A 1991 episode of The Computer Chronicles focused on Tandy/Radio Shack. Step back in time with me...
http://www.archive.o...ils/episode_921
A 1991 view of Tandy/Radio Shack
Started by gdvanc, May 08 2011 11:00 PM
3 replies to this topic
#1
Posted 08 May 2011 - 11:00 PM
#2
Posted 19 May 2011 - 01:57 PM
That is good vid. Great find.
ROCK ISLAND
Fort Worth Texas
Fort Worth Texas
#3
Posted 19 May 2011 - 07:09 PM
When I was abut 42 years old, I bought one of the first Tandy TRS-80 Model 100 computers (cassette storage interface) in September 1977 at the Ridglea store. Although I had never worked with a computer before, I taught myself to program in Basic and by 1980 I had a commercial program for radio stations and this was the start of a a business that lasted until 1997 when I sold out to two of my competitors. Later versions ran on the Model 3, the Model 12 and the Xenix (Unix based) versions and then finally in 1982 onto the new IBM PC's.
To say that the TRS-80 totally changed my life is an understatement. With it I finally engaged my mind and opened up the world. Nothing has been the same since. I still have a copy of the old TRS-80 Basic instruction manual. Nothing better has ever come out for beginning programmers.
To say that the TRS-80 totally changed my life is an understatement. With it I finally engaged my mind and opened up the world. Nothing has been the same since. I still have a copy of the old TRS-80 Basic instruction manual. Nothing better has ever come out for beginning programmers.
Pete Charlton
The Fort Worth Gazette blog
The Lost Antique Maps of Fort Worth on CDROM
Website: Antique Maps of Texas
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#4
Posted 19 May 2011 - 09:58 PM
I bought a TRS-80 in 1981. It had a 16k ram. (I bet my Sonic toothbrush has 256K) Also bought the cassette based storage. I paid $999. for my computer plus $70 for a "Special" Cassette deck. I dreamed of the floppy disk option. 360K and $300. I bought the computer because I had a basic programing class at UTA. Funny, I still use some of that programming logic in EXCEL to this day. (Like, if, then, else)
I got an A in that class and most students got a D or F because they had fraternity brothers write their programs leaving the actual student in a crisis come final exam where we had to write a program. Was a piece of cake for those of us few that actually learned Basic. Of course I threw out my TRS-80 after keeping it for like 15 years just in case it was ever worth something. (I think they are worth something now.)
When I think how sophisticated my Apple Nano is, it just amazes me with the progress. Then Nano is like the size of a stamp yet holds thousands of albums, pic, movies and more. Has a clock and the best portable am -fm radio I have ever used. And had RDS song ID. Crazy. I can't figure how the battery can even be as small as the Nano is. BTW, it is way too small for me. I am looking for a Grampaw addition that is not too small for my huge hands and poor eyes.
I got an A in that class and most students got a D or F because they had fraternity brothers write their programs leaving the actual student in a crisis come final exam where we had to write a program. Was a piece of cake for those of us few that actually learned Basic. Of course I threw out my TRS-80 after keeping it for like 15 years just in case it was ever worth something. (I think they are worth something now.)
When I think how sophisticated my Apple Nano is, it just amazes me with the progress. Then Nano is like the size of a stamp yet holds thousands of albums, pic, movies and more. Has a clock and the best portable am -fm radio I have ever used. And had RDS song ID. Crazy. I can't figure how the battery can even be as small as the Nano is. BTW, it is way too small for me. I am looking for a Grampaw addition that is not too small for my huge hands and poor eyes.
www.fortworthview.com
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