TRS-80 Model 100
The TRS-80 Model 100 is a portable computer introduced in April 1983. It is one of the first notebook-style computers, featuring a keyboard and liquid-crystal display, in a battery-powered package roughly the size and shape of a notepad or large book. The 224-page, spiral-bound User Manual is nearly the same size as the computer itself.
| Developer | Kyocera, Tandy, Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Type | Portable computer |
| Release date | April 26, 1983 |
| Introductory price | 8K version US$1,099 (equivalent to $3,200 in 2022) 24K versions US$1,399 (equivalent to $4,100 in 2022) |
| Units sold | 6 million |
| Operating system | Custom dedicated runtime in firmware |
| CPU | 2.4 MHz Intel 80C85 |
| Memory | 8 KB – 32 KB |
| Display | 8 lines, 40 characters LCD |
| Graphics | 240 by 64 pixel addressable graphics |
| Input | Keyboard: 56 keys, 8 programmable function keys, 4 dedicated command keys, and 4 cursor control keys |
| Power | Four penlight (AA) cells, or external power adapter 6V (>180 mA) |
| Dimensions | 300 by 215 x 50 mm |
| Mass | About 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) with batteries |
It was made by Kyocera, and originally sold in Japan as the Kyotronic 85. Although a slow seller for Kyocera, the rights to the machine were purchased by Tandy Corporation. The computer was sold through Radio Shack stores in the United States and Canada and affiliated dealers in other countries. It became one of the company's most popular models, with over 6 million units sold worldwide. The Olivetti M-10 and the NEC PC-8201 and PC-8300 were also built on the same Kyocera platform, with some design and hardware differences. It was originally marketed as a Micro Executive Work Station (MEWS), although the term did not catch on and was eventually dropped.