dwrowley (04/08/83)
Here is some more information on the Radio Shack TRS-100. - 8 line by 40 column LCD display with adjustable viewing angle. - Built in 300 baud modem (direct connect or acoustic, depending on the cable you buy) - Built in RS-232 interface - Built in Centronics parallel printer port - Built in Bar Code Reader socket (wand not included with basic unit) - Cassette interface - 32k ROM, containing the application software - word processor (like scripsit), a terminal program with uploading/downloading capability, automatic dialing and log on and log off, Microsoft Extended Basic, an address manager and a calendar manager. - Expandable to 32k RAM. The unit is sold in two configurations: 8k at $799 U.S. , $1099 Canadian and 24k at $999 U.S. (canadian price for the 24k version is unknown at this time, but it should be around $1350). Both configurations are expandable in 8k increments at $119 U.S. per 8k. - The physical size is about 8 1/2 by 11 by 2 inches. - ROM socket for future Application programs (up to 32k). - 40 Pin bus connector (Radio Shack has made no commitments to what peripherals they will market for the 100, but say that a disk drive is a possibility) - 64 by 240 dot bit addressable graphics available through basic (characters are drawn on the screen bit by bit, thus characters may be overlayed by graphic dots without erasing the character, unlike the model I/III graphics which were done through characters) - Full Microsoft extended basic, with graphic commands to draw lines, boxes and the like. The Basic supports the RS-232 interface (ON MDM GOTO ...), the real-time clock (ON TIME$ = ... GOTO ... ), a sound generator and a beeper. The basic also includes a good set of file i/o commands (similar to TRSDOS commands). These are used to read and write to the various types of files: LCD (the screen), CAS (the cassette interface), MDM (the modem/rs-232 interface), LPT (the printer) and RAM (in-memory files). They include an example of a basic program that dials up the Dow Jones stock market service, logs on, requests information on specified stocks, puts the output in a RAM file and logs out, without any user intervention. Thus the 100 could be used to call up time-sharing systems like dow jones, the source and compuserve, get information for you when the rates are low and you are asleep and store it all in a file until it is convenient for you to look at the output. - I performed a primitive benchmark on the basic, it takes 31 seconds to perform 10000 empty for/next loops, compared with 27 seconds on the model I. - Automatic power off feature with adjustable time delay. - Ability to specify a basic program to execute upon power-on. - The word processor is like scripsit and has commands for 'cut and paste' type editing. The word processor is available through the basic to edit programs. With all these features, the Model 100 will probably sell fairly well. If you have any questions or more information about the 100, mail to me at: ...philabs!micomvax!dwrowley David Rowley.