Please see imbedded comments below.
Dick
-----Original Message-----
From: Allison J Parent <allisonp_at_world.std.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Saturday, April 10, 1999 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: What if,... early PCs (was: stepping machanism
><It would be well to get the timelines aligned. The model 1 was of 1977
><vintage. The model -3 was worked up in the late '70's before Apple got it
><juggernaut rolling. Radio Shack had a real chance to make the
microcompute
>
>Model 1 (base trs80) was 1977 (mid year). I was part of the start up in
>the computer depot repair and computer store startup.
That's what I recall, as well.
>The next machine did not ship until after august 1979! I was there up to
>that point. Actually I think it was the 1980s(or 1980!) that the next
>version of the TRS80 family shipped.
The IBM entry into the PC market was in mid-1981, I think, and the Model-3
was rushed to get out ahead of it. The Apple-II exlposion wasn't quite
underway yet, but the handwriting was on the wall.
>The motly collection of parts... For years RS ment surplus parts in plastic
>bags and the late 70s was sort of their weaning. Except the purchasing
>mindset was there.
>
>If anything can be said... they were one of the few that didn't go broke
>shipping computers.
That's why they'd have been a force to be reckoned with if they'd ever
shipped anything really decent.
>Oh, and Apple shipped their machine the same year as the TRS80. so they
>represent the state of the art for 1977 for cost vs tradeoffs.
>
>Allison
>
>
Received on Sat Apr 10 1999 - 16:21:12 BST