List of TRS-80 and Tandy-branded computers

Tandy Corporation released several computer product lines starting in 1977, under both TRS-80 and Tandy branding.

TRS-80 was a brand associated with several desktop microcomputer lines sold by Tandy Corporation through their Radio Shack stores. It was first used on the original TRS-80 (later known as the Model I), one of the earliest mass-produced personal computers.[1] However, Tandy later used the TRS-80 name on a number of different computer lines, many of which were technically unrelated to (and incompatible with) the original Model I and its replacements.

In addition to these, Tandy released a number of computers using the Tandy name itself.

Original TRS-80 ("Model I") and its successors

Model I

Main article: TRS-80

The original TRS-80 Micro Computer System (later known as the Model I to distinguish it from successors) was launched in 1977 and- alongside the Apple II and Commodore Pet- was one of the earliest mass-produced personal computers.[1] The line won popularity with hobbyists, home users, and small-businesses.

The Model I included a full-stroke QWERTY keyboard, floating-point BASIC, a monitor, and a starting price of US$600[2]

By 1979, the TRS-80 had the largest selection of software in the microcomputer market.[3]

In July 1980 the mostly-compatible TRS-80 Model III was launched, and the original Model I was discontinued.[4][5][6]

Model III

Main article: TRS-80 Model III
TRS-80 Model III

In July 1980 Tandy released the Model III, a mostly-compatible replacement for the Model I.

Its improvements over the Model I included built-in lower case, a better keyboard, elimination of the cable spaghetti, 1500-baud cassette interface, and a faster (2.03 MHz) Z-80 processor. With the introduction of the Model III, Model I production was discontinued as it did not comply with new FCC regulations as of January 1, 1981 regarding electromagnetic interference.[4][5][6]

The Model III could run about 80% of Model I software, but used an incompatible disk format.[4] It also came with the option of integrated disk drives.

Model 4

Main article: TRS-80 Model 4
TRS-80 Model 4 (standard version)
TRS-80 Model 4P

The successor to the Model III was the Model 4, which included the capability to run CP/M, and had a faster Z80A 4 MHz CPU.[7] It was completely compatible with Model III software. Prices started from $999 for the diskless version.

Early versions of the Model 4 mainboard were designed to accept a Zilog Z800 16 bit CPU upgrade board to replace the Z80 8 bit CPU but this option was never released.

Business systems

Tandy 10

Tandy's first design for the business market was a desk-based computer known as the Tandy 10 Business Computer System, which was released in 1978 but quickly discontinued.

TRS-80 Model II and successors

Model II

Main article: TRS-80 Model II
TRS-80 Model II

In October 1979 Tandy began shipping the TRS-80 Model II, which was targeted to the small-business market. It was not an upgrade of the Model I, but an entirely different system with state-of-the-art hardware and numerous features not found in the primitive Model I. The Model II was not compatible with the Model I and never had the same breadth of available software. This was somewhat mitigated by the availability of the CP/M from third parties

Model 12

The Model II was replaced in 1982 by the TRS-80 Model 12. This was essentially a Model 16B (described below) without the Motorola processor, and could be upgraded to a Model 16B.

Model 16, Model 16B, and Tandy 6000

In February 1982, Tandy released the TRS-80 Model 16,[8] as the follow-on to the Model II; an upgrade kit was available for Model II systems. The Model 16 adds a 6 MHz, 16-bit Motorola 68000 processor and memory card.

The Model 16 sold poorly at first and was reliant on existing Model II software early on.[9] In early 1983 Tandy switched from TRSDOS-16 to Xenix.[8]

The Model 16 evolved into the Model 16B with 256 KB in July 1983,[10] and later the Tandy 6000, gaining an internal hard drive along the way and switching to an 8 MHz 68000. The 16B was the most popular Unix computer in 1984, with almost 40,000 units sold.[11]

Other systems

Color Computers

Main article: TRS-80 Color Computer

Tandy also produced the TRS-80 Color Computer (CoCo), based on the Motorola 6809 processor. This machine was clearly aimed at the home market, where the Model II and above were sold as business machines. It competed directly with the Commodore 64, Apple II, and Atari 8-bit family of computers. OS-9, a multitasking, multi-user operating system was supplied for this machine.

Model 100 line

Main article: TRS-80 Model 100

In addition to the above, Tandy produced the TRS-80 Model 100 series of laptop computers. This series comprised the TRS-80 Model 100, Tandy 102, Tandy 200 and Tandy 600. The Model 100 was designed by the Japanese company Kyocera with software written by Microsoft. (The Model 100 firmware was the last Microsoft product to which Bill Gates was a major code contributor.[12]) It was also marketed as the Micro Executive Workstation (MEWS).[13]

The Model 100 had an internal 300 baud modem, built-in BASIC, and a limited text editor. It was possible to use the Model 100 with most phones in the world with the use of an optional acoustic coupler that fit over a standard telephone handset. The combination of the acoustic coupler, the machine's outstanding battery life (it could be used for days on a set of 4 AA cells), and its simple text editor made the Model 100/102 popular with journalists in the early 1980s. The Model 100 line also had an optional bar code reader, serial/RS-232 floppy drive and a Cassette interface.

