Geek Facts for August 3rd – TRS-80 and MessagePad

In 1977, Tandy Corporation announced the TRS-80 Model I microcomputer.

The TRS-80 was the first mass-produced desktop computer. It was based on the Z-80 8-bit microprocessor and featured 4KB RAM. a 12-inch video display, and a cassette-based data recorder. The computer uses the TRSDOS and CP/M operating systems. At $599.95, the “Trash-80” proved to be wildly more successful than Tandy had anticipated. Over ten thousand orders were taken within the first month of its introduction.

Learn more at http://oldcomputers.net/trs80i.html

In 1993
, Apple Computer released the Newton MessagePad.

The MessagePad ultimately proved to be unpopular due, primarily, to two factors. It required AAA batteries. Nickel Cadmium batteries lasted about four hours; alkaline about 14 hours. Also, its handwriting recognition software was considered too hard to adapt to for new users.

Learn more at https://www.msu.edu/~luckie/gallery/mp100.htm