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Preserved from the Timex/Sinclair 2068 Yahoo Group (2001–2019), which is no longer online. Text reproduced from the archive.org archive; email addresses masked.
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1. (no subject)
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o, if it was ONLY the ROM that was different, then when the Spectrum ROM was used the machine should be 100% compatiable with the Spectrum. But it isn't. Anyone have more details on this?
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The only reason why Timex changed the ROM code was to include commands like SOUND, STICK, etc that would operate the additional hardware features.
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This DOES make sence. The Commodore 128's BASIC 7.0 included many commands that the C64's BASIC 2.0 didn't have. This made a LOT of sense and did make programming in C128 BASIC easier (ESPECIALLY when dealing with sprites and sound).
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Extra screen modes? There wasn't even a command (or any useful way) to handle that from BASIC anyway.
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Still, they are useful (I've only seen the 64-character mode in a demo-- but it was damn near impossible to read with my composite monitor). The Atari 8-bit was limited to certain screen resolutions with BASIC, but machine langauge opened them all up to the user. Since most QUALITY games back in the early eighties were written in machine language, then it makes sense to offer this enhanced screen mode.
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So I think if Timex had released the 2068, exact same hardware, with the original ZX Spectrum ROMS, the whole picture would be different.
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I've read that they wanted to make sure that it had a competitive edge in America. They were RIGHT to think this. The TS 2068 did need an edge. Making the TS 2068 two-machines-in-one (similar to the C128-- which was actually three-machines-in-one) would divide developers. In this case, most software would have been written for the ZX Spectrum avoiding any extra features that the TS 2068 offered. This is what happened for the C128. There is a VERY limited amount of software written for the 128-mode. This used to piss off C128 owners, but the fact was that the C64 FAR outsold the C128. It made SENSE to develop for the C64 and not the C128. The Timex engineers probably wanted to FORCE development for the enhanced features of the TS 2068. This was a neat idea that just didn't work out. The market can't be forced.
I'm probably WAY off here in some areas... so let me hear YOUR thoughts.
Adam
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