TRS-80 Model I

From: Thomas Poff <thomas_at_0000000.com>
Date: Sun Oct 25 14:34:54 1998

I remember the original Model I and the Level-II laden Model 1 (with numeric
pad) had different ROMs and 12 kb more RAM. I'm sure others remember oodles
more than I do about this.

When I was a kid I tho't that the keypad was incredibly lame because it
didn't have a comma key. The only thing I would ever use it for would have
been typing in numbers in DATA statements so it seems like a dumb idea.
Besides that the original case was marginally cuter!

Gradually I learned to use the pesky number keys at the top of the keyboard
and ignored the numeric pad completely. Even today I ignore the numeric pads
because they don't have comma keys on them.

Thomas


Begin forwarded message:


< Anyone know how many of the TRS-80 model I computers were made without t
< numeric keypad? I remember a discussion a year or so ago where someone
< the UK was looking specifically for one without the keypad. In checkin
< through my collection, I only found one without the keypad, and am just
< curious.

Quite a few, I'd speculate over 50,000 for sure. The keypad was an
option that was very frequently added though so many originals were
keypadded, LII'd and 16k'd. It's rare to see a stock TRS80 that hasn't had
factory and customer mods.

Other common mods to the base console:

 * Lovercase chars, (add a 2102 and a jumper, etch cut).
   +++started as customer mod, then DEPOT repair mod.+++
 * ^(CTRL) key so ^C and other characters could be done.
   ===Customer mod.
 * Cassette load mod, small board with 4040 counter and a gate to
   prevent cload hang under LII.
   +++Depot repair, factory LII mod+++
 * CPU clock speed up (bump the clock from 1.7mhz to 3.4mhz).
   ===customer mod.

Some companies also sold some of these mods as kits.

Allison
Received on Sun Oct 25 1998 - 14:34:54 GMT