Is that smoke? Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 4 Computer Unboxing and Test

[@LGR]

Awesome stuff! Sad that my Model 4 is dead, I really gotta repair it someday. And I see that case-less Hot Wheels PC back there ;)

[@sonicunleashedfan124]

Hey it’s lgr!

[@alexanderblake5780]

strange to see you here

[@jamescrow4915]

If you really need it my model 4 128 is still kicking since 1990 from its last reboot

[@joesyuh]

You are annoying.

[@CanadianTimeLord]

I worked for Radio Shack Canada in the distribution warehouse in Barrie, Ontario for years just at the tail end of the TRS and Tandy Computer era. I was a QC inspector for computer equipment. The 4C4 on the box is the date code which would confirm final assembly was April 1984. "Burn in n proud" is a new one on me but may mean it was one of the units that were QC tested before the shipment was released for distribution.

[@TheRetroCollective]

Great to have you back and with such drama! Looking forward to the repair

[@tomatolicious]

I have had a lot of these very same RIFA brand filter caps blow up in some military surplus bench power supplies that I picked up a couple of weeks back. I know that very smell! PS: Once you are done recapping this beast you should add a stamp of the same style with "AB RECAP N PROUD" Good to see you back!

[@andygozzo72]

those RIFA s are notorious for this problem, they should ideally be replaced on sight, especially if their epoxy casing is cracked or showing signs of starting to crack

[@andygozzo72]

as for the other caps, they'd probably be ok, this was made well before the 'capacitor plague' era! i rarely come across bad caps from the 80's,

[@emanuellandeholm5657]

"AB RECAP N PROUD" made my day :D

[@wesleyalexander7455]

Damn you just voided your warranty by opening that thing.

[@reh3884]

That's really a myth. Manufacturers are always putting those stickers on, but by law, they cannot void your warranty just because you opened it.

[@TDederick]

Tesla has a seal that says opening their car motor that warns - “opening this motor voids your warranty”. I can just that motor apart to see what’s in it and not worry about voiding my warranty?

[@richshealer3755]

@@reh3884 Around 1982, I opened a Model II to adjust the horizontal position, later it was taken in to a RS Computer Center and they ended up charging a fee because the seal was broken.

[@j.lindback]

@@reh3884 I don't know about the jurisdiction in your country, but here in Sweden warranty is laregely a voluntary thing on the manufacturers part (with some exceptions as stated in law), and if it's voluntary the producer is free to deem the warranty void. And I guess that law works the same way in most other jurisdictions. The thing of note here is that many people probably misunderstand the meaning of the word "warranty".

[@melkiorwiseman5234]

Australian law contains an implied warranty for anything sold, which takes precedence over any warranty offered by either the retailer or the manufacturer. Unless the retailer or manufacturer can show that your opening the case either caused or contributed in a major way to the failure, they risk an expensive penalty imposed by a court of law. And no, the consumer does not generally have to initiate that court action. There is a government body which will do that (although they prefer to avoid expensive court action if it's possible to resolve the complaint without involving the courts).

[@edsiefker1301]

Man, now I want some Gatorade.

[@jamesslick4790]

Me 2! 😂

[@stavivanackerson6563]

@@jamesslick4790 this guy almost made me hate computers...

[@jamesslick4790]

@@stavivanackerson6563 Why just because he says "gate array" too fast?

[@stavivanackerson6563]

@@jamesslick4790 no because he bought a piece of wonderful treasure for 80 bux and was complaining about the smell...

[@magnum7978]

@@stavivanackerson6563 I don't think he was complaining about the smell, more like pointing it out. Besides, "musty smell" could mean anything. And "smoker machine" refers to a PC used by a smoker, and cigarette smoke can usually ruin plastics.

[@dougyork9112]

All i could think by seeing this was that these were available until 1991? And by 1997 we were playing diablo. What a time to be alive!

[@pwnmeisterage]

I don't really see how this whole computer thing will ever catch on. Who would ever want a computer in their home? In 100 years maybe the five richest kings in Europe will each have one, but that's about it.

