Welcome back to part 3 of my SepTandy Spectacular 3. In the last post I took a look at the Eaca Colour Genie. In this post were going to take a look at the miscellaneous TRS-80 clones sold throughout the world.
The many miscellaneous TRS-80 clones
The interesting thing about clone computers is that all come in all sorts of case designs. one might be an original design or have a resemble another computer, or even use PC style cases. These cases come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit in to whatever market there destined to be in. Now I won't go too much over specs, because all of them will use TRS-80 components, I'll also wouldn't be emulating these machines because most of them aren't emulated. So without further ado, lets get into it!.
The first clone will be looking at is the CP 500, It was released in 1982 by Prologica Ind. e Com. de Microcomputadores Ltda and sold in Brazil.
The Prologica Ind. e Com. de Microcomputadores Ltda CP 500 (1982)
Its an all in one machine, similar to the TRS-80 Model III, and appropriately enough, It's compatible with the Model III, using a Z80A CPU running at 2 MHz, with 48K of RAM and a 16KB ROM. The screen resolution was 64 columns by 16 rows. I like the look of the keyboard with its black grey and red color scheme, It reminds me of the keyboards of industrial computers and workstations like the Xerox Star.
Next is the CP 300, also by Prologica Ind. e Com. de Microcomputadores Ltda and released in 1983.
The Prologica Ind. e Com. de Microcomputadores Ltda CP 500 (1983)
It's also compatible with the Model III, using a Z80A CPU running at 2 MHz, with 64K of RAM and a 16KB ROM. However unlike the CP 500, Instead of an all in one case, it uses a case design similar to the Model I. However, Instead of full sized keyboard, it uses a chiclet keyboard. Due to that, I almost see it as a TRS-80 Model I from an alternate timeline. As i've mentioned before when the Model I was in development, The first design that Don French, John Roach, and Steve Leininger drafted had a membrane keyboard, But Leininger persuaded Roach and French to include a better keyboard. Maybe had they kept the membrane keyboard, it could have looked similar to that.
Next is the CP 500/M80, once again by Prologica Ind. e Com. de Microcomputadores Ltda and released in 1985.
The Prologica Ind. e Com. de Microcomputadores Ltda CP 500/M80 (1985)
It's compatible with the Model III and IIII, using a Z80A CPU running at 2 MHz, with 48K of RAM and a 16KB ROM. For this machine., we go back to an all in one design again with built in keyboard, monitor and disk drives. Its also capable of producing an additional text resolution of 80 columns by 24 rows when running SO-08, a CP/M 2.2 compatible OS.
Next is the CP 500/M80C, again by Prologica Ind. e Com. de Microcomputadores Ltda and released in 1986.
The Prologica Ind. e Com. de Microcomputadores Ltda CP 500/M80 (1985)
The C stands for "Compact” because it was 30% smaller than the other models due to using half height disk drives rather than full height. Otherwise its the same as the CP 500/M80, with Model III and IIII compatibility, 2 MHz Z80A CPU, 48K of RAM, 16K ROM, and capable of producing an additional text resolution of 80 columns by 24 rows when running SO-08, a CP/M 2.2 compatible OS.
Next up is the DGT-100 by DIGITUS Ind. Com. Serv. de Eletronica Ltda and introduced in 1981.
The DIGITUS Ind. Com. Serv. de Eletronica Ltda DGT-100 (1981)
The case somewhat resembles the Apple II in design and comes with an RF modulator built in, so you could hook it up to a standard television. It also has a 2.5 MHz Z80, 16K RAM (Expandable to 48K), and has a monitor program built into ROM.
Next is the DGT-1000 also by DIGITUS Ind. Com. Serv. de Eletronica Ltda and introduced in 1984.
The DIGITUS Ind. Com. Serv. de Eletronica Ltda DGT-1000 (1984)
The DGT-1000 is effectively an upgraded DGT-100, with the ability to use up to 4 disk drives rather than 2, and even has the ability to produce color graphics with a resolution of 256 by 192 pixels in 16 colors.
Now i'm sure that you've noticed that there seems to be a lot of Brazilian machines here, and that isn't a coincidence as a majority of TRS-80 clones were made and sold in Brazil, and there's a very good reason for this.
You see, in the 1980s, Brazil was under military rule, and had a reserved market policy for computer sales: only machines produced locally by Brazilian companies were allowed to be sold in Brazil. So the importation of mini- and micro-computers was considered illegal, as they were considered to be potential security risks.
As a result, many Brazilian companies produced clones of the popular computers of the day, Like the TRS-80, Apple II, and Timex Sinclair 1000/Sinclair ZX81 and 2068/Sinclair ZX Spectrum and even the Apple Macintosh. In fact the Unitron Mac 512 is considered to be the first mac clone ever.
Left to right: The DIGITUS Ind. Com. Serv. de Eletronica Ltda DGT-100 (1981), the Microdigital TK200 (1984), the Microdigital TK83 (1983), the Microdigital TK95 (1986), the Unitron Mac 512 (1985)
As a result there were thousands of clones produced in Brazil with TRS-80 clones being the most popular and we'll see why I think that shortly.
Next is the D-8000 by Dismac Industrial S.A. and introduced in 1980.
The Dismac Industrial S.A. D-8000 (1980)
The D-8000 is notable as its not only the first Brazilian TRS-80 Model I clone, But it was also the first personal computer manufactured in Brazil. Its similar to the Video Genie in that it has a built in tape deck and RF out to hook up to a tv, along with a 32 column mode.
