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=             List_of_TRS-80_and_Tandy-branded_computers             =
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                            Introduction
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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. 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.


Model I
=========
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. 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.

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

In July 1980 the mostly-compatible TRS-80 Model III was launched, and
the original Model I was discontinued.


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.

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


Model 4
=========
The successor to the Model III was the Model 4. Its microprocessor was
a faster Z80A 4 MHz CPU. Disk-based Model 4's had 64 KB of RAM
standard; an optional bank of additional 64 KB was accessible to
applications software using bank switching technology.

The Model 4's new hardware features included a larger display screen
with 80 columns by 24 rows, inverse video, and an internal audio
speaker. Its keyboard had three function keys and a control key. It
used an all-new operating system derived from the advanced Model III
'LDOS 5', licensed from Logical Systems, now christened 'TRSDOS
Version 6'. A more modern version of Microsoft's BASIC interpreter
more closely resembled the MS-DOS GW-BASIC, featuring PC-like
functionality.

The Model 4 could run the industry-standard CP/M operating system
without hardware modification (as was needed for the Model III). This
afforded the user access to popular application software such as
MicroPro's 'WordStar', Ashton-Tate's 'dBase II', and Sorcim's
'SuperCalc'. Furthermore, the Model 4 could be booted with any Model
III operating system and emulated the Model III with 100 percent
compatibility. 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, as Zilog failed to bring the new CPU
to market.


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.


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, 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. In early 1983, Tandy switched from TRSDOS-16 to
Xenix.

The Model 16 evolved into the Model 16B with 256 KB in July 1983, 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.


Color Computers
=================
Tandy also produced the 'TRS-80 Color Computer', 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
computers. OS-9, a multitasking, multi-user operating system was
supplied for this machine.


Model 100 line
================
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.)  It was also marketed as the Micro
Executive Workstation (MEWS).

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" disk drive, connected via the 40-pin
expansion port in the bottom of the unit.


{{anchor|tandy200}}Tandy 200
==============================
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".


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.


Pocket Computers
==================
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.


Portable Data Terminal
========================
The TRS-80 PT-210 Portable Data Terminal was released in late 1982 for
. It included an acoustic coupler, 300 baud modem, thermal printer,
and typewriter-style keyboard.


PC-compatible computers
=========================
In the early 1980s, Tandy began producing a line of computers that
were at first "MS-DOS compatible"--able to run MS-DOS and certain
applications, but not fully compatible with every nuance of the
original IBM PC systems--and later mostly, but not 100%, IBM PC
compatible.  The first of these was the 'Tandy 2000', a pure MS-DOS
compatible machine with no IBM PC ROM BIOS or pretense of PC hardware
compatibility.  Such machines were common in the early 1980s; the NEC
APC is another example.  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.  This industry shift was mainly spurred by the
observation that most MS-DOS software was being written for the IBM PC
and relied not only on the services provided by MS-DOS itself but also
on others provided by the IBM ROM BIOS and, where the services
provided by neither DOS nor the IBM BIOS were adequate, on direct
low-level control of the IBM PC hardware (especially the video).

The Tandy 2000 was followed later by the less expensive 'Tandy 1000',
marketed as highly compatible with the IBM PC but actually designed to
be an enhanced IBM PCjr-compatible computer.  With inopportune timing
(for Tandy), IBM discontinued the unsuccessful PCjr shortly before the
Tandy 1000 was scheduled for introduction.  Despite this unfortunate
turn, the Tandy 1000 was well received and was succeeded by dozens of
Tandy 1000 models in a very successful and popular line.  Each of
these models was generally named by adding a two or three-letter
designation after "Tandy 1000", such as Tandy 1000 HD, Tandy 1000 HX,
or Tandy 1000 RLX.  While the progressive Tandy 1000 models fairly
quickly departed from PCjr hardware compatibility, they all retained
the enhanced CGA video modes of the IBM PCjr (supported by no other
IBM or clone machine), and some later models added an original 640x200
16-color video mode.

In 1987 Tandy introduced the 1400LT, a clamshell-style MS-DOS
compatible laptop computer with an integral monochrome LCD display and
two 3.5 inch diskette drives. A revised model 1400FD followed, and the
model 1400HD replaced one floppy drive with a 20 megabyte internal
hard drive.

As margins decreased in PC clones, in the early 1990s 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.

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


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