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Reviews of TRS-80 and compatible computers in magazines of the 1970s & 80s

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Rainer Fredrich

unread,

Jul 16, 2011, 5:02:53 AM7/16/11

For some TRS-80 fans it may be interesting to have a view on the
editor's judgements from the earlier times when these computers were
displayed in computer shop's display windows for sale. The technical
details of the reviewed computers are more precise and meaningful than
the shorthand technical specifications found on modern computer museum
internet sites. Some of the reviews are more well disposed and other
less. Because of the different views of the various editors the reader
can make himself a pretty good overview about the desired computer
model. Since some of the reviews are difficult to obtain nowadays I
think it might be useful to make them available in this manner.

Beside the elder TRS-80 computer enthusiasts (I'm 51 years old) which
are familiar with most of the TRS-80 models since the late 1970s there
may be younger ones who could be supported in their decision to obtain
a specific model. The containing information of the reviews might
bring some light in the beginner's lack of knowlegde of the different
types of TRS-80 and compatible computers. BTW, are there any younger
TRS-80 users among us (born after ~1980) or do the group members
consist only of survivers of the former 8-bit times?

The reviews are taken almost all from independent magazines like Byte
or 80micro and similar printed publications. The pages from the
magazine 'Microcomputer News' should more seen like an introduction
and advertisment than real reviews because this magazine was published
by Radio Shack. Nevertheless I have added for completeness a few of
the overviews from this magazine too.

Some of the models have more reviews than others. That's because my
access is limited to only a small fraction of all ever printed issues
of the various computer magazines. For example: the Model III which is
represented only by one review is accidently the least recognized
computer in this collection despite the fact that this model is one of
the most spread ones. Does someone have another review of the Model
III?

I've collected all the reviews found in magazines that I have (had)
personally on paper or that are (were) accessible in digitized formats
(PDF, JPG or plain text) on the internet. Regardless of the original
data format all the reviews are now in PDF.

Featured Tandy Radio Shack computers:

- TRS-80 Model I
- TRS-80 Model II
- TRS-80 Model III
- TRS-80 Model 4
- TRS-80 Model 4P
- TRS-80 Model 12
- TRS-80 Model 16
- TRS-80 Model 16B
- TRS-80 DT-1
- TRS-80 Color Computer

Featured TRS-80 compatible computers:

- PMC-80
- Dick Smith System 80
- Video Genie
- Lobo Max-80
- LNW80
- Trommelschlaeger TCS GENIE IIIS
- Trommelschlaeger Speedmaster

The examined magazines (nearly all in English language exept the
mentioned German magazines):

- 80micro
- Byte
- 80-US
- Microcomputer News
- Creative Computing
- Infoworld
- Micro-80
- CHIP (German language)
- c't (German language)
- Computer Persoenlich (German language)

The reviews of the specific models are integrated to sets of PDF files
and packed in RAR archive files. To unpack the desired file you can
use the program Winrar for example. Other packing programs like Winzip
may work as well.
For more information look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAR_(file_format)

The sets are named:
TRS-80_Model_I_Reviews_(Version_YYYY-MM-DD).rar
TRS-80_Model_II-12_Reviews_(Version_YYYY-MM-DD).rar
TRS-80_Model_III_Reviews_(Version_YYYY-MM-DD).rar
TRS-80_Model_4_Reviews_(Version_YYYY-MM-DD).rar
TRS-80_Model_16_and_Terminal_DT-1_(Version_YYYY-MM-DD).rar
TRS-80_Compatibles_Reviews_(Version_YYYY-MM-DD).rar
Color_Computer_Reviews_(Version_YYYY-MM-DD).rar

Additionally for the interested party that like to have all reviews a
RAR file is available that includes the whole collection:
Tandy_Radio_Shack_and_Compatible_Computers_Reviews_(whole_collection)_(Version_YYYY-
MM-DD).rar

A set's version date (Version_YYYY-MM-DD) is updated every time a new
review is added to the set. The first version date of all sets is
2011-07-12. Coming updates will be published here.

Each archive file is stored on two different file hosting services for
downloading. You can choose your preferred file hoster. The files are
usually deleted by the services after a period of 30-60 days without a
download. Please let me know if a file isn't accessible anymore. See
below for the download links.

Have fun with reading. Additional contributions of reviews and any
comments are welcome.