[@seanc.5310]

As much as I know you are saying "gate array" I keep hearing "Gatorade". 7:45

[@beepyshenanigans]

gatearrayde

[@BrettonFerguson]

Yeah. Gate arrayed.

[@doomtrooper2909]

@@beepyshenanigans Water!

[@erroneus00]

Me too... what's with the gatorade?! green phosphor?

[@skeeter197140]

Same.

[@sky173]

Loved my old TRS-80. I learned basic on that in the early 80's. Too bad it let the smoke out... good video.

[@iamdarkyoshi]

I knew from that sound that it was a RIFA... Never going to forget that sizzle and BANG from my Osborne 1!

[@Anacronian]

Ahh good the owner wasn't a smoker, Little did Adrian know that the computer was the smoker...

[@DomoKunFPGA]

I worked at TCA from November 1983 to Dec 1984, I was also in the back working on Model 4 pcb’s, and the floor with the Floor Techs and in Engineering. We were developing a model which would contain a modem IiB and some better drives, but were always under the cloud that everything we were working on was about to be overcome by events. Sure enough, when I visited the plant a year later, only a handful of people remained; the CoCo assembly line took up a tiny square in the middle of what was once a sprawling plant at 1515 Goliad Road. The building is even gone now. But most of my best troubleshooting and electronics skills were finely honed at Tandy Computer Assembly, and I happily remember my days there.

[@youreperfectstudio4789]

I started with a CoCo 3

[@fyreantz2555]

I had a Supermen comic featuring two kids with TRE-80's helping him fight crime. This was epic stuff for an eight year old...

[@TheMadSalviGaming]

Oh no, you let out the magic smoke from the computer. It will never be the same

[@alexc8992]

The Mad Salvi rip pc

[@FairPlay137]

Don't worry; all you have to do is put the smoke back into the computer and everything will be fine.

[@1973Washu]

You can get a replacement can of magic smoke at the same place as you find the long weight and the round tuit.

[@MadMorgie6318]

@@1973Washu that is also where they sell headlight fluid and elbow grease.

[@BenCos2018]

@@MadMorgie6318 lol

[@RetailArchaeology]

This was great, you got a new subscriber ☺

[@LuciferStarr]

One thing I learned as the son of a sparky: The smoke, sparks and fire are not allowed to escape from the components that they live inside. When they do, bad things happen.

[@JamesSpeiser]

stupid name

[@gigamut11b86]

Talk about a blast from the past :) My brother got me interested in computers by programing on the computer at the Library. It was a coin operated TSR-80 III. My brother would buy programing books from the Tandy/Radio Shack in town...then play with augmenting them and learning how they work. I still had all my disk, until last year that is, when they got damaged in a move. Thanks for sharing with us all. Hope you have a great day & be safe.

[@williamstaten8102]

I still have three stores near me, there all private ran though. Cool video! I collect there stereo receivers. Got about 20 late 70s and 80s models.

[@luisreyes1963]

I never get bored watching videos featuring electronic antiquities. Just how do they preserve such historical pieces?

[@kellyfrench]

That shipping label is from the DC to the store who ordered it on behalf of the customer. They gave each DC a ‘store’ number for tracking by their warehouse management system, which was written in the 70’s on a Tandem non-stop machine and was continually used until they shut it off in 2017.

[@johnbrevard5966]

Thank you for uploading,,, I got one for Xmas and I never left my desk... Long Love Radio Shack!!

[@antonnym214]

I worked at a Radio shack Computer Center near Northlake Mall, Atlanta when the model 4 came out. That vinyl cover you have there is a separate SKU. Sold separately, and didn't come with the model 4. I had a model I at the time, and the 4 impressed me by being a single self-contained unit, which solved problems we were having with the Model 1 keyboard and expansion interface cable.

