{"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":"2026-06-22T14:49:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T18:49:54","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":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Tandy TRS-80 Micro Color Computer\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"tandy-trs-80-micro-color-computer\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tandy TRS-80 Micro Color Computer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>[Vin106]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251007_173558611-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251007_173558611-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Tandy Micro Color Computer\" class=\"wp-image-22335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251007_173558611-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251007_173558611-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251007_173558611-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251007_173558611-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251007_173558611-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251007_173558611-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251007_173558611-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20251007_173558611-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Tandy Corporation (Radio Shack)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Model<\/strong>: MC-10<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Home computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Released<\/strong>: 1983<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost at release (base price)<\/strong>: USD $119.95 (CAD ~$400 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost at release (with peripherals)<\/strong>: USD $229.90 (CAD ~$790 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.05-0.08&nbsp; (50-80 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"hardware-specifications\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW169789978 BCX0\">Hardware Specifications<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>CPU: Motorola MC6803, 8-bit, 0.89 MHz clock speed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RAM: 4 KB onboard, expandable to 20 KB via external memory expansion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ROM: 8 KB (Micro Color BASIC developed by Microsoft)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Graphics: Motorola MC6847 Video Display Generator (VDG)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Text resolution: 32\u00d716 characters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Graphics resolutions:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Low-res: 64\u00d732 (8 colors)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medium-res up to 128\u00d796 pixels (2 to 4 colors)<\/li>\n\n\n\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\n\n\n<li>Input: 48-key Chiclet-style keyboard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Storage: Cassette tape interface (1500 baud)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I\/O:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>RS-232C serial interface (300-9600 baud; 600 baud from BASIC)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Internal RF modulator for TV output (channels 3 or 4)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expansion port for memory and accessories<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Power: 8V AC, 1.5A via external power adapter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Weight: ~1 kg<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"operating-system-programming-languages\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><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}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>O\/S<\/strong>:&nbsp; &nbsp;Standard 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\n\n\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\n\n\n<h3 id=\"notables\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Notables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\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":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[90,123],"class_list":["post-22082","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-vintage-computing","cu_page_type-vintage-inventory"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22082"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25136,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22082\/revisions\/25136"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=22082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}