|
|
TRS-80 Model II |
    |
|
WWW.8BIT-MICRO.COM ONLINE VINTAGE COMPUTER MAGAZINE |
|
Released: October 1979 CPU: Zilog Z-80A, 4 MHz RAM: 64K Ports: Two serial ports, One parallel port Display: Built-in 12" monochrome monitor ,24 X 40 or 24 X 80 text. Storage: One 500K 8 inch built-in floppy drive. External Expansion w/ 3 floppy bays. Operating System: TRS- DOS, BASIC
Tandy's official announcement of the Model II came via the "Radio Shack, Microcomputer Newsletter July 1979 issue. The bold headlines read , "The New TRS-80 Model II isHere! " The following is a quote from that article.
"The TRS-80 Model 11 is a microcomputer system specifically designed for the small business environment. It operates at twice the speed of the TRS-80 Model I and has disk storage space expandable up to almost two million bytes. Database oriented applications such as integrated accounting systems, inventory control systems and order entry systems are ideal application areas for the Model 11."
The Model II was released specifically for the business world, and what gave it that distinction was that is sported 'mass storage' in the form of it's 8" 500Kbytes floppies. This would hold 5 times the data of the 5.25" floppy. With the database applications of the day, a small business could store considerable data onto that system. Tandy further offered additional chained floppy drives, and 5MB. and 10MB, Hard Drives. This unit would later be replaced by the more superior Model 12 and 16. The Model II would be later re-invented as a the smaller footprint TRS-80 Model IV with the eight inch drives replaced by 4 inch floppies and a 12" display.
|
Announced:
July 1979 |
(c) 2004, 2005 Brian K. Hahn All Rights Reserved. |