TRS-80 | 1977

TRS-80

 The TRS-80 Micro Computer System (later renamed the Model I to distinguish it from its successors) is a desktop microcomputer developed by the American company Tandy Corporation and sold through their Radio Shack stores. Launched in 1977, it is one of the earliest mass-produced and mass-marketed retail home computers. The name is an abbreviation of Tandy Radio Shack, Z80 [microprocessor], referring to its Zilog Z80 8-bit microprocessor.

The TRS-80 had a full-stroke QWERTY keyboard, 4 KB of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) as standard memory, a small size, a floating-point Level I BASIC language interpreter in read-only memory (ROM), a 64-character-per-line video monitor, and a starting price of US$600 (equivalent to US$3,000 in 2023). A cassette tape drive for program storage was included in the original package. While the software environment was stable, the cassette load/save process, keyboard bounce issues, and a troublesome Expansion Interface contributed to the Model I's reputation as not well-suited for serious use. Initially (until 1981), it lacked support for lowercase characters, which may have hindered business adoption. An extensive line of upgrades and add-on hardware peripherals was developed and marketed by Tandy/Radio Shack. The basic system could be expanded with up to 48 KB of RAM and up to four floppy disk drives and/or hard disk drives. Tandy/Radio Shack provided full-service support, including upgrade, repair, and training services at their stores worldwide.

By 1979, the TRS-80 had the largest selection of software in the microcomputer market. Until 1982, the TRS-80 was the bestselling PC line, outselling the Apple II by a factor of five, according to one analysis. The TRS-80 Model III, which was broadly compatible, was released in the middle of 1980, and the Model I was discontinued shortly thereafter, primarily due to stricter Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations on radio-frequency interference. In April 1983, the Model III was succeeded by the TRS-80 Model 4. The TRS-80 name became a generic brand used for other unrelated computer lines sold by Tandy, including the TRS-80 Model II, TRS-80 Model 2000, TRS-80 Model 100, TRS-80 Color Computer, and TRS-80 Pocket Computer.

In the mid-1970s, Tandy Corporation’s Radio Shack division was a successful chain of over 3,000 electronics stores in the U.S. Among Tandy employees, buyer Don French purchased a MITS Altair kit computer and began designing his own computer. He showed it to Tandy’s vice president of manufacturing, John V. Roach. Although the design didn’t impress Roach, the idea of selling a microcomputer did. French and Roach visited National Semiconductor in 1976, where they were impressed by Steve Leininger’s expertise on the SC/MP microprocessor. After being unable to hire him through National, Leininger was working part-time at Byte Shop and was eventually hired by Tandy.

Tandy initially planned to produce a kit but Leininger persuaded the company to produce a preassembled computer instead, arguing that many people couldn't solder. Tandy’s executives feared that such a product would be too expensive and risky for the conservative company. However, as demand for CB radios declined, Tandy approved the project in December 1976. The first design had a membrane keyboard and no video monitor, but Leininger convinced the team to include a better keyboard, a monitor, and cassette storage to ensure a higher retail price and greater profit margin.

The TRS-80 was announced at a press conference on August 3, 1977, with a starting price of $399 for the basic unit and $599 for the version with a monitor and cassette recorder. It was promoted as the "most important, useful, and exciting electronic product of our time." Tandy’s aggressive marketing led to significant media attention and a flood of orders. By the end of 1977, over 10,000 units had been sold, and by 1978, the company had sold over 55,000 units.

By 1979, the TRS-80 was recognized as a leading product in the “1977 Trinity” of microcomputers, alongside Commodore PET and Apple II. Tandy had established itself as a major player in the microcomputer market, selling TRS-80 computers through its thousands of Radio Shack stores. By the early 1980s, Tandy had become the dominant supplier of small computers in the U.S.