First released a good 3 years before the spectrum the TRS-80 was one
of the first home computers. With the release of a device called the
Expansion Interface it had many of the features still present even in
today's modern PCs such as expandable memory (16 or 32kb RAM), storage
medium (tape and later disk), a printer port, a floppy disk controller,
a serial port and a real time clock.
Commodore's first computer featured a 1 MHz processor and 4k RAM and one
of the first computers to have its own built in monitor. More popular
in the US but there are still a few to be found around today, working
models are getting harder to find.
After making calculators and digital watches Clive Sinclair
designed the ZX80, originally it came in kit form and was
an electronic hobbyist's dream. Boasting a whopping 1k of memory
expandable to 4k with add on.
A Year later the ZX81 was released based on the same Z80 processor Clive Sinclair
effectively created the UK computer market in the 80s. This was probably the
first widely available home computer selling at outlets such as WHSmiths and Boots.
Perhaps more famous for Speak and Spell the T1-99 was Texas
Instruments offering to the home computer market. Features a cart slot
and of course a speech synth add on.
Very popular with Commodore selling more than 1 million.
Its name comes from its video chip VIC (Video Interface Chip)
and its memory size (5 kb RAM + 15 kb ROM = 20 kb).
Many peoples first introduction the world of computing, despite a lack of a proper keyboard,
rubber keys, poor sound and limited colours the Spectrum was a revelation that saw kids
across the country coding simple games typed out from magazines. Some of the best games
companies around today started producing games for the spectrum such as Rare and CodeMasters.
A very popular computer here in UK as it was widely used in schools,
but it didn't really make much of an impact in the home market.
Notable games such as Elite proved it wasn't just an educational toy.
At one point this seemed like a serious rival to the Spectrum but
it could never compete with the likes of the C64 and Spectrum.
16 KB of memory and a very similar look to the spectrum.
Another attempt to rival the Spectrum and Commodore 64 the Dragon 32
from Dragon Data also quickly fell by the wayside. Not even its
massive 32k of memory could save it. One of its characteristics is
partial compatibility with the Tandy TRS 80 Color Series.
Early attempt to establish a single standard in home computing. It was designed by a
company called ASCII in Co-operation with Microsoft who provided a firmware extended
version of Microsoft BASIC.
More info.
Popular because of Amstrad's typical low price although
it required its own monitor rather than a standard TV
connection like most other home PCs at the time. Also
used the Z80 processor.
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