8 inch disks have a write protect tab on the bottom, if exposed, the disk is write protected. Place a tab on it, to write enable it. This is the opposite of 5 1/4" disks.

This is a perfect way to close out SepTandy. My dad had a Model 16 which he used for engineering applications, and that's what got me seriously hooked on computers. For my fifth birthday he got me a VIC-20 (from Crazy Eddie's!) so I wouldn't mess with his Tandy machine. Seeing this often-overlooked line of Tandy machines warms my heart.

My first computer was the Tandy Color Computer Model 1. Got me started in my computer career. I now have a working Tandy Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 4! Great machines!

your commentary transports me back to 1985!

what a find. I haven't had my hands on one of those in a very long time. 1.2 meg on the 8 inch drive....or was it 800k? Was great for writing programs in basic. Write an inventory program. I wrote one back in the old days. I've used lots of that old junk. Amazing how times have changed. That was a lot of power back in 81 with the 12 megHD. Enjoy.

love these designs of tandys!!😊

I did a lot of database systems using their Profile16 system. I created a lot of custom accounting and marketing systems back in the day. I love that machine.

TRS-80 Model II/12/16: I am a BUSINESS computer. No games here. Infocom: Hold my beer.

@KnightSwordAG

10 ай бұрын

But I don't wanna be eaten by a grue.

New subscriber here . . . terrific #SepTandy series this year, VG. FWIW, I recall TRSDOS being pronounced "TrisDOS." (I never got to use the 8" floppies, though, as I was just a bit tool late on the scene for those beasts :) )

I think these could run CP/M. Of course the killer upgrade is to install the Model 16 upgrade which gives you the 68000 processor where you can run Xenix which is a Unix variant. Everything after the 12 always starts up in Model II compatability mode so the boot sector is written in Z80 code, if it sees you have the 68000 processor the Model 16/6000 code can execute if you have a Model 16 disk. If you try to boot a Model II or 12 with a Model 16 or 6000 disk, it will display an error that the disk can only be booted on a 16 or higher.

I had a 1000 RLX for several years, 1992s. 20 gig hdd, 3 1/2" floppy drive, DOS, Desk Mate and Windows 3.1 and a dot matrix printer(loud). I miss the system!

Great video! I’ve never used an 8 inch floppy disk. That’s really cool that you guys have the manuals for this Tandy, and even the desk!

@danyoutube7491

10 ай бұрын

Me neither, the largest I ever used were the 5.25" ones on the BBC Micro at school.

We want to see the hardware. At least I do.

I have a working Model 16 in my basement. However a blown capacitor forces me to take the cover off or it will start smoking. I bought the computer from a Radio Shack reseller back then to save money. I can run COBOL on it because I was a mainframe programmer. I wrote a bowling scorekeeping program to save me the tedium of manual scorekeeping. The most fun software is a small Basic program that displays a blinking Christmas tree on the screen. Other than that, I didn't know what to do with the computer. I had no need for a spreadsheet or word processor. I compared it to the IBM PC which just came out, but I didn't like that for the IBM, everything seemed to be an add-on or option. Also Tandy's RM COBOL was half the price. Little did I realize that IBM would become a standard and TRSDOS would fade away.

This one is just an awesome machine .. hard to find a keyboard these days

I'm guessing Visicalc, or some other spreadsheet program and WordStar. I remember as a kid pouring over the Radio Shack catalogs and the computer description of those large computers always said they would allow you to do "what if" calculations. I had no idea what that meant at the time, but it was obviously a spreadsheet (it may have even said spreadsheet, but I wouldn't have known what that was).

Interesting and funny how far 8" drives sizes changed. Even compared to the full height or 1/2 half height 5.1/4" floppy.

They used to sell a Model 16 upgrade kit including a 68000 board that would let you run XENIX.

Very informative episode !!!

Did my first paid programming on a Model 12 (I was still just a kid and the accounting software on it was a nightmare to code as it was in basic deliberately written to be hard to modify).

wow

The model 3 and 4 has WAY more software then the model 2 and 12 even when it comes to productivity as you had fewer software developers for the platforms.

I'm not sure why you think it's a monstrosity since you seem to like it. Are you saying it's ugly or poorly designed?

@Sashazur

10 ай бұрын

I think he just meant that it was huge. Which isn’t exactly what “monstrosity” means.

Dragon 32 video pleeeease

8.5 minutes into a 14 minute video he finally stops yapping and turns on the computer. And it's Trisdos, not T R S Dos. 9:51 8" disks are WP when the tab is uncovered. What kind of a vintage geek are you?

@stannovacki2406

6 ай бұрын

a very young one.

Excellent, fun episode !!!