TRS-80 MC-10
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MC6847 | |
Input | 48-key "Chiclet"-style keyboard |
---|---|
Power | 8V AC 1.5A |
Dimensions | 8.5 in × 7 in × 2 in (216 mm × 178 mm × 51 mm) |
Mass | 29.05 oz (824 g) |
The TRS-80 MC-10
The MC-10 was of value primarily to
Description
About the size of a hardcover book, the MC-10 has four kilobytes of RAM, a Motorola MC6803 eight-bit microprocessor, a built-in serial port, and graphics capabilities similar to those of the original Color Computer (provided by the same MC6847 video display generator).
The MC-10 includes a
At the time of its release in 1983, the MC-10's specifications were underwhelming (at least for its home market; North America).
The MC-10 was discontinued in 1984, along with the 16 KB memory upgrade and small amount of cassette-based software that had been released for it.
Specifications
- VDG: MC6847
- Text: 32×16
- Low-res: 64×32, 8 color (4 bpp)
- Low-res: 64×48, 2 color (not fully implemented)
- Low-res: 64×64, 4 color (2 bpp)
- Med-res: 128×64, 2 color (1 bpp)
- Med-res: 128×64, 4 color (2 bpp)
- Med-hi: 128×96, 2 color (1 bpp)
- Med-hi: 128×96, 4 color (2 bpp)
- Hi-res: 128×192, 2 color (1 bpp)
- Hi-res: 128×192, 4 color (2 bpp) (partially supported, insufficient video RAM)[4]
- Hi-res: 256×192, 2 color (1 bpp) (partially supported, insufficient video RAM)
- I/O Ports:
- RS-232C BASIC)
- Cassette interface (1500 baud)
- Internal RF modulator
- Memory expansion interface
- RS-232C
Although the memory expansion interface connected directly to the CPU bus and could have been used for many applications, the edge connector involved had an unusual number of pins and was difficult to obtain.
The RS-232C serial interface had extremely limited usefulness. Although the 6803 CPU conveniently includes a built-in
The cassette interface has similar difficulties, plus a few. Although Micro Color Basic includes an undocumented CLOADM
command for loading machine-language programs and an undocumented VARPTR
function for manipulating variables as memory, there is no corresponding CSAVEM
command (documented or otherwise) to permit machine language programs to be saved to tape.
Software
A limited amount of software was available on cassette for the MC-10, including Lunar Lander, Checkers, and a machine-language Pinball program. However, as most programs written in Basic for other TRS-80 models were compatible with the MC-10, many books with BASIC programs were available for the user who was willing to type in the code.
Clone
A clone of the MC-10, the
References
- ^ The TRS-80 MC-10: too little, too late for too much?, (evaluation) By Owen W. Linzmayer, CREATIVE COMPUTING VOL. 9, NO. 10 / OCTOBER 1983 / PAGE 39
- ^ TRS-80 MC-10 'battles' T/S 2000, By Scott Mace, Page 3, InfoWorld, 20 Jun 1983
- ^ New Systems, Hardware News, Page 46, InfoWorld, 8 Aug 1983, The TRS-80 Micro Color Computer Model MC- 10 from Radio Shack is aimed primarily at first-time computer buyers.
- ^ TRS-80 Micro Color Computer Model MC-10 Service Manual, Radio Shack Corporation, Catalog Number 26-30-11, Pages 4-6, 17.