Editing TRS-80 Color Computer (section)

==Color Computer 1 (1980–1983) {{anchor|coco1}}==
[[Image:TRS-80 Color Computer 1.jpg|thumb|250px|right|4K TRS-80 Color Computer from 1981 (model 26-3001)]]

The original version of the Color Computer sports a large silver-gray case with a calculator-like [[chiclet keyboard]] and was available with memory sizes of 4K (26-3001), 16K (26-3002), or 32K (26-3003). Versions with at least 16K of memory installed shipped with standard [[Microsoft BASIC|Microsoft Color Basic]] or (optionally) [[Extended Color BASIC]]. The only available connection to a display device is to a TV.

Early versions of the CoCo 1 have a black keyboard surround, the TRS-80 nameplate above the keyboard to the left side, and a RAM badge ("button") affixed on the top and right side of the case. Later versions removed the black keyboard surround and RAM button, and moved the TRS-80 nameplate to the mid-line of the case.

The computer is based on a single [[printed-circuit board]] with all semiconductors manufactured by Motorola including the MC6809E CPU, MC6847 VDG, MC6883 SAM, and RAM, which consists of 2104 (4Kx1) chips (4K models) or 4116 (16Kx1) chips (16K models).{{r|byte198103}} The early CoCos only have eight RAM sockets, so upgrading to 32K requires piggybacking two sets of 4116 chips and adding a few [[jumper (computing)|jumper]] wires. A later [[motherboard]] revision removed the 4K RAM option and were upgraded to 32K with "half-bad" 4164 DRAMs. These boards have jumpers marked HIGH/LOW to determine which half of the memory chip was good. As memory production yields improved and costs went down, many (perhaps most) 32K CoCo 1s shipped with perfectly good 4164 memory chips. Utilities and programs began to take advantage of the hidden 32K.

Users opening the case risked invalidating the warranty.{{r|byte198103}} Radio Shack could upgrade all versions that shipped with standard Color BASIC to Extended Color BASIC, developed by [[Microsoft]], for $99. ''[[Byte (magazine)|BYTE]]'' wrote in 1981 that through Extended Color BASIC, Radio Shack "has released the first ''truly'' easy-to-use and inexpensive system that generates full-color graphics".<ref name="miastkowski198105">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1981-05/1981_05_BYTE_06-05_Software_Piracy#page/n37/mode/2up | title=Extended Color BASIC for the TRS-80 Color Computer | magazine=[[Byte (magazine)|BYTE]] | date=May 1981 | access-date=18 October 2013 | last=Miastkowski |first=Stan | volume=6 | issue=5| pages=37–45}}</ref> Eventually the 32K memory option was dropped entirely and only 16K or 64K versions were offered.

In late 1982, a version of the Color Computer with a white case, called the TDP System 100, was distributed by [[RCA]] and sold through non-Tandy stores. Except for the nameplate and case, it is identical to the Color Computer.<ref name="rainbow198209">{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/rainbowmagazine-1982-09/The_Rainbow_Magazine_09_1982#page/n55/mode/2up | title=Pipeline | magazine=[[The Rainbow (magazine)|The Rainbow]] | date=September 1982 | access-date=17 October 2013 | page=56 |volume=II | issue=3}}</ref>

Later, both the CoCo and the TDP System 100 shipped with a white case with ventilation slots running the length of the case rather than only the sides. This ventilation scheme carried over to the CoCo 2. Some late versions of the CoCo have a modified keyboard, often referred to as the "melted" keyboard, with bigger [[keycap]]s.

Peripherals included [[tape cassette]] storage, serial [[printer (computing)|printers]], a 5.25-inch [[floppy disk drive]], a pen and [[graphics tablet]] called the X-Pad, [[speech synthesizer|speech]] and sound generators, and joysticks.

{{Gallery
|File:TRS-80 Color Computer 1 4x3.jpg|16K TRS-80 Color Computer 1
|File:TRS-80 Color Computer 1 ports.jpg|I/O ports and cartridge slot on the TRS-80 Color Computer 1
|File:TRS-80 Color Computer 1-white case.jpg|Late "white" model TRS-80 Color Computer 1
|File:TDP-100 wb.jpg|Tandy Data Products TDP-100 (with user-added 64K badge)
}}