TRS-80 Model 100

TRS-80 Model 100

Developer	Kyocera, By Radio Shack, Microsoft
Manufacturer	Made by Kyocera under the Radio Shack TRS-80 Brand
Product family	TRS-80
Type	Portable computer (notebook)
Generation	1st Generation of legitimate laptops, called Notebook Computers at that time.
Release date	April 26, 1983; 41 years ago (1983-04-26)
Lifespan	Released in 1983, many are still able to be used today
Introductory price	8K version US$1,099 (equivalent to $3,400 in 2023) 24K versions US$1,399 (equivalent to $4,300 in 2023)
Discontinued	1991
Units sold	6,000 in the first month, with 100,000+ overall
Operating system	Custom dedicated runtime in firmware
CPU	2.4 MHz Intel 80C85
Memory	8 KB – 32 KB
Storage	Cassette Tapes, 5-1/4" diskettes and 3-1/2 rigid floppy drives
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	(4) AA Batteries or external power adapter 6V (>180 mA)
Dimensions	300 by 215 x 50 mm
Mass	About 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) with batteries
Successor	Model 102 and Model 200

The TRS-80 Model 100 is a notebook-sized portable computer introduced in April 1983.

It was the first commercially successful notebook computer, known as laptops today, as well as one of the first notebook computers ever released.^[1]

It featured a keyboard and liquid-crystal display, in a battery-powered package roughly the size and shape of a 1" 3 ring binder.

The 224-page, spiral-bound User Manual is nearly the same size as the computer itself and adds to the value of the Model 100, particularly if it still has the pouch in good condition that was included to help protect the manual from damage during the owner's travels.

The Model 100 was made by Kyocera, and originally sold in Japan as the Kyotronic 85.

Although a slow seller for Kyocera in Japan, the rights to the machine were purchased by Tandy Corporation and was wildly popular.

This popularity was further boosted by there even being a monthly Model 100 magazine that shared stories of people that owned them, including astronauts aboard the NASA Space Shuttles, and always included program code listed that was submitted by subscribers to the magazine.

The Model 100 was sold through Radio Shack stores in the United States and Canada and affiliated dealers in other countries around the world.

It became one of the company's most popular models of all time, selling 6,000 units in the first month, with over 100,000 units eventually being sold globally before being discontinued in 1991.

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, which limited their compatibility with the Model 100.

The Model 100 was originally marketed as a Micro Executive Work Station (MEWS),^[2] although the term did not catch on and was eventually dropped.