|
|
|
TANDY TRS-80 MODEL 100 - 1983 |
 |
The
TRS-80 Model 100 was designed by Kyocera
of Japan, who licenced the same design to NEC,
Tandy, and Olivetti, who subsequently released almost
identical computer systems.
The Tandy TRS-80 model 100 "Micro Executive
Workstation" was by far the most popular though, due to
the Radio Shack chain of electronics stores throughout
America.
These are considered the world's first laptop computers,
sporting a full-size keyboard, and enough ports to satisfy
everyones needs. They all come with built-in software - the
model 100 has:
- Microsoft BASIC programming language
- word processing software
- telecommunications software
- built-in 300 baud modem
Small size, a good keyboard and display made the model 100
very popular, especially with people on-the-go. There is no
internal storage capability other than the battery-backed
RAM, and a cassette recorder or external 5 1/4-inch floppy
drive must be used for permanent data storage.
|
|
TANDY TRS
HANDHELD - 1980
|
|
|
| Radio
Shack Pocket Computer |
| Model: |
PC-1 |
| Introduced: |
July 1980 |
| Weight: |
170g / 6.0 oz. |
| Price: |
US $230 |
| CPU: |
SC43177, SC43178 |
| RAM: |
1.5K |
| Ports: |
Expansion connector |
| Display: |
24 X 1 text LCD |
| Storage: |
* Cassette storage |
| Options: |
* Printer, Tape I/O |
| OS: |
BASIC in ROM |
| * Requires Expansion Interface |
|
This new TRS-80 Computer is another "first" from the company which
brought you the best-selling, world renowned TRS-80. A truly
pocket-sized Computer (not a programmable calculator). Of course it is an
ultra-powerful calculator too... And it "speaks" BASIC - - the most common
computer language, and the easiest to learn. You'll soon be impressed by
the phenomenal computing power of this hand-held TRS-80 - - ideal for
mathematics, engineering and business application.
|
|
TANDY TRS
-80 - MODEL 1 - 1977
|
|
|
Radio
Shack TRS-80
(Model I) |
| Catalog: |
26-1001 |
| Released: |
August 1977 |
| Price: |
US $599.95 (with monitor) |
| How Many: |
200,000 (1977-1981) |
| CPU: |
Zilog Z-80A, 1.77 MHz |
| RAM: |
4K, 16K max* |
| Ports: |
Cassette I/O, video, |
| |
Expansion connector* |
| Display: |
12-inch monochrome monitor |
| |
64 X 16 text |
| Expansion: |
External Expansion Interface* |
| Storage: |
Cassette storage* |
| OS: |
BASIC in ROM* |
| * Additional capabilties with
Expansion Interface |
|
Where's the computer?
It's in the keyboard! As one of the first home computers ever,
the TRS-80 was a great success. Tandy wasn't expecting many
sales, but this, their first computer, sold 10,000 units in
the first month alone. It includes everything you need to have
a real computer of your very own - the computer, monitor and
cassette deck for loading and saving data.
Yes, these were the days when you bought, loaded and saved
your data and programs on cassette tapes.
Floppy disk drives didn't come into common use until years
later. Even then, they were very expensive, costing hundreds
of dollars.
The TRS-80 Mini-Disk was available within a year of the TRS-80
microcomputer's release, but it cost $499, more than the
computer itself.Even three years later, in 1980, the TRS-80
floppy drive still costs about $425.
|
|
TRS
80 MC-10 1983 |
|
|
| Radio
Shack TRS-80 MC-10 |
| Released: |
Late 1983 |
| Price: |
US$119.95 |
| CPU: |
Motorola MC6803 @ 0.89 MHz |
| RAM: |
4K internal, 16K external |
| Ports: |
serial, cassette, TV out |
| Display: |
32 x 16 text, 8 colors |
| |
optional thermal printer |
| Strorage: |
cassette recorder |
| OS: |
Microsoft BASIC in ROM |
|
Super cheap, barely
useful computers were sold by the millions in the early 80's.
The scheme worked great for Sinclair of the UK - the Sinclair
ZX-80 ($199) in 1980, and the Sinclair
ZX-81 ($99) in 1981, combined easily sold over 500,000
units.
The Timex/Sinclair
1000 ($99) in 1982 sold more than that all by itself, and
the new and improved Timex/Sinclair
1500 from 1983 sold for less than $80.
The TRS-80 MC-10 (MC=Micro Color) is a scaled-down version of
the original TRS-80
Color Computer computer from 1980. The reason for this is
apparently because cheap, simple computers seem to be popular,
and the MC-10 has a few things going for it which most of the
Sinclairs lacked - a better keyboard, and a color display.
To keep the price down, the MC-10 has only 4K of RAM, but just
like the Sinclairs, an external 16K RAM module ($69.95) can be
added, as seen in the pictures here, for a total of 20K of
RAM.
While the MC-10 may be superior to the
"competition", like them it is too small and limited
to be useful for either work or play
Another inexpensive color system, the Mattel
Aquarius computer from the same year, sold very poorly as
well.
There were just too many new computers in the year 1983, and
competition was fierce. The price of older systems was
dropping, making them a better deal than the simple
micro-computers like the MC-10. |
|
TRS
80 - MODEL 4 - 1983 |
|
|
The
TRS-80 model 4 (ref 26-1068/69) was one of the last models of
the TRS-80 series (and perhaps the less known). It ran at 4
MHz and displayed 80 columns x 24 lines in Model 4 mode, but
was fully compatible with the TRS-80
model 3 and in Model 3 mode actually displayed 64x16 and
ran at the Model 3's 2 MHz.
It had 64 or 128 KB RAM, the 64 upper KB being used as a ram
disk. It had one or two 5.25" floppy disk (184 KB each)
and ran under TRSDOS 6.0 or 1.3, LDOS or CP/M.
A transformation kit "TRS80 model III -> model
IV" was available.
The Model 4 was followed by the Model 4D (ref. 26-1070). The
only difference being double sided drives -384 KB, instead of
single sided drives.
A portable version of the Model IV called Model
4P (ref. 26-1080) was also marketed few time after. |
|
TRS
80 - MODEL 4P - 1983 |
|
|
The Model 4P was
supposedly "portable", but it was still a fairly
substantial box. Mine weighs in at around 25 pounds. The
standard configuration was 2 half height single sided drives,
and 64k. This machine had the best keyboard out of all the
TRS-80s. There was no Model 3 ROM included, but the 4K boot
ROM it had could read a Model 3 ROM image file off diskette
for the people who needed to run Model 3 software. In addition
to the built in serial port, the 4P could be equipped with an
internal modem... as long as you didn't want to go any faster
than 300 baud. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
