Happy Birthday TRS-80

[40hz]

RadioShack's much loved (and unjustly maligned) TRS-80 turns 35 this year.

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[mouser]

We never owned a trs-80, but i have very fond memories of programming on it extensively in the early 1980s, writing games for myself and friends.  The blocky black and white graphics were beautiful.

Also, the Trs-80's that I remember all looked like this (not like the above photo), from wikipedia:



According to Wikipedia, the photo in the first post is for the TRS-80 Model III, where mine is the model I (which used a cassette player to save programs not a disk drive).

[mouser]

Here's what a very advanced trs-80 full screen graphics game looked like back in those days:

[Renegade]

Here's what a very advanced trs-80 full screen graphics game looked like back in those days: (see attachment in previous post)

I remember playing games like that!

[40hz]

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According to Wikipedia, the photo in the first post is for the TRS-80 Model III, where mine is the model I (which used a cassette player to save programs not a disk drive).

It is the Model III. IIRC the Model I got yanked from distribution by the FCC because of excessive RF emissions. Radios supposedly used to make all kinds of weird noises if put too close to it.

The Model III was succeeded by the Model 4 (no more  Roman numerals!) which was a real nice version. White case, better hardware (128Kb RAM + 4Mhz CPU, nicer 'real' monitor (80x24 vs the old 64x16), larger capacity floppy disks, etc. ) and could run CP/M or an alternative 3rd-party souped-up version of TRSDOS called LDOS. You could have used LDOS on the Model III too although it really came into its own with the faster CPU and higher capacity floppies on the Model 4.

Radioshack also did something called a Model II (and later the Tandy Model 12) (see below), which was their "big iron" offering .

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[Renegade]

Anyone ever use a PET?

[40hz]

Anyone ever use a PET?

Me! (I'm a lot older than I look.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWgmD2is91g

Loved that trapezoidal monitor casing it had. Hated the little chicklet-ty keyboard, although it had a nice professional adding machine touch to it. Definitely more geared towards data entry functions than touch typing.  And at least the numeric entry pad was full sized. Looked something like a modern cash register. Saw one abandoned by the trash bins outside an old office building recently. I would have grabbed it except the monitor and insides had been smashed up. Quite recently too from the amount of glass all around it. Probably done by some passing kids who didn't realize what a collector's piece it was. *SIGH*

Used a DEC Rainbow too! That packed both a Z80 and an Intel 8080 chip in the same box. It could run CP/M 8 or 16, and also could be used as a straight data terminal too. I forget if it was VT-102 or just straight ANSI.

Commodore duped some of that design with their elegant C=128 which packed an 8502 plus a Z80 chip and allowed for three separate modes of operation: the traditional C=64, the jazzed-up C=128, and CP/M mode.

[cranioscopical]

mine is the model I (which used a cassette player to save programs not a disk drive)

That damned cassette player!
I still recall the pain of huddling all night over a TRS 80, producing the worst kind of spaghetti code in order to beat a deadline. Finally, as dawn broke and before sending it to cassette, I just had to stretch and in so doing inadvertently kicked the power plug out of its socket.
Ouch!

[TaoPhoenix]

Here's what a very advanced trs-80 full screen graphics game looked like back in those days: (see attachment in previous post)

I remember playing games like that!

I remember programming games like that! (Different system, different gameplay, still just sayin')

Okay, I'll get off your lawns now.

[40hz]

mine is the model I (which used a cassette player to save programs not a disk drive)

That damned cassette player!
I still recall the pain of huddling all night over a TRS 80, producing the worst kind of spaghetti code in order to beat a deadline. Finally, as dawn broke and before sending it to cassette, I just had to stretch and in so doing inadvertently kicked the power plug out of its socket.
Ouch!

Ah Chris...you're bringing back memories. Bad ones!

I always HATED this thing:

[attach]

[TaoPhoenix]

Recalibrating these drives wasn't difficult if you had: a screwdriver, a special 'calibration' floppy disk, and the matching utility software. It was sort of a C=64 power user's rite of passage doing one of these. You had to crack the drive case (and void your warranty) to do it. But it was no harder than setting the dwell on a pre-fuel injection automobile engine. A little practice and a light steady touch were all that were needed. Most of us left the drive cases unscrewed and only elastic banded together after doing a few of those.

Holy Not-Just-Works Batman! I'd call that difficult! And we think our IT problems are bad today!  

Edit: The Commodore 64 took over the TRS 80 thread. I'll leave the meaning of that to my betters. 

[SeraphimLabs]

I still have a Tandy TRS80 color in the attic. Working order, comes with a couple of program cartridges instead of floppy discs. Pretty sure the only one I have that I know works is Chess.


There's also a later model Tandy from the year 1991- it uses an Intel 386 SX CPU with most likely 2MB of RAM. Not sure what all is in it, I'd have to read the tags.
It's still in it's factory packaging, and has never been booted. I got that while working at an old radioshack store cleaning out the back room, it was too old to sell so the guy said I could keep it.

[TaoPhoenix]

There's also a later model Tandy from the year 1991- it uses an Intel 386 SX CPU with most likely 2MB of RAM. Not sure what all is in it, I'd have to read the tags.
It's still in it's factory packaging, and has never been booted. I got that while working at an old radioshack store cleaning out the back room, it was too old to sell so the guy said I could keep it.

Too old to sell, Ebay here you come!

[40hz]

@TP -  Well...all things are relative I suppose. Back when it was a toss up between spending some cash or spending a few hours of your time, the time option usually won out.

Seriously though, it wasn't all that hard after you did it a few times. Kinda like the first time you assemble a PC from parts. It seems complicated, but it gets much easier after that first time.

[40hz]

I still have a Tandy TRS80 color in the attic. Working order, comes with a couple of program cartridges instead of floppy discs. Pretty sure the only one I have that I know works is Chess.

The CoCo has its fans. There are people who collect them FWIW.

The 386SX is a yet another straight-up PC clone. Might be fun booting it up for old times sake. Especially if you have an old copy of Windows for Workgroups mothballed somewhere in  there with it. A few hours with that will make almost anything that followed look and feel positively inspired - with the possible exception of Millenium Edition and Metro.

[40hz]

Edit: The Commodore 64 took over the TRS 80 thread. I'll leave the meaning of that to my betters. 

That's probably because:

• I started the thread
• I'm a C=64 fan
• And I'm not above OT-ing my own topic!

I'm an equal opportunity rambler.