Also available as an option to the Model 100 was an external expansion unit supporting video and a 5 1⁄4" disk drive, connected via the 40-pin expansion port in the bottom of the unit.

Tandy 200

Tandy 200 beside a 2010s Sony Vaio laptop

The Tandy 200 was introduced in 1984 as a higher-end complement to the Model 100. The Tandy 200 had 24 KB RAM expandable to 72 KB, a flip-up 16 line by 40 column display, and a spreadsheet (Multiplan) included. The Tandy 200 also included DTMF tone-dialing for the internal modem. Although less popular than the Model 100, the Tandy 200 was also particularly popular with journalists in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Reception

InfoWorld in 1985 disapproved of the computer's high cost of accessories ("and you'll find that the Tandy 200 has more accessories than a Barbie doll"), but called it "a big step up from the Model 100 for someone who needs a note-taker or spreadsheet on the run".[14]

MC-10

Main article: TRS-80 MC-10

The MC-10 was a short-lived and little-known Tandy computer, similar in appearance to the Sinclair ZX81.

It was a small system based on the Motorola 6803 processor and featured 4 KB of RAM. A 16 KB RAM expansion pack that connected on the back of the unit was offered as an option as was a thermal paper printer. A modified version of the MC-10 was sold in France as the Matra Alice.

Programs loaded using a cassette which worked much better than those for the Sinclair. A magazine was published which offered programs for both the CoCo and MC-10 but very few programs were available for purchase. Programs for the MC-10 were not compatible with the CoCo.

A TRS-80 Pocket Computer (Model: PC-2) ready for use

Pocket Computers

Main article: Tandy Pocket Computer

Both the TRS-80 and Tandy brands were used for a range of "Pocket Computers" sold by Tandy. These were manufactured by Sharp or Casio, depending on the model.

PC-compatible computers

See also: Tandy 1000 and Tandy 2000

In the early 1980s, Tandy began producing a line of computers that were "DOS compatible": able to run MS-DOS and certain applications, but not fully compatible with every nuance of the original IBM PC systems. The first of these was the Tandy 2000, followed later by the less expensive Tandy 1000. As margins decreased in PC clones, Tandy was unable to compete and stopped manufacturing their own systems, instead selling computers manufactured by a variety of companies, AST Research and Gateway 2000 among them.

Originally, Tandy offered computers manufactured by Tandon Corporation, and then started producing their own line of systems.

The Tandy 2000 system was similar to the Texas Instruments Professional Computer in that it offered better graphics, a faster processor (80186) and higher capacity disk drives (80 track double sided 800k 5.25 drives) than the original IBM PC.

However, around the time of its introduction, the industry began moving away from MS-DOS compatible computers and towards fully IBM PC compatible clones; later Tandy offerings moved toward full PC hardware compatibility.

The later Tandy 1000 systems and follow-ons were also marketed by DEC, as Tandy and DEC had a joint manufacturing agreement.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 Mooallem, Jon (April 19, 2010). "The Lost Tribes of RadioShack: Tinkerers Search for New Spiritual Home". Wired. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  2. ↑ Forster, Winnie (2005). The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972–2005. GAMEPLAN. p. 17. ISBN 3-00-015359-4.
  3. ↑ Welch, David and Theresa (2007). Priming the Pump: How TRS-80 Enthusiasts Helped Spark the PC Revolution. Ferndale, Michigan: The Seeker Books. ISBN 978-0-9793468-0-4.
  4. 1 2 3 Hogan, Thom (August 31, 1981). "A Look at Radio Shack's Five Computers". InfoWorld. pp. 44–45. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  5. 1 2 Hogan, Thom (August 31, 1981). "The Radio Shack TRS-80 Model III Computer". InfoWorld. pp. 35–37. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  6. 1 2 Robertson, Nancy (December 1980). "Model I Caught By FCC Fallout". 80 Microcomputing. pp. 51, 56. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
  7. ↑ "TRS-80 Computers: TRS-80 Model 4". Trs-80.com. March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  8. 1 2 Chin, Kathy (1983-02-07). "Radio Shack goes to Microsoft's XENIX for Model 16 micros". InfoWorld. p. 3. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  9. ↑ Vose, G. Michael (September 1982). "DOS woes erode Tandy's lead". 80 Micro. p. 300. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  10. ↑ Mace, Scott (1983-07-25). "Tandy introduces the Model 16B computer". InfoWorld. p. 1. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  11. ↑ Bartimo, Jim (1985-03-11). "Tandy Revamps Product Line". InfoWorld. pp. 28–29. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  12. ↑ Gates, Bill. "Bill Gates Interview" (Interview). Interview with David Allison. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  13. ↑ book about the Model 100
  14. ↑ Robinson, Dan (1985-05-13). "Making a Good Thing Better". InfoWorld. pp. 46–47. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "COMPANY NEWS; Digital Sets Plan to Build Its Own PC's", New York Times, February 8, 1982
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