The model 3 is generally regarded as the successor to the Model 1.
Its two 5.25" floppy disk drives could convert model 1 disks.
Initially Radio Shack wanted to sell both the model 1 and 3 at the same time, but the FCC forced them to stop selling model 1. Is so they were discontinued because of the excessive radio noise that they put out.
However, the Model 3 wasn't FULLY compatible with the model 1. There were differences in ROM which meant some programs had to be converted, especially those machine language ones that made ROM calls.
______________________
Model III configurations, by Dave Thompson:
TRS-80 Model III was sold in multiple configurations.
No hardrive configurations included:
Model III with Level 1 ROM, 8k RAM sold for US$799. Model III with Level 2 ROM, 16k RAM sold for $999.
The first floppy drive cost $849, and could store 168k. The second drive was cheaper, and could store more. The price difference is due to the first one included the drive controller. The increased space on the second drive (189k) was due to the first drive must also contain some TRS-DOS (the operating system).
Brandt Daniels adds:
There was also a TRS-80 VideoTex Computer terminal in 1980.
Mark Fowler reports:
I worked for a company in 1982 that had integrated a 5MB, and later a 10MB hard disk into the TRS80 Model III. It was then programmed in FORTRAN-66 as a dedicated medical records system, to mimic the pegbook accounting system in use in the 1980's. We introduced green phosphor, and later amber phosphor display tubes. Some systems were used with a modem to do simple email-type applications, and to access various bulletin boards.
This was my first computer and I remember typing in code so I could play games. My dad still has this. Any idea if it is worth anything today?
Wednesday 10th February 2010
Kenneth (Iowa )
I purchase a new TRS 80 Mod III at the beginning of the 80''s. This came with 48K of RAM and two floppy 5.1/4" drives. I had it sent over from UK. At the time I was very interested in Amateor radio just having obtained my Ham license. I learned to program in basic using the manual supplied with the machine and this was the basis of my working in the IT field. I also purchases a unit called Terminall which I could use with my TRS 80 and Transciever to send and receive RTTY (radio teletype). Radio teletype was the old type telex. At the time machines still used punched tape to send messages but the TRS 80 with Terminall did it using software. I still have the machine sitting covered in my garage. Hopefully someone will decide to open a computer museum and it will find its righfull place there.
Friday 24th October 2008
Francis Darmanin (Malta)
Back in 1984, my freshman year of highschool, our computer classes consisted of puchcards for FORTRAN programming and the good old "Trash-80" model III for BASIC and COBOL programming. I still remember the day I discovered the "dir" command and ran every single DOS command listed, up to and including format... which formatted the system drive for the network and killedeveryones projects. Live and learn. Oh, the days of 360K 5 1/4" disks and green-bar printouts.
Tuesday 9th January 2007
Paul (Royal Oak, Michigan, USA)
NAME
TRS 80 MODEL III
MANUFACTURER
Tandy Radio Shack
TYPE
Home Computer
ORIGIN
U.S.A.
YEAR
1981
END OF PRODUCTION
Unknown
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
TRS-80 Level II BASIC
KEYBOARD
Full-stroke keyboard with separated numeric keypad
CPU
Zilog Z80 then Z80A
SPEED
2.03 MHz
RAM
16 KB (up to 48 KB)
ROM
14 KB
TEXT MODES
32 or 64 columns x 16 lines
GRAPHIC MODES
128 graphic characters
COLORS
monochrome
I/O PORTS
Tape (500 or 1500 bauds), Centronics, RS232
BUILT IN MEDIA
Zero, one or two 5.25'' disk-drives.
OS
TRS DOS (other OSes were available : New DOS, LDOS, MultiDOS, ...)
POWER SUPPLY
Built-in power supply unit
PERIPHERALS
Various Tandy peripherals
PRICE
No disk model : AU$1450 (Australia, 1981) $2495 in 1984 for a complete system with 2x360 KB drives, TRSDOS, 64kb Ram, software and printer
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