Next is the JR SYSDATA by Sysdata Eletronica Ltda, introduced in 1982.
The Sysdata Eletronica Ltd JR SYSDATA (1982)
The case resembles the Tandy Color Computer, complete with chiclet keys, and comes with an RF modulator built in, 1.78 / 3.56 MHz Z80, 16K RAM (Expandable to 48K or 64K), and interestingly 14K of ROM rather than 16K.
Next is the Naja by Kemitron Ltda, introduced in 1985.
The Kemitron Ltda Naja (1985)
It comes with a 2.1 / 3.6 MHz Z80A CPU, with 48K of RAM (Expandable to 64K), and a 16KB ROM. The screen resolution was 64 columns by 16 rows, but also has graphics modes of 192 by 64 and 256 by 192. I like the look of this machine, It looks like something out of a 70s SciFi film to me.
Next machine is the SysData III by Sysdata Eletronica Ltda, introduced in 1984.
The Sysdata Eletronica Ltd Sysdata III (1984)
It comes in an IBM PC like case and comes with a 2.5 MHz Z80A CPU, with 64K of RAM (Expandable to 128K), and a 14KB ROM.
There are many more Brazilian TRS-80 clones, but i'm not going to bombard us with Brazilian clones so lets move on to the clones from other parts of the world.
Next is the Aster CT-80 by Aster Computers and released in The Netherlands in 1980.
It was the first commercially available Dutch personal computer and one of the most popular computers used in Dutch schools. It also has an IBM PC type case and boasts a 4/1.77 MHz Z80 CPU, with 64K of RAM (Expandable to 128K), and 16K of ROM. It also had optional expansions for extra graphics modes with a resolution of 256 by 192 pixels in 16 colors with a TMS9918, or a resolution 640 by 288 pixels in monochrome with an NEC μPD7220, a floppy disk interface supporting capacities up to 800 KB, an RS232 interface, and CP/M compatibility with 80 different machines (Hence the name CT-80, being short for CP/M, Tandy and the year of release, 1980)Next is the Aster CT-80 by Aster Computers and released in The Netherlands in 1980.
Next up, we head to Japan to see a special clone by a familiar brand, the Teac PS-80 by TEAC Corporation, released in 1980.
Now TEAC is not a name you'd associate with computer hardware as they're more famous as an audio equipment company. However being that they had experience working with magnetic recording tape, allowed them to work on magnetic storage drives for computers like tape and floppy drives, Starting with helping IBM develop tape storage for mainframes in the 1960's. Also, unlike most of the clones on this list, The PS-80 is officially licensed by Tandy, as Tandy collaborated with TEAC to develop the PS-80, intended to be a TRS-80 better fit for the Japanese market. As such the hardware is exactly the same, Albeit with extra hardware differences to fit the needs of the japanese consumers. However combined with competitive nature and the fact TRS-80 Model I's with Kanji ROMS were already available contributed to a short life span for the PS-80. I do like the look of the PS-80, The whitish silver, black and white color scheme is certainly eye catching and its expansion unit looks like a very industrial HIFI tape deck (Minus the controls), with the option for 1 or 2 TEAC MT-2 tape deck built in, all encased in silver metal with a light blue strip across the bottom.
Next is the LNW-80 by LNW Research Corporation (later known as LNW Computers), released in the US in 1982.
The LNW-80 is notable in that it has built in Hires and color graphics modes. Mode 0 is the default TRS-80 screen with 64×16 characters, and 128×48 semigraphics,Mode 1 is 480×192 monochrome, Mode 2 uses high-resolution graphics memory to colorize the mode 0 graphics. This results in 128×48 dots with 8 colors per dot. This mode could be used to 'colorize' the standard TRS-80 games when loaded with special software, and Mode 3 uses low-res character memory to colorize the high-res pixels. This results in 384×192 pixels on 128×48 color fields. Per color field, a foreground and background color is selected from the basic eight colors. The colors are white, green, yellow, red, magenta, blue, blue-green and black. It also boasts a 4/1.77 MHz Z80A CPU, an 80×24 text mode, 8 inch drive support, and CP/M compatibility. LNW eventually filed for bankruptcy in 1984 after, supposedly, a robbery of their warehouse in which most of their inventory disappeared. The inventory reportedly eventually surfaced at an all-LNW repair facility in Southern California.
Next up is another American clone, The Max-80 by Lobo International, also released in 1982.
The Max-80 is interesting as it's not hardware compatible with the TRS-80, but still runs a majority of software for the TRS-80 Model I and III. Its also lacks a cassette interface and designed to be a disk based unit. It boasts a Zilog Z80-B clocked at 5MHz, 64K of RAM (Expandable to 128K), an 80×24 text mode, 8 inch drive support, and CP/M compatibility.
And finally, we have the Meritum, It was released in 1983 by Mera-Elzab and sold in Poland.
It was the first personal computer available in Poland, and an example of a computer created and sold behind the Iron Curtain. It used a U880DA CPU (Zilog Z80 clone) clocked at 2.5 MHz, 16K of RAM, and was intended primarily for scientific, engineering and office applications.
There are many more TRS-80 Model 1 clones that I haven't mentioned but I didn't include them because of scarce information. I might look depper iinto them for more details for a post in the future.
So how do I rate these machines on compatibility? they all rank as Fully Compatible due to using the same components and while some like the Max-80 may only be software compatible, 95% or more of available software will run on these machines.
This concludes Part 3 of my third Septandy Spectacular, join me next time as we move from TRS-80 clones to Coco clones by starting with most well known.
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