[@CraftsmanontheLake]

My first computer was a Radio Shack model 1. I got it because they upgraded the 4k mem model to 16k. Would anyone ever need more! No floppy drive without an expensive add-on and stuff saved to a modified cassette tape deck. 1979. 6 years later I obtained a Mac SE. Still floppies (3.5") A friend an I ordered Quantum hard drives and installed them. By buying two we got a special price of $540 each for 40 meg, not gig drives. We had to remove and modify one of the floppy spaces to install them. Would anyone ever need more storage space! Great wild west times.

[@danmackintosh6325]

Wow 40 meg, you glutton! lol my Olivetti 086 only made do with 20 (although it did have 128k RAM I think and a socketed 087 math co-processor so it was quite the lightning bolt!)

[@yamahonkawazuki]

i had hte external 20Meg drive on my se. ohh the days. still have that thing.

[@NextWorldVR]

Totally, I remember being so excited the FIRST TIME I PUSHED A CD-ROM TRAY EJECT BUTTON, OH MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES, If only I could evoke that simple exciting feeling with my VR games, I'm trying!

[@JoesComputerMuseum]

Ah, the dreaded RIFA filter capacitor! It's been the source of smoke for many old 8-bit machines!

[@89.8kiwifm9]

I find those sh*tty RIFA caps in all sorts of things. Bloody things go BANG then smoke up and it stinks.

[@MrEd-qg8td]

Oh yeah those things really stink when they go

[@binkman853]

Awesome find! Look forward to more on it.

[@timhaines3877]

I picked up a couple of these model 4's over the summer to refurb (haven't done it yet, because life got in the way). The first thing I noticed was that they have different keyboard layouts (notably the arrow keys). I didn't know this might correspond to different build configurations, so I will check that out! Great video. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the teardown.

[@ultrametric9317]

This was a great blast from the past! Like movies I forget these episodes and can enjoy them again! April 1984 I was getting married and graduating college and starting my first computer job! IBM compiled BASIC forever baby!

[@geoffpool7476]

Awesome find! I just moved to Portland myself so I'll have to be on the lookout. Love to see some more videos on this machine - haven't had a chance yet to work with these systems yet. I have a Model II 16 I've acquired and needs some work.

[@theman764]

I have a trs 80 model 4 I’ve restored and it’s a good Computer that sits right next to my modern gaming computer. It’s always fun to use. Haha funny thing is that I got mine off offer up too for about 50$ without a box. Glad you found one too.

[@electronash]

RIFA X2 mains cap strikes again. lol Two of my BBC Micros released the smoke too. Both times I was fully expecting it (as you likely did), and they popped within 20 minutes of the first power up. I don't think the smoke is too healthy btw. Those caps contain "the 80s". lol

[@derealized797]

I had the TRS-80 when I was growing up. Or at least, my older brother did, they were his but I still have a lot of memories of using it. Our grandparents gave us a TRS-80 and a TI 99/4A. The Tandy was an earlier model, the monitor was separate from it, and we used cassette tapes. There were game cartridge slot on the side of it too. It was such a great computer for its time too, this was somewhere mid 80s for me. There was this magazine I remember getting in the mail that was just all about the Tandy with codes and everything. This was back when you ordered video games through the mail. Cheap print out catalog, and they'd send a floppy disc or cassette in the mail inside a plastic sandwich bag. It was cool.

[@JohnLeePettimoreIII]

I have insisted for decades that each type of electronics component has its own unique smell when it fries. Many don't believe me. Some do. Thank you for supporting my assertion. Happy to be somewhat vindicated.

[@orangeActiondotcom]

I was just wondering if I'd missed any new videos from you yesterday and was re-watching your Tandy 1000 videos. Glad to see you're back!

[@antonnym214]

From the key labels, I would say this unit was used for word processing. The popular word processor for this model was Scripsit, and they would have used it with one of the Daisy Wheel printers on offer at the time. When I was working at the Radio Shack Computer Center, we sold a ton of these to attorneys for word processing. Couldn't keep them on the shelves.

[@mrzap0]

Yep. My dad got a second-hand model I which included Scripsit with its collection of software in about 1980. I remember there being a section in the manual telling you how to label up your keyboard. It came with a set of audio cassettes as well with spoken lessons on how to use the software.

