Tandy TRS-80 MC-10

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The TRS-80 MC-10

The TRS-80 MC-10 is a lesser-known model in the TRS-80 family of home computers manufactured by Tandy Corporation in the early 1980s and sold through its RadioShack store chain. The device was evidently developed as an inexpensive alternative to the Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer and was intended to compete with home computers such as the VC20 or the Sinclair ZX81 . The device was launched in 1984.

A Motorola 6803 with 4 kB RAM and 8 kB ROM served as the CPU for the computer . The MC-10's main memory could be expanded by 16 kB to a total of 20 kB using an upgrade kit. An MC 6847 served as the graphics chip , which enabled a graphics resolution of 64 × 32 pixels and the display of eight colors.

A BASIC , which is called Microcolor Basic and is based on Microsoft BASIC , serves as the user interface and programming language .

Because of its limited functionality, the MC-10 was mostly useful for beginners. The computer was not a commercial success and production stopped after a year.

A clone of the MC-10, the Matra Alice , was marketed in France in a cooperation between the companies Tandy, Matra and Hachette Livre .

gallery

  • TRS-80 model MC-10

  • TRS-80 Model MC-10 ports

  • TRS-80 Model MC-10 16K RAM Expansion

software

A limited number of software titles have been distributed on compact cassettes for the MC-10, e.g. B. Lunar Lander , Checkers and a pinball machine.

Periphery

Due to the short production time and the rather moderate acceptance by the customer, not very many peripheral devices were manufactured that were specifically intended for the MC-10. However, the few include:

  • TP-10 thermal printer

Emulators

As is common nowadays, the MC-10 also has some emulators that allow you to try out the computer on modern hardware. One of these emulators is DCAlice , an emulator that, in addition to the MC-10, also emulates the Matra Alice 4K, 32 and 90 computers and is still being developed further. The MC-10 emulator should also be mentioned.

Web links

Commons : TRS-80 MC-10  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Personal Computer News September 29, 1984
  2. ↑ Info World from September 19, 1983