In 1982, the Timex Sinclair 1000 was released to consumers as a low-budget, entry-level computer. In fact, it was the first computer to sell for $100 and was the result of a partnership between Timex and Sinclair Research, Ltd. This machine was actually a modified Sinclair ZX81 with double the memory, stronger RF shielding and a replaced PAL RF modulator with an NTSC version for North American television signals.
I didn’t own one of these when they came out. I only recently started collecting these, but back then I had regular access to them through family and friends. It was pretty amazing to create stuff on these even as slow and clunky as they felt compared to the other high powered machines of the time.
The TS1000 was very limited by design, to keep costs as low as possible. Although it came with BASIC installed in ROM, it had a paltry membrane keyboard that wasn’t easy to type on. It only displayed black and white, had no sound and came with 2K of RAM. A 16K expansion pack plugs into the back and helped provide more memory for running more complex programs.
As limited as the TS1000 was, it still left a big mark in computer history and is still collected and used by hobbiests to this day.