something
totally off topic from the 8S machines there are some
trs80 radio shack things that are huge like the MODEL 2 was but these were
later and had a 3 number designator ? there are many as I remember one
will be kept another kept for offsite displays but the others will
goooooooo........
I don't remember anything beyond the II/12/16 series, but no
one tells
me anything.
In addition to the model 1, . . .
The model 1 line was converted from a "component" system to a single box.
For those not familiar, it resembled a Northstar Dimension. Keyboard,
screen, two 5.25" floppies in a terminal like case. That was the model 3.
Default disk format was double density. Since the WD 179x controller
could not write a truly exact model 1 format single density disk (did not
support certain data address marks), there were some kludges and changes
in TRS-DOS, so there were minor glitches in the "upgrade path".
Radio Shack eventually cut a deal to market L-DOS as TRS-DOS 6.
("And Randy Cook is now finally collecting royalties!")
Soon, the model 4 was made available - same basic machine with 80x24 video
(V 51x16), green screen, a few missing keys provided, and ability to
remap the ROM from the memory map. Finally, CP/M was available without
memory remapping hardware, nor software kludge of having TPA not in low RAM.
The college got a whole lab full of model 3's converted into model 4's, at
a price per each that was only slightly more than buying new model 4's.
Model 4P was luggable version, vaguely resembling early Compaq.
Model 2 wasn't what I would call "huge", but such is relative.
It was completely unrelated to model 1, other than name, and
naming it's OS (mutually incompatible with model 1/3) "TRS-DOS".
But, CP/M was also available.
It had an 8" drive, and "huge" external case if you wanted more
than one.
Radio Shack came out with a 68000 CPU board! and Xenix
It could be used instead of the Z80 CPU, or have BOTH! (12 and 16)
In terms of "huge", there were a few other machines that rarely,
if ever, actually made it to market, such as the "Tandy 10",
built into a desk, and sold exclusively through
"Radio Shack Computer Center"s.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at
xenosoft.com
