TRS-80 model 100
Announced:March 1983
Price:US $599 w/ 8K RAM
Weight:3.8 lbs.
CPU:80C85, 2.4MHz
RAM:8K, 32K max.
Ports:RS-232, parallel ports
bar code reader, 300 baud modem
Display:40 X 8 character LCD display
Power:4 'AA' batteries
runs for 16 hours on battery power
external 9vdc power supply
Storage:audio cassette in/out
OS:Microsoft BASIC v1.1 in ROM


The TRS-80 Model 100 was designed by Kyocera of Japan, who licenced the same design to NEC, Tandy, and Olivetti, who subsequently released almost identical computer systems.

The Tandy TRS-80 model 100 "Micro Executive Workstation" was by far the most popular though, due to the Radio Shack chain of electronics stores throughout America.

These are considered the world's first laptop computers, sporting a full-size keyboard, and enough ports to satisfy everyones needs. They all come with built-in software - the model 100 has:
  • Microsoft BASIC programming language
  • word processing software
  • telecommunications software
  • built-in 300 baud modem


    • Small size, a good keyboard and display made the model 100 very popular, especially with people on-the-go. There is no internal storage capability other than the battery-backed RAM, and a cassette recorder or external 5 1/4-inch floppy drive must be used for permanent data storage.

    The optional Disk/Video Interface has both video connections for a TV or composite monitor, and one or two built-in SS-DD 184K 5 1/4-inch floppy drives.

    The model 100 was the last computer system of which Microsoft's Bill Gates wrote a significant amount of the code. Read more about it in the Bill Gates Interview from the Smithsonian Institute.

    The model 102 was released in 1986 for $499. It is similar to the 100, but is slightly smaller, lighter, and has a few of the bugs from the model 100 fixed.

    A year later in 1984, the TRS-80 model 200 was released - it is similar but with a larger screen.

    Related Links

  • Club 100
  • TRS-80 Model 100 overview
  • TRS-80 Model 100 from Ira Goldklang's TRS-80 Revived Pages
  • Tandy Catalog Numbers from Tim Mann's TRS-80 Page
  • Kyocera FAQ from Blinkenlights Archaeological Institute

    • History of the Radio Shack Computers

    • 1921: - Radio Shack begins as a one-store retail and mail-order company catering to ham operators and electronics buffs.
    • 1963: - Charles Tandy buys the chain of stores, and within two years turned a $4 million dollar loss into a $20 million dollar profit.
    • 1977: August - Radio Shack announces the TRS-80 Model I microcomputer for US$600.
    • 1977: September - One month after launching the TRS-80, 10,000 are sold.
    • 1979: May - Tandy/Radio Shack announces the TRS-80 Model II.
    • 1979: October - Radio Shack begins shipping the TRS-80 Model II to users.
    • 1980: July - Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Model III, priced from US$700 to US$2500.
    • 1980: July - Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Color Computer, and sells for US$400.
    • 1980: July - Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Pocket Computer. Price is US$230.
    • 1981: January - Radio Shack ceases production of the TRS-80 Model I, and recalls units from the US market, due to failure to meet new FCC radio-frequency interference regulations.
    • 1982: January - Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Model 16, with 8-inch floppy drives, and optional 8-MB hard drive.
    • 1982: January - Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Pocket Computer, Model PC-2, for US$280.
    • 1983: March - Radio Shack announces its TRS-80 Model 100 portable computer. Price is US$799 for 8KB version, to US$1134 for the 32KB version.
    • 1983: May - Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Model 4, for US$2000.
    • 1983: October - Tandy/Radio Shack announces the "transportable" TRS-80 Model 4P, for US$1800.
    • 1983: Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Pocket Computer, Model PC-4, replacing the PC-1, for US$70.
    • 1983: Tandy releases the TRS-80 Model 2000, which uses the Intel 80186 microprocessor.
    • 1983: Radio Shack unveils the TRS-80 Model 12 at the CP/M '83 Show. Price is US$3200.
    • 1985: March - Radio Shack introduces the Tandy 6000 multiuser system. It features Z80A and 68000 processors, 512 KB RAM, 80x24 text, graphics, 1.2-MB 8-inch disk, optional 15 MB hard drive, TRS-DOS, or XENIX 3.0. It supports up to 9 users.
      Source: Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers



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