gautier@LOGNET2.AF.MIL (SrA Richard A. Gautier) (08/10/89)
The first thing that we need to determine is which TRS-80 we are
talking about.
The Model 1 TRS-80 was a small piece of TRASH that offered a Z-80
computer with limited I/O - tape drive was most common, no inherent
sound capabilities, limited graphics 128x64 dots (or rather, blocks)
per screen, 64 characters across by 24? (25?) in normal text mode.[D
I believe it came with 32K RAM, and automatic BASIC interpretation.
i.e. The Model I was a terrible attempt at a computer, but was
appreciated by schools because it was from Radio Shack, and could be
used to teach something about computers to students without choking
on the bill of buying a mainframe (NEANDERTHAL computer)
There was a Model II computer that didn't last long, but I can't quite recall what it was, or the changes that made it Model II.
Model III was the HULKING giant that introduced disk drive options
IN unit, and a nice expensive upgrade available for HIRES graphics, although by todays standards, these should be called LORES.
I believe the Model IV was their only REAL contribution to the computer
world, and {we are still dealing with a HEFTY price tag, and a small
lack of consideration for miniaturization.
Basically, I wouldn't repair it..I would try to offload it on a
electronic hobbyist hard up for parts.,
[D
Rich
I learned BASIC on the TRS-80.plb@cbnewsi.ATT.COM (peter.l.berghold) (08/11/89)
In article <8908102238.AA12720@lognet2.af.mil> gautier@LOGNET2.AF.MIL (SrA Richard A. Gautier) writes: > Basically, I wouldn't repair it..I would try to offload it on a >electronic hobbyist hard up for parts., >[D > Rich > >I learned BASIC on the TRS-80. Actually, an electronic hobbyist like myself might try and turn it into some- thing usefull.... :-} Pete
peter@ficc.uu.net (Peter da Silva) (08/11/89)
In article <8908102238.AA12720@lognet2.af.mil>, gautier@LOGNET2.AF.MIL (SrA Richard A. Gautier) writes: > There was a Model II computer that didn't last long, but I can't quite recall what it was, or the changes that made it Model II. The model II was a business computer, and did quite well. It ran TRS-DOS and CP/M. It was the basis for the model 16 (the first 68000-based TRS-80, basically a model II with a coprocessor card). > Model III was the HULKING giant that introduced disk drive options > I believe the Model IV was their only REAL contribution to the computer The model IV was a repackaged model III, in the new cream box instead of the ugly silver. The model 16/model 6000 is what's being described. At one point it was THE most popular UNIX box out there (of course back then that wasn't saying that much). Until fairly recently, most UNIX installations in the world were model 16s or model 6000s running Xenix. -- Peter da Silva, Xenix Support, Ferranti International Controls Corporation. Business: peter@ficc.uu.net, +1 713 274 5180. | "The sentence I am now Personal: peter@sugar.hackercorp.com. `-_-' | writing is the sentence Quote: Have you hugged your wolf today? 'U` | you are now reading"
bill@bilver.UUCP (Bill Vermillion) (08/12/89)
In article <8908102238.AA12720@lognet2.af.mil> gautier@LOGNET2.AF.MIL (SrA Richard A. Gautier) writes: >The first thing that we need to determine is which TRS-80 we are >talking about. > >The Model 1 TRS-80 was a small piece of TRASH that offered a Z-80 >computer with limited I/O - tape drive was most common, no inherent >sound capabilities, limited graphics 128x64 dots (or rather, blocks) >per screen, 64 characters across by 24? (25?) in normal text mode.[D Aw! It wasn't that bad. My model I operated for in excess of 32,000 continuous power on hours while answering between 65k to 75k phone calls. The basic was in rom, and was really 4.5 microsoft. A version between the CPM M'soft and the IBM PC version. >There was a Model II computer that didn't last long, but I can't quite recall what it was, or the changes that made it Model II. The Model II, used a Z80 and up to 4 8" drives. Ran TRSDOS or CPM. It was the first business computer for a lot of people and in it's day was priced about right. $5k for a 1 drive unit. You could even get 8 Meg 8" HARD DRIVEs for a ton of money. I still see some in use. >Model III was the HULKING giant that introduced disk drive options >IN unit, and a nice expensive upgrade available for HIRES graphics, although by todays standards, these should be called LORES. Model III was a model I in one box upgraded to double density. >I believe the Model IV was their only REAL contribution to the computer >world, and {we are still dealing with a HEFTY price tag, and a small >lack of consideration for miniaturization. The Model 4 was an upgraded model III with all RAM insteead of ROM for the first 12k. Still a decendant of the I. IMHO - their first real contribution to the computer world were the 16/6000 series. 68000 Moto based. Brought Xenix to over 100,000 installation, and gave RS more installation of mulit-user computers than second place DEC :-). Of course the person inquiring may have the Color Computer. It certainly wan't the Tandy 10, because that was made for Tandy by someone else. That one goes back to the times when THE Radio Shack Computer store (only 1 at the time) sold such things as Vector Graphics, Northstar, and other assorted CPM based machines. -- Bill Vermillion - UUCP: {uiucuxc,hoptoad,petsd}!peora!tarpit!bilver!bill : bill@bilver.UUCP
