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1983 and I was a Junior in HS, didn't go to camp but had a computer class where we worked with TRS 80's, made by Tandy (Radio Shack).  I didn't get it, most of the class never got it either, my buddy Greg did all the little programs and passed it around to the rest of the class to turn in.  Mrs. Delzel was the teacher and about 70 years old at the time and not very good at teaching the new technology.
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I remember the TRS 80's. They were 8080 processors, I think. If I remember correctly, they were one peice units with small monochrome monitors and a 5 1/4" floppy. I think I even remember some older ones with 8" floppy's. I wonder if there are any on ebay for sale. It would shure be a blast from the past to see one of them again.

I woder if we even need more speed in processors. Those old machines were like 1 or 2 mhz, now we have processors which are 2400 mhz. Memory back then was 64 k, now it is 128,000 k. I remember when ROM was as big as RAM. Do we really need this much speed and memory or is Intel and Microsoft selling us un-needed attributes.

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1983 and I was a Junior in HS, didn't go to camp but had a computer class where we worked with TRS 80's, made by Tandy (Radio Shack).  End Quote

I remember when we used them in school and how a lot of the programs ran from a cassette tape.  I also remember the smell those things had when they were on for a long time.  It always smelled like it was going to catch fire!

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is Intel and Microsoft selling us un-needed attributes.
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It's called "Bloatware"  :(

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Here is a photo of it!!!!!!!

http://www.emergingresults.com/images2/TRS-80.jpg
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I posted about this in a thread called "Name your original 80s Stunts"  Nobody replied, but I'm glad to see I wasn't the only fan ;D

.... posting snippet ....

Remember when the radio shack TRS-80s were cool?  The first time I saw one was in 9th grade (1980) and was amazed at the little block graphics, and the "basic" programming language.

Needless to say, I became dangerously adept enough at programming them to enact my own special brand of mischief.  Back in those days, you would save your programs to a cassette tape.

I wrote a program of two stick figures "getting it on", saved it off to cassette, and proceeded to load it on all the display computers in Radio Shack stores at various Malls.  Then when I found an Apple IIe in my senior year (84), and learned how to do it in color, Apple got their turn.  But by then we had 5.25 floppies.

10 PRINT "I'm a Bad Boy"
20 GOTO 10

weeee ;D

Dave

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I woder if we even need more speed in processors. Those old machines were like 1 or 2 mhz, now we have processors which are 2400 mhz. Memory back then was 64 k, now it is 128,000 k. I remember when ROM was as big as RAM. Do we really need this much speed and memory or is Intel and Microsoft selling us un-needed attributes.
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I all depends on what you want to do.  If you want to word process or do your finances a C64 will work.  If you need to use it for graphic design or CAD, then a Pentium 4 may not be enough.

I had an old C64 complete with a tape drive.  I thought it was awsome at the time.  anywon remeber the IBM PC Junior?  There ads featured Charlie Chaplin. I always liked those ads.  

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I all depends on what you want to do.  If you want to word process or do your finances a C64 will work.  If you need to use it for graphic design or CAD, then a Pentium 4 may not be enough.

I had an old C64 complete with a tape drive.  I thought it was awsome at the time.  anywon remeber the IBM PC Junior?  There ads featured Charlie Chaplin. I always liked those ads.  
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They had CAD programs when 386's were the hottest thing of the day and the best pc's had a whole meg or ram! Part of me really thinks there is a conspiracy in silicon valley to get us to keep buying a new computer every year or so. Think about it, Intel gives out their instruction sets to microsoft so MS can make newer OS's. What I would LOVE to see is Intel and MS wait to release a product til there are no bugs. Anyone who has ever used windows ME knows what I am talking about. Same thing with the p4 being released so soon. Heck, my Apple IIe was able to do everything for 5 years. The guy down the block who had a IIgs was no different except he had color. Now it seems like I need a new PC every year to 18 months.

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Here is a photo of it!!!!!!!

http://www.emergingresults.com/images2/TRS-80.jpg
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I remember those computers.Man,how times changed after 20 years.Back then you could never have downloaded music in 1983 but today you could! Interesting! :D

Howard

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They had CAD programs when 386's were the hottest thing of the day and the best pc's had a whole meg or ram! Part of me really thinks there is a conspiracy in silicon valley to get us to keep buying a new computer every year or so. Think about it, Intel gives out their instruction sets to microsoft so MS can make newer OS's. What I would LOVE to see is Intel and MS wait to release a product til there are no bugs. Anyone who has ever used windows ME knows what I am talking about. Same thing with the p4 being released so soon. Heck, my Apple IIe was able to do everything for 5 years. The guy down the block who had a IIgs was no different except he had color. Now it seems like I need a new PC every year to 18 months.
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That is true, but I would like to bring up another point.  I had a 286 with Word Perfect 5.1.  Did it work? Yes.  Does the printed document look any different if I use Word 2000? No.  After using Word 2000, I would not want to go back and use Word Perfect 5.1. Why?  Because Word 2000 is a heck of a lot easier to use.

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http://www.oldcomputers.freeserve.co.uk/texas-instrument-ti-99-4a.jpg
we had that one. I also used ones like this in middle school but that was in the mid-90s
http://www.carnut.com/myfirst/myfirst.jpg
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I remember those computers.nobody even knew what"downloading"was back then in 1983.now the whole world knows.

Howard

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Lets not forget the tiny TIMEX SINCLAIR!!
http://members.aol.com/robertotec/estuff/Sinclair.JPG
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Wow,Feldy is that a laptop? That sure looks like one from where I'm looking at it from a distance.I kinda wished they invented laptops in 1983.Just imagine the popularity! ;D

Howard