{"id":22082,"date":"2025-08-18T14:21:49","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T18:21:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=22082"},"modified":"2025-10-07T14:10:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:10:25","slug":"vin106","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin106\/","title":{"rendered":"Tandy TRS-80 Micro Color Computer"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Tandy TRS-80 Micro Color Computer<\/h2>\n<p>[Vin106]<\/p>\n<p>The Tandy TRS-80 MC-10, introduced in 1983, was an affordable, compact home computer aimed at electronics hobbyists and first-time computer buyers interested in programming. Its notable features included a Motorola MC6803 CPU, graphics provided by the MC6847 video display generator, cassette-based storage, and a built-in RS-232 serial port\u2014unusual for its price point at the time. Despite its approachable BASIC language and low cost, the MC-10 was not commercially successful and was quickly discontinued due to limited expandability and stiff competition from more powerful entry-level computers.<a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251007_173558611-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-22335\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251007_173558611-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Tandy Micro Color Computer\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251007_173558611-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251007_173558611-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251007_173558611-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251007_173558611-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251007_173558611-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251007_173558611-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251007_173558611-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20251007_173558611-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Tandy Corporation (Radio Shack)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Model<\/strong>: MC-10<\/li>\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Home computer<\/li>\n<li><strong>Released<\/strong>: 1983<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost at release (base price)<\/strong>: USD $119.95 (CAD ~$400 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost at release (with peripherals)<\/strong>: USD $229.90 (CAD ~$790 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.05-0.08\u00a0 (50-80 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW169789978 BCX0\">Hardware Specifications<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>CPU: Motorola MC6803, 8-bit, 0.89 MHz clock speed<\/li>\n<li>RAM: 4 KB onboard, expandable to 20 KB via external memory expansion<\/li>\n<li>ROM: 8 KB (Micro Color BASIC developed by Microsoft)<\/li>\n<li>Graphics: Motorola MC6847 Video Display Generator (VDG)\n<ul>\n<li>Text resolution: 32\u00d716 characters<\/li>\n<li>Graphics resolutions:\n<ul>\n<li>Low-res: 64\u00d732 (8 colors)<\/li>\n<li>Medium-res up to 128\u00d796 pixels (2 to 4 colors)<\/li>\n<li>High-res up to 256\u00d7192 pixels (limited support due to video RAM)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Input: 48-key Chiclet-style keyboard<\/li>\n<li>Storage: Cassette tape interface (1500 baud)<\/li>\n<li>I\/O:\n<ul>\n<li>RS-232C serial interface (300-9600 baud; 600 baud from BASIC)<\/li>\n<li>Internal RF modulator for TV output (channels 3 or 4)<\/li>\n<li>Expansion port for memory and accessories<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Power: 8V AC, 1.5A via external power adapter<\/li>\n<li>Weight: ~1 kg<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"TextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW50331614 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>O\/S<\/strong>:\u00a0 \u00a0Standard ROM-based OS: Microsoft Micro Color BASIC built into its ROM, serving as its operating environment. This was a version of Microsoft BASIC specifically adapted for the MC-10&#8217;s hardware features.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Programming Languages<\/strong>: BASIC (specifically Microsoft BASIC), which was used for writing and running programs on the machine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Notables<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The MC-10 was nicknamed the \u201cMicro Color Computer\u201d and sometimes affectionately called the \u201cRS MC-10\u201d or simply \u201cMC-10\u201d by enthusiasts.<\/li>\n<li>Its compact size, built-in RS-232 serial port, and low price were unusual for early-1980s home computers, but it lacked expansion options compared to competitors.<\/li>\n<li>Featured Microsoft Micro Color BASIC in ROM, a version rarely seen outside the MC-10 and its French cousin, the Matra Alice.<\/li>\n<li>Despite Tandy\u2019s hopes, it was neither a huge commercial success nor a breakthrough; it was discontinued within a year, earning a reputation as a \u201ccuriosity\u201d among collectors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tandy TRS-80 Micro Color Computer [Vin106] The Tandy TRS-80 MC-10, introduced in 1983, was an affordable, compact home computer aimed at electronics hobbyists and first-time computer buyers interested in programming. Its notable features included a Motorola MC6803 CPU, graphics provided by the MC6847 video display generator, cassette-based storage, and a built-in RS-232 serial port\u2014unusual for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - 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