Timex-Sinclair 1000/ZX-81 vs. 3M Post-It Note

[Mirage]

 

RULES:

 

1) Original released machines only.

- Original 3M Post-It Note only (clone machines will be ignored for this poll and discussion as many innovations were made later such as the accordian fold).

 

2) Any upgrades available within a 2 year period of original release can be taken into consideration.

- 3M Post-It was released 1979, TS-1000/ZX-81 was released 1982. For the TS, we can count 16k expansion and printer. For the 3M, we can count the printed lines upgrade. For the 3M product, single or multiple pen-type input devices are allowed and assumed as primary method of data entry. The Sinclair unit has the built-in "keyboard".

 

3) No spineless answers like "They each have their own strengths and are today very affordable, so just buy one of each and enjoy them".

- The two machines are quite closely matched, but there must certainly be a clear winner here, and if you don't fall into alignment, you will be enlightened by the hammer of truth.

 

I realize there are a lot of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing fans here from 3MAge.com, but I hope there are plenty of LowEndClive.com members too, to make this interesting.

[GroovyBee]

Er... I'll bite. They can both be used for doorstops.

[BigO]

When pressed, a Post-It offers slightly longer travel and superior tactile feedback compared to the TS-1000 keys.

[Crazyace]

You'd get more trading a TS1000 in for a C64

Edited January 5, 2010 by Crazyace

[jaybird3rd]

Post-It Notes are better because: they have more storage capacity out of the box, they support lower-case characters and color, and you can use them for as long as you like without worrying about overheating.

 

(Granted, you can put the T/S 1000 in the freezer first to delay the overheating problem--as I used to do with mine--but again, this isn't necessary with Post-It Notes. In fact, they work fine stuck right on the freezer door!).

[GroovyBee]

The TS-1000 does not stick to the fridge door without a hardware mod. Therefore the Post-It note is far superior for inter-family communication.

[Jess Ragan]

I'm voting for the Post-It notes. They've got a more user-friendly interface and a higher resale value.

 

Next up, Spectrum vs. a coloring book and some crayons! I'd vote for the coloring book, because you can actually blend more than two colors together on each page.

[mimo]

hey that's a ZX-81 wtf are you talking about Timex make Micky Mouse watches:P

[Mirage]

hey that's a ZX-81 wtf are you talking about Timex make Micky Mouse watches:P

 

You're right, fixed...

[Bruce Tomlin]

The Post-It note lacks the superior Z80 microprocessor.

 

However, it also does not require a Z80 to maintain its display.

 

So that particular comparison comes out even.

[GroovyBee]

You can play high resolution movies on the Post-It notes as long as you draw them flick book stylee. Hand drawing graphics is quicker and easier and therefore superior to drawing anything on the ZX81.

[carmel_andrews]

Post it note's don't have the famous 'ram pack wobble'...and they come in a variety of interesting colours/colors

[Mirage]

Post it note's don't have the famous 'ram pack wobble'...and they come in a variety of interesting colours/colors

 

Foul! They didn't come in other colors until later. (See Rule #2) But the RAM pack wobble is a brilliant point.

[Mirage]

The_Laird, you got some 'splaining to do.

[GroovyBee]

A Post-It notes block works if you turn it over. The ZX81 still works if you turn it over too but it has reduced functionality because the keyboard is no longer accessable and it may also suffer from RAM pack wobble and crash while being moved. Again Post-It notes are superior.

[JamesD]

Well... I use post it notes just about every day at work. I've never used the ZX at work.

I had to vote with my experience.

<edit>

btw... post it notes don't require a connection to an outlet or a TV as a display screen.

Hmmmm.... does that qualify them as a low end laptop?

Edited January 6, 2010 by JamesD

[Mirage]

Happy to see this is a bullcrap-free, non-rambling thread so far.

 

EDIT: JamesD... palmtop, actually.

[carmel_andrews]

with a post it note.. you don't need any keys, but you still need ink and a hand to do anything useful

[JamesD]

Happy to see this is a bullcrap-free, non-rambling thread so far.

LOL

[Mirage]

But, now everyone knows that the real important question is... which is better at Desktop Publishing?

[moycon]

Timex-Sinclair/ZX-81 is better because you can play Frogger on it.

[carmel_andrews]

I like the upgradability of the post it note, because it comes at no extra cost, you just add more post it note to the original one

[Crazyace]

You can play high resolution movies on the Post-It notes as long as you draw them flick book stylee. Hand drawing graphics is quicker and easier and therefore superior to drawing anything on the ZX81.

 

Funnily enough there are some hires games for the ZX81 ( via some awesome software hacks ) -

[mimo]

you could use the post its to stick the wobbly ram pack to the zx-81, therefore they are both as good as each other.

[desiv]

Post it note's don't have the famous 'ram pack wobble'...and they come in a variety of interesting colours/colors

 

Foul! They didn't come in other colors until later. (See Rule #2) But the RAM pack wobble is a brilliant point.

 

Actually, I disagree!

 

The RAM pack is designed to expand the memory on the system.

 

In order to do that with the post it, you have to get another pack and try to stick it to the older pack.

 

When I've done this, from time to time, the "merged" post-it pack does separate where I joined them, so it CAN suffer from the same basic issue. But I think it's a more stable design in general.

 

desiv

Edited January 6, 2010 by desiv