Radio Shack releases the TRS-80 computer 40 years ago today

[jdandy]

40 years ago today, Radio Shack releases the TRS-80 computer. Although this commercial is from 1978, on this day in 1977 Radio Shack released one of the first mass-produced computers. With 4K RAM memory, and a starting price of US$600 (US $2400 in today's dollars), the computer could be expanded up to 48K. Until 1982, the TRS-80 was the best-selling PC line, outselling Apple II series by 5 to 1.

 

[Shadowfax]

Dan, that is cool. I still have my working TRS-80 Pocket Computer which I taught myself BASIC on. I wrote programs for calculating Golf Handicap, SINE Bar settings for calculating Jo-Block size for machining angles with a 5" sine bar and more. OOOOh and I also have the 64K memory upgrade chip, printer, and a custom carrying briefcase someone made.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandy_Pocket_Computer

 

[Elberoth]

Looks very much like my Commodore VIC-20 computer (with 5k RAM) I got from my parents back in 1983 when I was 8. Two years later I got the revolutionary Commodore C64 ... and nothing was the same since.

 

[MPWRZME]

My first job was working for Radio Shack (1976). Sold quite a few of the TRS-80's. We loaded programs with cassette tapes (the cheaper the better) but still lucky if the program loaded the first time. If your not familiar with the ifttt app, it's all about basic programming, yet fits perfectly in today's technology.