Best Regards,
Rainer
Germany

The archive files and their contents:

--> TRS-80_Model_I_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-12).rar
Filesize: 5.32MB
Download links:
http://www.share-online.biz/dl/8O8IKBOLCFQ
http://www.fileserve.com/file/8rFWE4n

Contents:
TRS-80 Model I
Byte 1977-11, page 46

TRS-80 Model I
Byte 1978-04, page 49

--- German ---

TRS-80 Model I
CHIP 1979-07
==========================

--> TRS-80_Model_II-12_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-12).rar
Filesize: 4.05MB
Download links:
http://www.share-online.biz/dl/61F7LBOLRH
http://www.fileserve.com/file/KjpdT5M

Contents:
TRS-80 Model II vs. IBM PC 5150
80micro 1982-03, page 168

TRS-80 Model 12
80micro 1983-05, page 133

TRS-80 Model 12
InfoWorld 1983-08-22, page 50

--- German ---

TRS-80 Model 12
Computer Persoenlich 1983-09
==========================

--> TRS-80_Model_III_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-12).rar
Filesize: 0.95MB
Download links:
http://www.share-online.biz/dl/CHHALBOLA9
http://www.fileserve.com/file/n2ZXKk6

Contents:
TRS-80 Model III
Micro-80 1981-02 (Issue 15), page 2
==========================

--> TRS-80_Model_4_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-12).rar
Filesize: 6.62MB
Download links:
http://www.share-online.biz/dl/1NZOLBOLPL
http://www.fileserve.com/file/XnKhcbQ

Contents:
TRS-80 Model 4
80-US 1983-06 (Vol. 6 - Issue 6), page 14

TRS-80 Model 4
Micro-80 1984-01 (Vol. 4 - Issue 06), page 10

TRS-80 Model 4
Microcomputer News 1983-05, page 17

TRS-80 Model 4
Byte 1983-10, page 292

TRS-80 Model 4D
80micro 1986-02, page 29

TRS-80 Model 4P
80micro 1984-03, page 42
==========================

--> TRS-80_Model_16_and_Terminal_DT-1_(Version_2011-07-12).rar
Filesize: 4.67MB
Download links:
http://www.share-online.biz/dl/3K3ZLBOLX5T
http://www.fileserve.com/file/EZG2e4B

Contents:
TRS-80 Model 16
Microcomputer News 1982-03, page 32

TRS-80 Model 16
80-US 1982-08, page 39

TRS-80 Model 16
80micro 1982-09, page 16 - Model 16's Future
80micro 1982-09, page 300 - Whither DOS for the Model 16?

TRS-80 Model 16
80micro 1983-02, page 228

TRS-80 Model 16B
Microcomputer News 1983-10, page 11

TRS-80 DT-1
80-US 1982-08, page 54
==========================

--> TRS-80_Compatibles_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-12).rar
Filesize: 31.6MB
Download links:
http://www.share-online.biz/dl/I7VGMBOLZD
http://www.fileserve.com/file/QvkTac8

Contents:
Dick Smith System 80
Micro-80 1980-06 (Issue 07), page 5

PMC-80, Video Genie, Dick Smith System 80
80micro 1982-01, page 218

PMC-80
InfoWorld 1981-04-13, page 54

Lobo Max-80
80micro 1983-07, page 122

Lobo MAX-80
InfoWorld 1981-01-17, page 53

LNW-80
Byte 1984-05, page 258

LNW-80 Kit
80micro 1982-05, page 206

LNW-80 Kit
80micro 1982-10, page 356

--- German ---

Video Genie EG3003
CHIP 1980-11

Genie II EG3008
CHIP 1982-01

Trommelschlaeger TCS GENIE IIIS
c't 1985-03, page 100

Trommelschlaeger Speedmaster
CHIP 1984-09, page 98
==========================

--> Color_Computer_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-12).rar
Filesize: 4.62MB
Download links:
http://www.share-online.biz/dl/94N82FOL0F
http://www.fileserve.com/file/nr7pybg

Contents:
Color Computer
80micro 1981-01, page 88

Color Computer
80micro 1981-06, page 202

Color Computer
80micro 1981-08, page 286

--- German ---

Color Computer 2
c't 1984-05, page 48
==========================

-->
Tandy_Radio_Shack_and_Compatible_Computers_Reviews_(whole_collection)_(Version_2011-07-12).rar
Filesize: 57.8MB
Download links:
http://www.share-online.biz/dl/FU5S3FOL2J5
http://www.fileserve.com/file/VfA2cRD