[@ovalwingnut]

Definitely got a SURPRISE & WT* out of me when the smoke-monster appeared. Really hits home as to what can happen. You were spot on with your guess. Very COoL ShackPC. Thank you! 👍😁

[@willdwyer6782]

You're taking me back to my high school days. My school had these in the computer lab.

[@keithwhisman]

You jinxed it when you sniffed it and gloated about not liking smoke.

[@makeminefreedom]

I remember seeing a Tandy computer at Radio Shack in the 70's priced at over 2,000 dollars. I never thought I would ever be able to afford one. Looking back it is amazing how much people paid for so little memory and speed.

[@neddludd6076]

makeminefreedom my first wad 2500. 128k one floppy and a printer and monitor.

[@JapanPop]

Oh the memories! My first computer. Thanks for sharing this! We used to punch holes in the other side of our double-sided diskettes and cut a notch so we could flip the disks over and use them like an LP

[@DerekWitt]

Ooh... a Model 4. My first computer was a Model III. :) Had 64kB ram and dual 360kB floppy drives. I first learned to program on my TRS-80. I had loads of fun on mine. I even programmed the cassette port to produce sound in Z80 assembly.

[@DJ_Rx_FullThrottle]

I took 2 years of electronics in high school. In 1979 the electronics lab bought a TRS-80 Model I, with cassette drive. It was love at first sight =) I taught myself BASIC. A Radio Shack would be in a shopping mall, with a TRS-80 on display out front. I would type a 3 line program, filing the screen with text, and walk away... ;)

[@ComputerLearning0]

Beautiful machine, and the price was amazing.

[@gavincurtis]

We are finishing up our basement too! Awesome find.

[@r12fre0n]

I saved one of these (non Gate Array) right out of the e-waste dump a few months back. Worked right away. It's at home, working on recapping the power board.

[@r12fre0n]

I feel you. This was at one of the few places with no restrictions. I was shocked and kinda pissed that something so old and valuable was just dumped like nothing. Were I not there, that's one more TRS-80 gone forever. I've been looking for a Sony Trinitron for a while without any luck. It's likely most of them around here met their end at that same dump... I don't want to think about it.

[@darkstatehk]

“I have a bunch of stuff planned for the near future….” You certainly did Mr Black, you certainly did :)

[@ahndeux]

OMG. The first computer I have ever used in my life was the TRS80 Model III. It did not have a floppy disk drive. Only the instructor had a floppy disk drive and we would take turns to load our programs from the serial port with a rotary switch. It brings back so much memories. I went from not even able to type to programming BASIC on that computer. It was an amazing experience learning how to Poke and Peek. Eventually, my final project in 8th grade was to make a space invaders clone. I had to program the moves and track the bullets moving up and the motion of the shooter. Needless to say it was extremely slow, but it worked! I still remember it to this day.

[@Richardddoobies]

When you boot it up without a disk in the drive, it will ask you, "CASS?" (did you at least pop for the cassette drive?) If you answer "Y" it will boot from a cassette. If you answer "N" it will catch fire immediately.

[@joelowens6862]

I worked at TCA in San Antonio - Tandy Computer Assembly. It was located at 1515 Goliad Road on the south side. We sent our assembled and tested Model IVs to TAP (Tandy Advanced Products) for their QA prior to delivery to the stores. I really loved working here, and worked everything from board component level repair, to test-fixture design and manufacture. They had stopped Model III production prior to my arrival, and there were boxes and boxes and boxes of MIII CPU boards stacked everywhere to collect dust. I never could afford the Model IV, but built my own on prototype boards a few years ago (about 2018) but has a 24x80 monochrome display.