mjt@super.ORG (Michael J. Tighe) (08/12/89)
In article <5650@ficc.uu.net> peter@ficc.uu.net (Peter da Silva) writes: > The model II was a business computer, and did quite well. It ran TRS- > DOS and CP/M. It was the basis for the model 16 (the first 68000-based > TRS-80, basically a model II with a coprocessor card). The Model II used the Z-80 chip. The Model 16 used the 68000, and had a Z-80 for I/O. > The model IV was a repackaged model III, in the new cream box instead > of the ugly silver. Both the Model III and Model IV used the Z-80 chip. the III ran at 2 Mhz, while the IV ran at 4Mhz. The III had a 64x16 screen, with a maximum of 48K RAM. The IV had a 80x24 screen, and could handle 128K RAM using bank switching. -- ------------- Michael Tighe internet: mjt@super.org uunet: ...!uunet!super!mjt
peter@ficc.uu.net (Peter da Silva) (08/13/89)
In article <12843@super.ORG>, mjt@super.ORG (Michael J. Tighe) writes: > In article <5650@ficc.uu.net> peter@ficc.uu.net (Peter da Silva) writes: > > The model II was a business computer, and did quite well. It ran TRS- > > DOS and CP/M. It was the basis for the model 16 (the first 68000-based > > TRS-80, basically a model II with a coprocessor card). > The Model II used the Z-80 chip. The Model 16 used the 68000, and had > a Z-80 for I/O. i.e., it was a Model II with a 68000 coprocessor card. In fact an upgrade for the Model II was available. When it first came out, before the Xenix port was done, it ran TRS-DOS and came with a 68000 assembler so people could write 68000 apps for it. Needless to say, there wasn't a huge response to that, so they added Xenix and made it a real product. -- Peter da Silva, Xenix Support, Ferranti International Controls Corporation. Business: peter@ficc.uu.net, +1 713 274 5180. | "The sentence I am now Personal: peter@sugar.hackercorp.com. `-_-' | writing is the sentence Quote: Have you hugged your wolf today? 'U` | you are now reading"
940se@MATHER1.AF.MIL (Pete Brown) (08/14/89)
gautier@lognet2.af.mil (SrA Richard A. Gautier) says:
>There was a Model II computer that didn't last long, but I can't quite recall w
hat it was, or the changes that made it Model II.
The TRS-80 II was a Z-80 machine with one or two 8-inch floppies and
TRSDOS operating system. The Air Force bought Northstars for the
active duty SAC units for flight planning, and celestial navigation
training. The Air National Guard folks who operate KC-135 aircraft
bought TRS-80 IIs for the same chores because they felt that they
were better off from a maintenance standpoint with a machine which
could be hauled to the corner Radio Shack store to be fixed. The AF
Reserve bought the TRS-80 to remain consistent with our ANG bretheren,
a choice which proved sound. We also bought SCRIPSIT word processing
software for the machine which started us in real office automation.
Pickles and Trout made a custom CP/M for the machine which did not
require low memory for stacks and stuff (where Radio Shack put ROMs)
and dBase II and WordStar (I think) worked fine.
We used the machine heavily until the Z-100 hit the USAF contract.clay@uci.UUCP (News Administrator) (08/17/89)
> The Model 1 TRS-80 was a small piece of TRASH that offered a Z-80 > computer with limited I/O - tape drive was most common, ... As soon as you added disks, and ran as OS that wasn't Tandy's, the TRS-80 Model I was a useful beast. Actually, I have an LNW-80 up in my attic (4mhz, CP/M capable, better disk interface,etc.) This was the first, or at least an early, clone. > There was a Model II computer that didn't last long, but I can't quite recall what it was, or the changes that made it Model II. The Model II was aimed at business computing. It had built-in 8" disk drives. Did this one have a 68K in it , too? I forget... > > Model III was the HULKING giant that introduced disk drive options > IN unit, and a nice expensive upgrade available for HIRES graphics, although by todays standards, these should be called LORES. > > I believe the Model IV was their only REAL contribution to the computer > world, and {we are still dealing with a HEFTY price tag, and a small > lack of consideration for miniaturization. To look at the discrete logic on those old boards is really something. Good prices on Tandy gear and accessories could be had from a number of third parties, just like today's PC clone gear. > Basically, I wouldn't repair it..I would try to offload it on a > electronic hobbyist hard up for parts., > [D > Rich > I have to agree. But, I remember the laughing at the IBM PC when it first came out, as my LNW could run rings around it, had a bug-free, flexible DOS (NEWDOS, DOS+, LDOS), and loads of software for it. Maybe this should move the nostalgia section of comp.arch... Clay -- Clayton Haapala ...!mmm!dicome!uci!clay Unified Communications Inc. 3001 Metro Drive - Suite 500 "Revenge is better than Christmas" Bloomington, MN 55425 -- Elvira