Comments on: “Radio Shack’s TRS-80 Computer Is the Smartest Way to Write” http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:03:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Tracy B. http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1062280 Tracy B. Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:46:36 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1062280 In the mid 70's to early 80's I had sideburns just as thick as Isaac's. Unfortunately in mid '82 I had surgery which eliminated the side burn on one side........ In the mid 70’s to early 80’s I had sideburns just as thick as Isaac’s. Unfortunately in mid ‘82 I had surgery which eliminated the side burn on one side……..

]]> By: Stan Xhiao http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1061602 Stan Xhiao Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:04:50 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1061602 I worked at Radio Shack headquarters and we called them Trash 80s, too. Just not when Management was around. I worked at Radio Shack headquarters and we called them Trash 80s, too. Just not when Management was around.

]]> By: fluffy http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059399 fluffy Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:14:31 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059399 I just called it TRaSh-80 because, as a Commie-64 user, it seemed like the obvious thing to do. I just called it TRaSh-80 because, as a Commie-64 user, it seemed like the obvious thing to do.

]]> By: Bartholomew Opinionsworth http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059396 Bartholomew Opinionsworth Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:48:02 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059396 Every product has a derogatory nickname which is usually a play on its existing name. Such a play-on-words nickname is not rare or unique. At the same time in history, the Apple was referred to as the "Lemon", as it had its own share of problems. TRaSh-80 came about generally due to the initial quality of the interconnect cable between the Model I and its expansion interface. The signal would disrupt and the computer would freeze. This was fixed by a buffered cable. Every product has a derogatory nickname which is usually a play on its existing name. Such a play-on-words nickname is not rare or unique. At the same time in history, the Apple was referred to as the “Lemon”, as it had its own share of problems.

TRaSh-80 came about generally due to the initial quality of the interconnect cable between the Model I and its expansion interface. The signal would disrupt and the computer would freeze. This was fixed by a buffered cable.

]]> By: Stacia http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059274 Stacia Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:02:15 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059274 They were indeed called "Trash 80s" back in the 80s. A friend of mine in high school had one which he called a Trash 80 -- because he'd upgraded to a Commodore 64. My husband still has his TRS-80 and it works great. For various values of "great". I think it has 4 whole colors. They were indeed called “Trash 80s” back in the 80s. A friend of mine in high school had one which he called a Trash 80 — because he’d upgraded to a Commodore 64. My husband still has his TRS-80 and it works great. For various values of “great”. I think it has 4 whole colors.

]]> By: Torgo http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059255 Torgo Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:17:00 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059255 "And let me personally assure you, these computers are not in the least bit nerdy." -- I think even fans of the computers at the time called them "Trash 80s." “And let me personally assure you, these computers are not in the least bit nerdy.”
–
I think even fans of the computers at the time called them “Trash 80s.”

]]> By: james http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059248 james Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:49:06 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059248 I know the TRS wasn't apple's work, but i got undertod apple coined the nickname in the appleII times. I know the TRS wasn’t apple’s work, but i got undertod apple coined the nickname in the appleII times.

]]> By: Fred Kiesche http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059234 Fred Kiesche Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:46:23 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059234 Nope, Asimov used the TRS-80. He talked about it a couple of times in either one of the "Opus" books or a volume of his autobiography. Plus, after his death, there was a used and new SF bookstore in Greenwich Village that acquired the TRS-80 and his desk. They had it as a display in the window. You could buy it. I don't recall the price tag, but it was beyond my price range! Nope, Asimov used the TRS-80. He talked about it a couple of times in either one of the “Opus” books or a volume of his autobiography.

Plus, after his death, there was a used and new SF bookstore in Greenwich Village that acquired the TRS-80 and his desk. They had it as a display in the window. You could buy it. I don’t recall the price tag, but it was beyond my price range!

]]> By: Rick Auricchio http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059221 Rick Auricchio Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:35:44 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059221 I have less hair on my head than he does in those sideburns. Jeez, $2687 in 1983 dollars would be $5600 today. I have less hair on my head than he does in those sideburns.

Jeez, $2687 in 1983 dollars would be $5600 today.

]]> By: Charlie http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059212 Charlie Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:51:05 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059212 james: I don't know if it was Apple, but that certainly has always been it's nickname. james: I don’t know if it was Apple, but that certainly has always been it’s nickname.

]]> By: james http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059210 james Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:37:15 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059210 Did Apple nicknamed this the "TRaSh-80"? Well, being capaple of runing VisiCalc don't looks like "trash" to me... Did Apple nicknamed this the “TRaSh-80″? Well, being capaple of runing VisiCalc don’t looks like “trash” to me…

]]> By: Charlie http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059204 Charlie Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:00:51 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059204 fluffy: Well, he originally published the Three Laws of Macro Assemblers. Given the amount of spam in my inbox, nobody listened much. I suspect it will be the same with robots. fluffy: Well, he originally published the Three Laws of Macro Assemblers. Given the amount of spam in my inbox, nobody listened much. I suspect it will be the same with robots.

]]> By: fluffy http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059203 fluffy Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:18:16 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059203 The fact he was gushy about macros certainly explains a lot about the vast majority of his works. The fact he was gushy about macros certainly explains a lot about the vast majority of his works.

]]> By: Eli http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/08/07/radio-shacks-trs-80-computer-is-the-smartest-way-to-write/#comment-1059202 Eli Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:31:17 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=5023#comment-1059202 I may be thinking of any number of other writers, but I'd been under the impression that Asimov stuck with a manual typewriter until the end. I may be thinking of any number of other writers, but I’d been under the impression that Asimov stuck with a manual typewriter until the end.

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