[@JamesPotts]

G A T O R A D E Gate Array My son just typed this. He loved the video. :)

[@inachu]

I loved the Model 4! Back when it was called a star network. lol

[@scootergeorge9576]

Smoke? Years ago, in the Navy, one of the electronics technicians brought a tv into work to fix. Was working fine. when he looked away I shotgunned a whole lot of cigar smoke into the back of the set then shouted, "Hey man, something wrong with the set." He's lie "UNPLUG IT!!" I started laughing and he figured it out. Called me an asshole but admitted it was kind of funny.

[@northof-62]

Exciting! Hope u get it to work. Looking forward to a follow-up.

[@modernknightone]

Wow this really takes me back. My family could never afford one of these. But my neighbor friend's Dad was an engineer and they were the first people on our block to have a PC. We spent hours writing programs in basic out of game books we bought to finally oooh and aaah at the little crossbow shooting ^ * ! # symbols at a tower made of the same alphabet soup which would throw off alphabet debris each time it was hit. That thing taught me programming patience with a thousand GOTO lines and one comma out of place preventing our amazing magical little games from running. They had the cassette version. I remember copying programs late into the night during sleep-overs. Those were the days! Kids now don't appreciate (at all) how far we have come. They take all of the technology they enjoy on a daily basis completely for granted. Thanks for the vid. Subscribed.

[@buenopower1]

glad you're back

[@borismatesin]

Interesting machine. I can't wait to see the repair video. Seems like the same type of capacitor (possibly even by the same manufacturer) as the one that smoked out in The 8-Bit Guy's Osborne.

[@IrreverentSOB]

Great video, once you start watching it's impossible to stop !

[@awesome117unsc]

I love these Retro computers even though they were manufactured before I was born. Great video.

[@jonzie008]

It was fun to watch. My first love was a TRS-80 Model I back in the early 80's. Sigh... miss those days!

[@kentbetts]

I worked at the Tandy computer assembly plant. I did QC testing on units for A&A, the export arm of Tandy. I recall testing some Model II 4k units that were going to Australia. That is the only model they sent there. It was pretty lame, since everyone else was buying the standard 16k model. Never understood that. Thanks for the very interesting background info.

[@douglasquaid4518]

I remember seeing that computer in the window at radio shack BIG BUCKS !!

[@johnpossum556]

Interesting find, I remember the cheat for the SSD was to use a paper hole bunch on the diskette jacket and flip the disc to double that storage. You're right about the homemade hacks -- I bought a Coco 2 that had a half meg ramdisk that was bolted atop the frame because apparently it ran too hot inside the case. I'm not sure if I would bend that case back if I were you. PCBs are pretty fragile and once the tracks go open then get held in a working position they don't like going back to the way they were before.

[@johnpossum556]

Best as I can remember the hole punch trick should work because the magnetic disc itself has a hole already in it(for the index hole sensor). So once the hole is punched in the jacket on the other side the index hole sensor has a clear line of sight through the disc jacket and the magnetic disc itself. I'd say I could be sure 90-95%. As long as you have right type of discs with the index hole in them on the magnetic disc it should work just fine. I've got 3 TRS-80 Cocos total, 2 of them TRS-80 coco I's and I think they are original drives. I look forward to your upcoming videos as I didn't even know there was a CoCo 4. The lay out of it reminded me of my friend with a Commodore PET.... it had a little rod like car hoods do to keep it up and he used to hide his cigarettes in it!

[@reh3884]

Yes, it was hard indexed instead of soft like the Apple was, but the trick still worked. You just had to also punch out the index hole for the other side.

[@smalltownMainer]

i recently got a apple iie which was very musty, but not as bad after wiping it down.

[@speccysrule3678]

I had the TRASH 80 Model II with seperate B/W monitor & cassette deck. I spent many, many hours writing games & utilities on it. Left bedroom window open one day and it got rained on! Never worked again. :( Lovin the vids.

[@ncgallagher]

RIP Radio Shack

[@DrFruikenstein]

ncgallagher The company still lives, and is still supplying remaining independent stores. Whether that will continue far into the future, or if that's only to clear out old stock, is a good question. I hope it'll continue as I like being able to run 15 miles to the Shack to buy parts, rather than having to wait 7 to 10 days for the twenty cents worth of resistors (and having to buy ten dollars worth) needed to finish a project.

