simply known as the TS1000, was produced by Timex Sinclair, a joint venture between U.S. based company Timex, and British company Sinclair Research, and released in July 1982. The computer sold for the low price of $99.95, making it the cheapest home computer available in 1982. It was marketed as “the first computer under $100”! The computer was aimed at home users. Upon purchase, the TS1000 came fully assembled, and used a regular home television as the computer monitor. The TS1000 was essentially a Sinclair ZX81 modified for U.S. use. The low price initiated a price war with the Commodore VIC-20, with Commodore lowering the price of their computer to match, and later offering $100 credit to anybody who traded in a competing computer to go towards the purchase of a Commodore 64. By early 1983, Timex claimed to have sold 600,000 TS1000’s in the United States. Timex ultimately discontinued the Timex Sinclair 1000 in the United States in 1983, just about a year after its debut.

Source: John Babina III