Got my first TRS-80 Model 1. What next?

[cbmeeks]

I have several of the CoCo's but I always wanted an original model 1. Now, that dream is finally a reality.

 

I also bought an original monitor that should be here in a couple weeks.

 

Other than a Radio Shack cassette drive, what should I get next?

 

I just want to play some old-school games and do a little BASIC programming.

 

Suggestions appreciated!

 

[+arcadeshopper]

I have several of the CoCo's but I always wanted an original model 1. Now, that dream is finally a reality.

 

I also bought an original monitor that should be here in a couple weeks.

 

Other than a Radio Shack cassette drive, what should I get next?

 

I just want to play some old-school games and do a little BASIC programming.

 

Suggestions appreciated!

 

Frehd and Quinnterface

 

http://members.iinet.net.au/~ianmav/trs80/newstuff.htm

 

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

[Mr SQL]

I have several of the CoCo's but I always wanted an original model 1. Now, that dream is finally a reality.

 

I also bought an original monitor that should be here in a couple weeks.

 

Other than a Radio Shack cassette drive, what should I get next?

 

I just want to play some old-school games and do a little BASIC programming.

 

Suggestions appreciated!

 

 

imo for the most fun with the Model I don't upgrade it; stick with the original Level I BASIC and the cassette drive.

 

The built in 4K is all you need for old-school games and BASIC programming fun from the 70's, that keyboard has a lot of play.

 

If you want to take the Model I into the 80's you can upgrade it with Level II BASIC, 48K, sidecars and floppy drives.

[cbmeeks]

 

imo for the most fun with the Model I don't upgrade it; stick with the original Level I BASIC and the cassette drive.

 

The built in 4K is all you need for old-school games and BASIC programming fun from the 70's, that keyboard has a lot of play.

 

If you want to take the Model I into the 80's you can upgrade it with Level II BASIC, 48K, sidecars and floppy drives.

 

 

That's actually what I am going to do. I don't know 100%, but I believe the system was expanded to 16K and Level II BASIC. I can't tell at the moment because the keyboard is having issues and the video timing is having issues. So I have some repairs on it. The keyboard ribbon cable was 60% disintegrated. Almost all of the traces were gone. So I am replacing that with a small IDE ribbon cable.

 

The video problem is going to take some time. But it's still pretty easy to get parts for that machine.

 

You know, despite the "Trash-80" moniker, the keyboard feels pretty great and the plastics are a little thicker than I thought they would be. I think I got a little lucky in that mine wasn't used much. Because the paint hasn't been rubbed off where your palms rest (unlike my CoCo 1).

 

I also found a Radio Shack cassette drive recently that is in mint condition. For $4 at a thrift store. It's not period accurate (probably mid-80's) or Tandy but it's Radio Shack and the color almost matches. So I guess I match the "RS" out of the "TRS". LOL

[Mr SQL]

 

 

That's actually what I am going to do. I don't know 100%, but I believe the system was expanded to 16K and Level II BASIC. I can't tell at the moment because the keyboard is having issues and the video timing is having issues. So I have some repairs on it. The keyboard ribbon cable was 60% disintegrated. Almost all of the traces were gone. So I am replacing that with a small IDE ribbon cable.

 

The video problem is going to take some time. But it's still pretty easy to get parts for that machine.

 

You know, despite the "Trash-80" moniker, the keyboard feels pretty great and the plastics are a little thicker than I thought they would be. I think I got a little lucky in that mine wasn't used much. Because the paint hasn't been rubbed off where your palms rest (unlike my CoCo 1).

 

I also found a Radio Shack cassette drive recently that is in mint condition. For $4 at a thrift store. It's not period accurate (probably mid-80's) or Tandy but it's Radio Shack and the color almost matches. So I guess I match the "RS" out of the "TRS". LOL

 

Very cool! Level II BASIC is also a lot of fun and so is 16K, was the RAM expansion done internally?

 

There was also a mod available that let you switch between the Level I and Level II BASIC ROM's.

 

I really liked the keyboard on the Model I, Tandy reduced costs on later systems keyboards like the CoCo and I also had problems with the similar keyboard ribbon cable disintegrating on it.

 

The standard and extended BASIC's on the CoCo are awesome too and even more powerful but the Level I BASIC on the Model I is much fun to program in for being one of the oldest and most retro primitive Tiny BASIC implementations.

 

80-Micro is a great magazine for the Model I, here's the online September 1980 Issue with the CoCo I.