[@ncgallagher]

out where I live there is nothing within hours so they don't live for me. and thats true for most of the country. so no youre wrong.

[@DrFruikenstein]

ncgallagher True for most people, but technically not true for the brand itself. I'll admit that I'm one of the lucky ones to have an independent store near me that's still open. Although, that did triple the distance to the closet store, after all the corporate stores closed.

[@MooMoo22]

our radioshack closed just a couple days ago:(

[@cooliofoolio]

I still see RadioShack stores around here, along with K-Marts too. Nothing ever goes out of business here.

[@paxwebb]

The "Trash 80" was the first computer I ever layed hands on and we spent hours typing in programs we got from Tandy magazine (I think that was the name?). I was barely a teenager, but it solidified my lifelong love for computers. Great memories!

[@Rood67]

I had a TRS-80 Model 3, 16Kb, with a cassette, no disk. It was my first computer upgrade. Using a cop inserter, upgraded to 64Kb. Later, I got a Model IV Portable. Dual 5-1/4 drives. It looked like a sewing machine.

[@geotechie2391]

"Burn In " is a term used when a PC is manufactured , Its set up on a rack and runs a program for 48 hours to make sure all components are working, " Burning it in" I remember those days ;) These were the computers that started me off in the IT field Thank you

[@georgechambers3197]

Good to have you back. I almost gave up on you!

[@semco72057]

I had one of those Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 4 computers and later got a Model 3 to get parts from to repair the original one to get more service out of. That computer only ran the Tandy version of Basic and there was many programs for that computer and I spent many hours using that computer until I got the 1000 from Radio Shack. The CRT had the green screen on it and that computer was well taken care of judging by the look of it with and without the cover on it.

[@arcadeparty4946]

My childhood computer, I remember a game called dancing demon. Man this video takes me back.... thank you.

[@antonnym214]

Great stuff! I subscribed immediately!

[@BlackburnBigdragon]

That's the model of computer that I learned how to write computer programs on. Man this takes me back.

[@Thatdavemarsh]

Brings back memories! I remember Basic, CPM, LDOS and writing homework using LScript and an external spellcheck program

[@smartthinkerg8129]

Im not into computers but I find you interesting. U clearly know your stuff . Thanks for video.

[@BPDBRETT]

That thing was built on January 13th, 1984. Very cool. That was my 18th birthday. I spent most of my time working with Apple 2 and 3 back then because we had them at my high school. I couldn’t afford to my own computer until 1992. I worked with Macs when i was at KPMG from 1989-1992 and bought an AST 486/25 as my first PC.

[@cbmeeks]

Great video. Look forward to the restoration!

[@clangerbasher]

Lucky so-so. I will watch this tomorrow and drool. Can't drool now as all my buckets outside in my shed.

[@mercenem]

Dude! My first computer, was my aunts before she passed! Still have it at my parents house! I remember that program you could save recipes lol

[@sergeantgunny]

TRS-80 Model I was my first "love at first sight PC" when I went into a Radio Shack in like 1979 and saw it playing a really basic block-type missile command game. The next semester in Junior High school I signed up for my first computer programming class (BASIC on Apple II+).

[@Dietzebacher]

This Model 4 is definately not a Gate Array version. As the gate array board has a different layout the serial port exists to the rear of the cabinet. A gate array board won't fit in a non gate array cabinet. This destinction is the only way to tell if it's a gate array board inside without opening the computer and looking on the board itself. -Rainer (Germany)

[@kmath50]

My very first BASIC program was written using a TRS-80. It was the earlier one, where the keyboard and monitor were separate. It also had the "cash register tape" printer. I believe that it sold for $499.

[@WPPCProductions]

From the classic TV show/movie Mission Impossible. "This computer will self destruct in 5 seconds " "Good luck Adrian". Hi Adrian.I have a couple of those here. Had a smoke show when I plugged my old Lafayette reel to reel recorder in when the motor cap blew apart.

