TSU Meeting SUNDAY — February 22, 2026
David Anderson, Ryan Gray, Tim Ward, Paul Anderson, Mogli, Joe, Mike, Jeff Burrell, Adam Trionfo, Christian, David (Fort Worth)
Sunday's meeting fell on the 42nd anniversary of Timex's February 22, 1984 exit from the computer market, and the conversation turned mostly to looking back: where each member was that week, what machine they were running, and how the news reached them. Members shared first-2068 stories, ZX81/TS1000 beginnings, and the contemporary context (the 1983–84 video-game/computer industry shake-out that also took TI and Mattel's Aquarius). Ryan, Tim, Paul, Mogli, Joe, Mike, Jeff, Adam, Christian, and a second David (longtime editor of the Fort Worth user-group newsletter) all weighed in.
A long thread on the Sinclair QL covered Tim's 1986 purchase at a discounted bundle, Paul's import-via-phone-company-test-trunks story, microdrive reliability (US-built QLs notably more reliable than UK ones), cartridge availability and price, and Paul's storage progression from microdrives through 5.25" and 3.5" floppies to ED 2.88/3.2 MB disks. The group also revisited Memotech's accessories for the ZX81/TS1000 (RAM packs, Centronics interface, EPROM word processor, full-size keyboard) and the later Memotech MTX standalone, plus side trips through the Interact 8080 home computer, Kaypro/Osborne CP/M machines, IBM PC pricing in the mid-80s, and Mogli's Columbus user group (where he was "shanghaied" into running meetings, as documented in a January 30, 1988 newsletter write-up by Basil Wentworth).
The Fort Worth David recounted his path from the TS1000 to a 2068 with an Aerco disk drive, learning RPM (Aerco's CP/M variant, format-compatible with the Morrow MD2), Turbo Pascal and Z80 assembly, and the group's culture of working around the 2068's limits — wider screen modes, real word processors, soldered interfaces out the back. The point landed: Timex's withdrawal arguably opened the door for Aerco, Larken, Oliger and others to ship the disk systems, RAM disks, video-capture boards (the Michigan group's grayscale digitizer driven by John McMichael's software), Commodore 1520 plotter drivers, Okimate color print routines and similar add-ons that defined the post-1984 community.
Looking forward, David confirmed he has a table at VCF East (April) and is aiming for VCF Midwest in Chicago (September). He wants a takeaway for visitors. Tim and Mogli pushed him toward a simple one-page (or half-sheet) handout — fold-and-pocket sized — with a QR code/URL pointing to a deeper online "if you've just acquired a TS1000/2068/QL, here's what to do" guide covering emulators (FUSE, the JavaScript ZX81 emulator at zx81stuff.org), software archives, books, and the Zoom meetings. The Bill Miller collection fund still has money available to cover printing. Christian asked about making shells for aftermarket TS2068 cartridge boards; the answer was that those boards are full slot-width with no easy shell solution. The next meeting is Monday March 2nd, 9pm Eastern, open agenda.
Highlights
- Meeting marked the 42nd anniversary of Timex's Feb 22, 1984 exit from the computer market.
- David has a VCF East table (April) and is targeting VCF Midwest (September); planning a fold-and-pocket handout pointing to a deeper online newcomer guide.
- Tim Ward volunteered to help shape the handout; Bill Miller collection fund will cover printing.
- Long QL retrospective: Tim's 1986 bundle purchase, Paul's UK-import workflow, and the US-built QLs proving more reliable than UK units.
- Fort Worth David walked through running Aerco's RPM (CP/M, Morrow MD2–compatible) on a 2068 and the user-group culture of soldering around the machine's limits.
Projects discussed: The Bill Miller Collection Topics: User group meetings & events · TS2068 / TC2068 · TS1000 / ZX81 / TS1500 · Newsletters & documentation · CP/M · Disk & floppy systems (Larken, AERCO, Oliger)
Summary generated from the meeting recording; the full transcript is kept in the group's private archive.