Object Record
Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100 Portable Computer
| Catalog Number | 98.0016.001 |
| Title | Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100 Portable Computer |
| History |
According to Dr. Fales, this was "the first usable version of the now ubiquitous laptop computer. It was small and light enough to put in a briefcase. It included a modem that allowed downloading of material to the main computers at NIH from other parts of the U.S. and even the world. A few words from Bill Gates, the Chairman of the Microsoft Corporation, might be appropriate: ‘This is in a sense my favorite machine. Part of my nostalgia about this machine is this was the last machine where I wrote a high percentage of the code. The machine was incredibly popular with journalists....you still see some journalists using this (in 1993). People could sit in meetings and use it.’ The presence of laptops on lab benches drives directly from this ‘little simple machine.’" It was used in the Laboratory of Chemistry, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute by Dr. Robert Highet and then Dr. James V. Silverton. They investigated drug structures and functions. Starting in 1979 The Tandy Corporation introduced a class of computers each designated as TRS-80 with a suffix to indicate the model. These were then were sold through the Tandy-owned Radio Shack stores. Most of these machines were only very modestly successful. The widely accepted Model 100, introduced in March 1983, actually comprised a computer that Tandy licensed from Kyocera in Japan, where the machine had originally been designed and manufactured. Kyocera also licensed the design to Olivetti and NEC each of whom went on to introduce a proprietary versions of that machine. The relatively small size and light weight, just under four pounds, and performance led to its adoption by many and particularly those who had to process text or data on the fly. The TRS-80 100 is considered by many to be the first lap top machine in spite of the fact that the screen is fixed in the same plane as the keyboard rather than hinged and is thus left uncovered when not in use. The CPU of the standard model consisted of an Intel 8 bit 80C85 chip. The TRS-80 100 came in two models. The computer with a rather scant 8 kB ROM sold for $799, while that with 32 kB ROM cost $1134. The machine was equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard that however lacked the row of functions keys found on contemporary computers. The display on both models comprised a built-in 2" x 7.5" unlighted liquid crystal screen that was capable of showing 8 lines of 40 characters. This precluded use of the computer in dim light or in the dark. The built-in Basic programming language was written by Bill Gates and Jay Suzuki. Gates is said to view the TRS-80 100 with nostalgia since this was the last version of Basic for which he wrote the majority of the code. The computer would operate as long as 20 hours with power from the four AA non-rechargeable batteries. This made the machine very popular with peripatetic users such as journalists since these ubiquitous batteries could be readily purchased in any of a number of stores. A socket for 6 volt transformer was built-in for more static operations. The machine also featured a built in modem and telecommunications program. This enabled transmission of data or text by telephone wires to remote locations. As an example, a reporter would transmit an article directly to the newsroom, albeit at then-prevalent leisurely pace of 300 baud (bits per second). A proprietary word processing program came with the machine. An external data storage device such as a tape cassette recorder or freestanding 5 1/4" disk had to be connected since there was no provision for storing data on the machine. The Radio Shack TRS-80 100 was a runaway success as shown by the six-million computers sold over the life of the product. The TRS-80 100 is now viewed with nostalgia by early users of this lap-top like computer. Several groups of hobbyists in fact now exist who are dedicated to preserving the existing computers as well as rebuilding old broken down machines. |
| Description |
Laptop computer with small screen built in (no cover or lid). Panel is tan with black keyboard. Soft leather (black) carrying case. Telephone cord for modem, AC power adapter. Case closes with velcro and has "Radio Shack" name engraved on it. 98.0016.001.01 - Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100 Portable Computer 98.0016.001.02 - Carrying case (black leather) 98.0016.001.03 - TRS-80 AC Adapter 98.0016.001.04 - Modem phone cord 98.0016.001.05 - "TRS-80 Model 100 Quick Reference Guide" 98.0016.001.06 - "TRS-80 Model 100 Instruction Manual" 98.0016.001.07 - "TRS-80 Model 100: A Complete Step-by-Step Learning Manual" |
| Other Name | Laptop Computer |
| Date | 1982 |
| Organizations | NIH; NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) (1976-present) |
| Buildings | Building 10 ("CC" Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center) |
| NIH Property # | 01127102 |
| Old NIH Property # | 469896 |
| Serial # | 305003114 |
| People |
Highet, Robert J. Silverton, James V. Fales, Henry M. |