TRS-80 color computer, 1981
http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/163495719735/gameraboy-trs-80-color-computer-1981
Before modern CPUs and graphics cards, Radio Shack probably had the most confusing computer related names. Everything early on was a TRS-80 regardless of what it was compatible with. They started with just the TRS-80 Model I. This was compatible with the later TRS-80 Model III and TRS-80 Model IV but not the TRS-80 Model II or the TRS-80 Color Computer. Then there were a variety of other TRS-80 models not related to any of these.
The Color Computer eventually dropped the TRS-80 designation and computers in that line became to be colloquially known as the CoCo, CoCo 2 and CoCo 3. Here we have an ad for the original TRS-80 Color Computer from way back in 1981. Radio Shack had a surprise hit with their TRS-80 Model I but it couldn’t do color like the Atari, VIC-20 and Apple II so they introduced the Color Computer. At this point, the original TRS-80 line became marketed more as small business machines and the Color Computer as a home machine.
The Color Computer’s main competition in the home market was probably the VIC-20. They were both introduced around the same time and were relatively inexpensive compared to most other computers on the market at the time. Despite the VIC-20’s less capable CPU, it’s cheaper price, slightly more RAM, more advanced video hardware and Commodore’s decision to put games on cartridges, the VIC-20 beat out the Color Computer in the marketplace. The Color Computer had cartridges too (Program Paks) but third party support was much weaker.
Having said that, the Color Computer was pretty advanced for its time, particularly in regards to the CPU. Most computers of the time were based on either the Z80 or the 6502 which were both 8-bit CPUs. The Color Computer used a Motorola 6809E processor. This was still an 8-bit processor but had some 16-bit features. It was also used in the Vectrex and some early arcade games such as Defender, Robotron: 2084, Joust and Gyruss. However, despite the advanced processor, the lack of dedicated specialized graphics and sound hardware made the CoCo less capable when it came to games which were a big sales driver for early home computers. The chiclet keyboard probably didn’t help.
The CoCo originally shipped with 4K of RAM (though systems with 16K and 32K were available above the $399 base price point) and was designed to work with a color television. It was also designed to load and store programs on cassette though a disk drive was available later.
As the above ad from 1981 shows, a version of the CoCo with Extended BASIC was offered about a year after the CoCo was introduced. BASIC was in ROM chips on the motherboard so it was not just a matter of loading some software. A CoCo with 16K of RAM (the minimum required for BASIC) and Extended BASIC could be had for $599. Alternatively, you could upgrade your existing Color Computer to Extended BASIC for $99 plus installation assuming you already had at least 16K of RAM. Extended BASIC offered additional commands, mostly related to color, sound and graphics that were not available in standard Microsoft BASIC. Also in the ad is a 300 baud direct connect modem modem (a convenient alternative to an acoustic coupler!) for $149 plus the cost of a cable. Terminal software (Videotex) was available separately for $29.95 and Compuserve is also mentioned in the ad.
The original CoCo was replaced by the CoCo 2 in 1983 (in 16K or 64K varieties) which was functionally identical and then by the CoCo 3 in 1986 which remained mostly compatible but offered some enhancements, including 128K of RAM, composite and RGB output, a slightly faster CPU and improved graphics modes among others. The CoCo 3 would be produced until 1991.
