TRS-80 Model I
Sign in to saveAlso known as TRS-80 Micro Computer System, Tandy TRS-80, TRS80, Model I, Trash80
The TRS-80 Micro Computer System (TRS-80, colloquially known as the "Trash-80", later renamed the TRS-80 Model I to distinguish it from its successors) is a desktop microcomputer developed by American company Tandy Corporation and sold through their Radio Shack stores. Launched in 1977, it is one of the earliest mass-produced and mass-marketed retail home computers. The name is derived from Tandy Radio Shack Z80, referring to its Zilog Z80 8-bit microprocessor.
Key facts
- Personal computer.name
- TRS-80 Model III
- Personal computer.logo
- TRS-80 logo.svg
- Personal computer.image
- TRS-80 Model 3 01.jpg
- Personal computer.caption
- TRS-80 Model I with Expansion Interface and display
- Personal computer.manufacturer
- Tandy Corporation
- Personal computer.type
- Home and small business computer
- Personal computer.lifespan
- 1977–1981
- Personal computer.os
- TRSDOS 1.3, LDOS 5
- Personal computer.cpu
- Zilog Z80A @ 2 MHz
- Personal computer.memory
- 4 KB or 16, 32 or 48 KB
- Personal computer.display
- 16 rows by 64 or 32 columns, block graphics
- Personal computer.sound
- output through cassette port
- Personal computer.graphics
- optional 640 by 240 pixels, $369 extra
- Personal computer.compatibility
- Model I Z80 code ~ 80% (higher with patches), BASIC 100%
- Personal computer.predecessor
- Model I
- Personal computer.successor
- Model 4
via Wikipedia infobox
~64 min read
Encyclopedic overview
30 sectionsContents
- History
- Development
- Announcement
- Delivery
- Model II and III
- Hardware
- Keyboard
- Video and audio
- Peripherals
- Cassette tape drive
- Model I Expansion Interface
- Floppy disk drives
- Exatron Stringy Floppy
- Hard drive
- Printers
- Software
- BASIC
- Other programming languages
- Other applications
- Reception
- Compatible successors
- Model III
- Aftermarket products
- Model 4{{anchor|model4}}
- Model 100{{anchor|model100}}
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
- External links
The TRS-80 Micro Computer System (TRS-80, colloquially known as the "Trash-80", later renamed the TRS-80 Model I to distinguish it from its successors) is a desktop microcomputer developed by American company Tandy Corporation and sold through their Radio Shack stores. Launched in 1977, it is one of the earliest mass-produced and mass-marketed retail home computers. The name is derived from Tandy Radio Shack Z80, referring to its Zilog Z80 8-bit microprocessor.
The TRS-80 has a full-stroke QWERTY keyboard, 4 KB DRAM standard memory, small size and desk area, floating-point Level I BASIC language interpreter in ROM, 64-character-per-line video monitor, and had a starting price of US$600 (equivalent to US$ in ). A cassette tape drive for program storage was included in the original package. While the software environment was stable, the cassette load/save process combined with keyboard bounce issues and a troublesome Expansion Interface contributed to the Model I's reputation as not well-suited for serious use. Initially (until 1981), it lacked support for lowercase characters which may have hampered business adoption. An extensive line of upgrades and peripherals for the TRS-80 were developed and marketed by Tandy/Radio Shack. The basic system can be expanded with up to 48 KB of RAM, and up to four floppy disk drives and/or hard disk drives. Tandy/Radio Shack provided full-service support including upgrade, repair, and training services in their thousands of stores worldwide.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “TRS-80 Model I” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.