Hello, decided to to get my Timex Computer 2068 into shape, and as such am looking for a new black front panel, the adhesive kind that goes around they keys. A new set of keys would also be of interest.
I've never seen anyone making new ones. There's simply not enough demand. What I do have, thanks to the help of fellow Timex owners, is high-resolution pictures of different Timex models. I plan to patiently edit them at some point and share the results so that anyone can print their own, on their favorite material, and "fix" their Timex computer. But for now this is in the back burner... I can look for the files and send them to you if you like.
I've never seen anyone making new ones. There's simply not enough demand. What I do have, thanks to the help of fellow Timex owners, is high-resolution pictures of different Timex models. I plan to patiently edit them at some point and share the results so that anyone can print their own, on their favorite material, and "fix" their Timex computer. But for now this is in the back burner... I can look for the files and send them to you if you like.
I used the word new but meant something more in the lines of new old. Anything would be better than the one I have now on my TC2068. But of course I would be interested on the graphic material you have. A good material to use for the purpose is the one that covers some mouse-pads. Have one here next to me, from Dell, and the rubber underneath splits from the surface easily, leaving a sheet of "plastic" that would do the trick.
By the way do you know the best solvent to get rid of the glue underneath without damaging the plastic?
Afraid not, but if I was trying to do something like that over here I would try a little bit of "Goo gone". I have no idea what the equivalent would be in Portugal. :)
I've never seen anyone making new ones. There's simply not enough demand. What I do have, thanks to the help of fellow Timex owners, is high-resolution pictures of different Timex models. I plan to patiently edit them at some point and share the results so that anyone can print their own, on their favorite material, and "fix" their Timex computer. But for now this is in the back burner... I can look for the files and send them to you if you like.
Maybe you know this: is the keyboard the same in both TC2048 and TC2068? The adhesive front panel seems to be the same, but what about the keyboard itself underneath?
It's much easier to score used TC2048 parts as the TC2048 is much more common than the 2068. From my research on several portuguese auction sites, at times 8 to 1.
But it is not just this kind of hardware that is overpriced over there. I am into electronic music instruments, and browse for these, too. Never found anything I could really say it had a fair price. And with fair I mean fair used/second-hand market price, not bargains.
Remember the TC2048 has different keycaps as it has regular Sinclair BASIC rather than T/S 2000 BASIC. I'd suggest trying to track down a US model TS2068 and then just use that and save the old TC2068 for spares. I suspect the TC2068 power supply will drive a TS2068 perfectly well and then you just need a television that can handle NTSC composite out, which most modern sets can. You'll get a much better picture at 60Hz. I have a vague recollection that the cartridge slot was bigger on the TC2068, but you could probably do a small case mod if necessary.
Remember the TC2048 has different keycaps as it has regular Sinclair BASIC rather than T/S 2000 BASIC. I'd suggest trying to track down a US model TS2068 and then just use that and save the old TC2068 for spares. I suspect the TC2068 power supply will drive a TS2068 perfectly well and then you just need a television that can handle NTSC composite out, which most modern sets can. You'll get a much better picture at 60Hz. I have a vague recollection that the cartridge slot was bigger on the TC2068, but you could probably do a small case mod if necessary.
Tracking a US model TS2068 is a good idea. They share the same keyboard and front panel as the TC2068 model: http://hardware.speccy.org/imagenes//ordenadores/TS2068(Teclado).jpg . Looked at the TS2068 technical manual and the connector is also the same. But was there ever a black version of the TS2068? :-)
Ok, this made me research the problem a little further. The keycaps are the same on a TC2048 and a TC2068.
Ah yes, I'd forgotten the extra commands are accessed via Extend mode. My bad.
]Looked at the TS2068 technical manual and the connector is also the same. But was there ever a black version of the TS2068?
The edge on the TS2068 is just like the TS1000. You need a twisterboard to get Spectrum peripherals to work with it. And no, there never was a black version in the US, but there was in Poland (the UK2086).
Comments
I used the word new but meant something more in the lines of new old. Anything would be better than the one I have now on my TC2068. But of course I would be interested on the graphic material you have. A good material to use for the purpose is the one that covers some mouse-pads. Have one here next to me, from Dell, and the rubber underneath splits from the surface easily, leaving a sheet of "plastic" that would do the trick.
By the way do you know the best solvent to get rid of the glue underneath without damaging the plastic?
/Pedro
I will try to find those files for you.
/Pedro
Maybe you know this: is the keyboard the same in both TC2048 and TC2068? The adhesive front panel seems to be the same, but what about the keyboard itself underneath?
/Pedro
/Pedro
But it is not just this kind of hardware that is overpriced over there. I am into electronic music instruments, and browse for these, too. Never found anything I could really say it had a fair price. And with fair I mean fair used/second-hand market price, not bargains.
/Pedro
Ok, this made me research the problem a little further. The keycaps are the same on a TC2048 and a TC2068. Compare https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Tc2048.jpg and http://hardware.speccy.org/imagenes//ordenadores/TC2068(Teclado).jpg . The keyboard connector is also the same in both models. The difference lies on the adhesive panel. Makes perfect sense for Timex, as the same part would suit both models during production.
Tracking a US model TS2068 is a good idea. They share the same keyboard and front panel as the TC2068 model: http://hardware.speccy.org/imagenes//ordenadores/TS2068(Teclado).jpg . Looked at the TS2068 technical manual and the connector is also the same. But was there ever a black version of the TS2068? :-)
/Pedro
Ah yes, I'd forgotten the extra commands are accessed via Extend mode. My bad.
The edge on the TS2068 is just like the TS1000. You need a twisterboard to get Spectrum peripherals to work with it. And no, there never was a black version in the US, but there was in Poland (the UK2086).