TRS-80

The TRS-80 (Tandy/Radio Shack, Z-80) is a home computer released in August 1977 by Tandy Corporation through their Radio Shack retail stores. It was one of the "1977 Trinity" of personal computers alongside the Apple II and Commodore PET, and was the best-selling personal computer from 1977 to roughly 1981. The original Model I features a Zilog Z80 CPU at 1.774 MHz, 4 KB RAM (expandable to 48 KB), and a 64×16 character monochrome display with 128×48 block “graphics”. It came with a modified RCA black-and-white TV as a monitor, an integrated 53-key keyboard, and a cassette interface. The price started at a competitive $599.95. Despite being widely nicknamed the “Trash-80”, Tandy sold over 100,000 units in the first year — wildly exceeding their initial estimate of 3,000 — thanks to unparalleled retail distribution through 3,000+ Radio Shack stores across the US.