[@Pipe_Piper]

I was 11 in my GATE class programming in basic. A simple video game. 1981. I had only a tape drive at the time. An earlier unit like this was there but an older student had dibs. Great memories!

[@newagederpderp]

>CAUTION: DO NOT DROP AS CRT MAY IMPLODE Sounds about right.

[@danielkarlsson156]

That custom cover is just wonderful :)

[@teacfan1080]

My first computer was the model 3. Had lots of fun with BASIC on that one!

[@neddludd6076]

Wow memories. Nice condition. First was Tandy 1000 with 128 k RAM and 1 5.25 floppy. Upgraded to 640 k RAM 2 floppies and an TEN MEG hard drive. It was wonderful. Learned DOS. Green screen and a 17 inch daisy wheel printer. Upgrading cost over 1000$. The hhd was 200$. Really durable reliable computer.

[@pwnmeisterage]

80s-era "All in one" form-factor computers always had beautiful mechanical-switch keyboards. Worth buying dead units for that alone.

[@pdtech4524]

Can you still get the 'magic smoke' for these old computers?😁 I remember my computer studies teacher at school bringing his own TRS-80 into class and wowing us all with it's capabilities! ⚠️😁 We used a Video Genie in class and I learnt to program in basic 👍😎

[@evetsnitram8866]

Reminds me of when I took a Basic programming class back in '82. I felt a little high tech carrying around a CD sized black floppy programming on an Apple II monochrome screen in text.

[@Sashazur]

I love the all-in-one look, reminds me of so many sci-fi movies from the 60s-70s. My first computer was the first TRS-80, taught myself BASIC. Then I had a couple of their Color Computers and taught myself assembly and wrote and sold some games and stuff. My last TRS-80 was the model 100 when I was in college, which was that super-portable laptop-ish thing with the tiny LCD display. After that I got the first Mac. Radio shack computers were doomed once IBM clones got big. I know Tandy made clones too, but it was hard for them to compete.

[@stevenbrown8782]

I still have the first TRS-80 model made. Keyboard, tape recorder/player and monitor still in the origional box. Along with the fist Model Vic-20. Just can't get rid of them. Sentimental value and all that!

[@jeep146]

That's funny because I have one in my garage haven't played with it in years. The start of the wild wild west days. Kids don't know what they missed.

[@tieline1333]

can you just stop. you don't know what you are talking about I am young and I know what I missed. I am a collector so shut up.

[@tieline1333]

I know more then 10 other people that are also collectors and are my age.

[@dbranconnier1977]

The VIC-20 should have been a game console. 5kb RAM just wasn't enough to do anything useful on it. Commodore should have made them with at least 8kb RAM. As for the TRS-80 model 4, at least you were able to run Visicalc on it and it looked cool back in it's day.

[@johns.7609]

CFX MediaGroup you should learn the difference between an anecdote and an insult.

[@blacktoaster]

When I was in grade school, our library had a dual floppy Model 4 with five or six Model IIIs connected to it. The Model 4 acted as a server and the Model IIIs could load software from the 4. Our favorite game was, of course, Oregon Trail. 🙂

[@antonoudenhoven7573]

Didnt need a smoker back then smokes by its self l. Just new here i like what you do whit the old stuff keep it going.

[@williamescolantejr5871]

Well good to know there are still some folks who still use the smoke test as an indicator of operation lol.Dont feel bad,had it happen to me lots of times

[@MooMoo22]

we have 4 model 3s! but 3 of them need to be restored... capacitor popped! but 1 of them work but i dont know how long

[@jarrettdoesstuff2318]

I really liked the addition of the background music!

[@Artimusbartimus]

WOW...This is what I learned to program with in the 8th grade. After this it was the TRS-80 Color computer standard....Those lil fellas were cool!

[@jonfeldman973]

Hooray you are back!

[@poorpauly1308]

That takes me back to High School, 80' - 84'. My first intro to a computer. Used a standard cassette recorder to save my programs.