TRS-80 Color Computer

1977

BYTE wrote, "The only similarity between [the two computers] is the name". The TRS-80 Color Computer derives from an "experimental videotext project by the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture" in 1977.

1978

The 1978 prototype "Green Thumb" terminal used the MC6847 and the Motorola 6809 microprocessor.

1980

The Color Computer line is not compatible with software made for the earlier TRS-80. The Tandy Color Computer line started in 1980 with what is now called the Color Computer 1.

The Color Computer 3 was discontinued in 1991. ==History== Tandy Corporation announced the TRS-80 Color Computer in July 1980 to compete with the inexpensive and popular Commodore VIC-20.

It was also sold through Radio Shack stores as the VideoTex terminal around 1980. The VideoTex terminal provided the foundation for a general-purpose home computer.

On July 31, 1980, Tandy announced the TRS-80 Color Computer, which shares the same case, keyboard, and layout as the AgVision/VideoTex terminals. Tandy viewed businesses as its primary market for computers.

1981

Although the company's Ed Juge said in 1981 that the Color Computer was "our entry into the home-computer market", he described it as "for serious professionals", stating that a word processor and spreadsheet would soon be available.

BYTE wrote in 1981 that through Extended Color BASIC, Radio Shack "has released the first truly easy-to-use and inexpensive system that generates full-color graphics".

1982

Eventually the 32K memory option was dropped entirely and only 16K or 64K versions were offered. In late 1982, a version of the Color Computer with a white case, called the TDP System 100, was distributed by RCA and sold through non-Tandy stores.

The processor was changed to the 68B09E and the PIA was changed to the 68B21, which are 2 MHz parts. ==Discontinuation== On October 26, 1990, Tandy announced that the CoCo 3 would be dropped from its computer line. Wayne Green wrote in 80 Micro in December 1982 that Tandy had "virtually abandoned" the Color Computer.

1983

It was followed by the Color Computer 2 in 1983, then the Color Computer 3 in 1986.

In 1983, a version of the Dragon was licensed for manufacture for the North American market by Tano Corporation of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Tano started production at their facility in September 1983 and were running at capacity one month later.

Released in 1983, it was similar in appearance to the Timex Sinclair.

1984

The red, green, and blue shapes were replaced with red, green, and blue parallelograms. Creative Computing wrote in December 1984 that the Color Computer was the best educational computer under $1000.

1985

The magazine said that it had fewer but better-quality educational software than the Commodore 64, and that Radio Shack was dedicated to the educational market while Commodore was not. == Color Computer 3 (1986–1991) == By 1985, Color Computer users worried that the company would abandon their computer in favor of the Tandy 1000.

1986

It was followed by the Color Computer 2 in 1983, then the Color Computer 3 in 1986.

we believe [it] also has a good future". On July 30, 1986, Tandy announced the Color Computer 3 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

1990

The processor was changed to the 68B09E and the PIA was changed to the 68B21, which are 2 MHz parts. ==Discontinuation== On October 26, 1990, Tandy announced that the CoCo 3 would be dropped from its computer line. Wayne Green wrote in 80 Micro in December 1982 that Tandy had "virtually abandoned" the Color Computer.

Some of these systems run OS9/68k, which is similar to OS-9. Tomcat Frank Hogg Labs introduced the Tomcat TC-9 in June 1990, which is somewhat compatible with the but is only able to run OS-9 software.

A later version called the TC-70 (running on a Signetics 68070) has strong compatibility with the MM/1, and also runs OS-9/68K. MM/1 The Multi-Media One was introduced in July 1990, ran OS-9/68K on a 15 MHz Signetics 68070 processor with and a 640×208 graphics resolution as well as supporting a 640×416 interlaced mode.

1991

The Color Computer 3 was discontinued in 1991. ==History== Tandy Corporation announced the TRS-80 Color Computer in July 1980 to compete with the inexpensive and popular Commodore VIC-20.

2013

In 2013, a prototype case appeared in the book CoCo: The Colorful History of Tandy's Underdog Computer, but turned out to be a hoax. A few companies attempted to carry the CoCo torch, but the lack of decent backwards compatibility with the failed to entice much of the community.




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