Contents:
TRS-80 Model I
Byte 1977-11, page 46

TRS-80 Model I
Byte 1978-04, page 49

--- German ---

TRS-80 Model I
CHIP 1979-07
--------------------------
TRS-80 Model II vs. IBM PC 5150
80micro 1982-03, page 168

TRS-80 Model 12
80micro 1983-05, page 133

TRS-80 Model 12
InfoWorld 1983-08-22, page 50

--- German ---

TRS-80 Model 12
Computer Persoenlich 1983-09
--------------------------
TRS-80 Model III
Micro-80 1981-02 (Issue 15), page 2
--------------------------
TRS-80 Model 4
80-US 1983-06 (Vol. 6 - Issue 6), page 14

TRS-80 Model 4
Micro-80 1984-01 (Vol. 4 - Issue 06), page 10

TRS-80 Model 4
Microcomputer News 1983-05, page 17

TRS-80 Model 4
Byte 1983-10, page 292

TRS-80 Model 4D
80micro 1986-02, page 29

TRS-80 Model 4P
80micro 1984-03, page 42
--------------------------
TRS-80 Model 16
Microcomputer News 1982-03, page 32

TRS-80 Model 16
80-US 1982-08, page 39

TRS-80 Model 16
80micro 1982-09, page 16 - Model 16's Future
80micro 1982-09, page 300 - Whither DOS for the Model 16?

TRS-80 Model 16
80micro 1983-02, page 228

TRS-80 Model 16B
Microcomputer News 1983-10, page 11

TRS-80 DT-1
80-US 1982-08, page 54
--------------------------
Dick Smith System 80
Micro-80 1980-06 (Issue 07), page 5

PMC-80, Video Genie, Dick Smith System 80
80micro 1982-01, page 218

PMC-80
InfoWorld 1981-04-13, page 54

Lobo Max-80
80micro 1983-07, page 122

Lobo MAX-80
InfoWorld 1981-01-17, page 53

LNW-80
Byte 1984-05, page 258

LNW-80 Kit
80micro 1982-05, page 206

LNW-80 Kit
80micro 1982-10, page 356

--- German ---

Video Genie EG3003
CHIP 1980-11

Genie II EG3008
CHIP 1982-01

Trommelschlaeger TCS GENIE IIIS
c't 1985-03, page 100

Trommelschlaeger Speedmaster
CHIP 1984-09, page 98
--------------------------
Color Computer
80micro 1981-01, page 88

Color Computer
80micro 1981-06, page 202

Color Computer
80micro 1981-08, page 286

--- German ---

Color Computer 2
c't 1984-05, page 48
==========================

Rainer Fredrich

unread,

Jul 17, 2011, 5:09:02 PM7/17/11

There are some updates (additional reviews):

TRS-80 Model I Reviews
UPDATE 2011-07-16
review added

TRS-80 Model I
Creative Computing 1977-xx

--> TRS-80_Model_I_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-16).rar
Filesize: 5.64MB
Download links:
http://www.fileserve.com/file/kHDbQrq
http://www.filefactory.com/file/cc6542f/n/TRS-80_Model_I_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-16).rar

====================

Color Computer Reviews
UPDATE 2011-07-16
review added

Color Computer
Creative Computing 19xx-xx

--> Color_Computer_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-16).rar
Filesize: 5.47MB
Download links:
http://www.fileserve.com/file/sMmtNys
http://www.filefactory.com/file/cc65302/n/Color_Computer_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-16).rar

====================

TRS-80 Model 4 Reviews:
UPDATE 2011-07-15
review added

TRS-80 Model 4P
InfoWorld
1983-11-21, Page 82

--> TRS-80_Model_4_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-15).rar
Filesize: 7.14MB
Download links:
http://www.fileserve.com/file/EaaxKBr
http://www.filefactory.com/file/cc654d2/n/TRS-80_Model_4_Reviews_(Version_2011-07-15).rar

====================

Tandy Radio Shack and Compatible Computers Reviews (whole collection):
UPDATES (Version 2011-07-16):

UPDATE 2011-07-16
review added

TRS-80 Model I
Creative Computing 1977-xx

-----------

UPDATE 2011-07-16
review added

Color Computer
Creative Computing 19xx-xx

-----------

UPDATE 2011-07-15
review added

TRS-80 Model 4P
InfoWorld
1983-11-21, Page 82

-->
Tandy_Radio_Shack_and_Compatible_Computers_Reviews_(whole_collection)_(Version_2011-07-16).rar
Filesize: 59.5MB
Download links:
http://www.fileserve.com/file/JeYFjGg
http://tinyurl.com/5te65ht

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