Welcome back to part 10 of my fourth SepTandy Spectacular. In the last post we begain our look at the Pocket Computer line by looking at the various Docking Stations for it. In this Entry we move on to the miscellaneous peripherals
Starting off with the PC-2, were the 4K and 8K RAM Plug-In Modules (Catalog numbers 26-3615 and 26-3616 respectively), introduced in 1982, for $69.95 and $139.95 respectively.
Also available for the PC-2 was the RS-232C Interface, Released in 1983, for $199.95 dollars.
This could plug into either the PC-2 itself, or into the Printer/Plotter/Cassette Interface, and ran of a rechargeable battery. As the name would suggest, This gives you a full size RS-232C Serial port for either hooking up a modem, other serial printers and plotters, or to a desktop to transfer data.
Once again, it was an OEM version of an add on for the Sharp 1500: the CE-158, however the original Japanese Sharp version was slightly different as it included not only a serial interface but also a parallel interface as well.
Tandy presumably removed the parallel port for a few reasons, the first was probably to minimize cost. By removing the port they could reduce the componets required to make it reducing cost in both production and retail price, as well as making the battery last longer. The other reason was the parralell port was not compatible with any of the printers that they sold, so keeping it would end up being pointless for Radio Shack customers.
No matter what the reason was, unfortunatly the interface ended up selling poorly. The problem was it sold for $199.95, the same price in as the PC-2 itself. So it didnt end up appealing to most users due to high price, and the device was quickly discontinued in 1985, making these devices very rare to find today.
Speaking of Sharp, there were someperiferals that nevermade it on the PC-2, one of these was The Sharp CE-153 software board, which was a touch pad.
It was mainly designed for the educational market, was designed to be used with overlays. This was mainly targeted at schools and other neiche aplications requiring a larger keyboard.
Video out for monitor and tv's was also available with the The IWS Video Interface.
Video out was also available with the The IWS Video Interface. This could also be connected to the PC-2 itself, or into the Printer/Plotter/Cassette Interface and with this you can dispaly text in either 40x25 or 80x25.
Sharp also sode a dedicated mini cassette recorder along side its computers, making the tapes smaller and allowing you to hold more tapes in a case than full sized cassettes. Unfourtunatly this has never been OEMed.
And finally is carrying cases. the PC-1 shipped with a lether case to keeb it clean, and could only hold the computer and not the accesories.
And finally is carrying cases. the PC-1 shipped with a lether case to keeb it clean, and could only hold Later on Radio Shack offered a biger case resembiling a breif case to hold peripheral.
Later on Radio Shack offered a biggsr case resembling a traditional briefcaseg and held both the computer and hold peripherals.
Coincidentally Tandy would make a similar case for the Model 100 later, but that will be covered soon. This concludes part 10 of the fourth Septandy Spectacular, join me next time as we move forward to 1983, and begin our look at the Model 100's early add ons.
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