TRS-80 Model II

Released in May 1979, the TRS-80 Model II was Tandy’s professional-grade microcomputer, aimed squarely at the small business market. Despite its name, it shared virtually nothing in common with the Model I — it had a faster Z80 processor, a built-in single-sided 8" floppy disk drive, 80-column display, and ran TRSDOS or CP/M. With support for up to 64KB RAM and multi-user capabilities via expansion, the Model II was well-regarded for its power, expandability, and reliability — though its incompatibility with the Model I line confused many buyers.

Notable Features

• Built-in 80-column CRT and 8" floppy disk drive
• CP/M compatibility opened the door to a wide library of business software
• Modular architecture allowed multi-user expansion with external chassis
• Robust build quality – popular in legal, accounting, and medical offices
• Full ASCII support – unlike the Model I, it could handle true lowercase!

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Historical Significance

• Tandy’s first foray into professional business computing
• Often seen running word processors, accounting software, and dBASE II
• Offered genuine competition to systems like the Osborne 1 and early Kaypros
• Precursor to the Model 12, 16, and 6000 business machines
• Not compatible with the Model I, which caused marketing confusion

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Collector's Notes

• Rarity: Uncommon – fewer units sold and most were scrapped by offices
• Desirability: High for vintage business computer enthusiasts and CP/M collectors
• Common Issues:
  • 8" drives may seize or suffer from worn belts
  • CRT phosphor burn-in or failure
  • Keyboard ribbon cable or controller issues
• Display Tips: Looks excellent with matching daisy wheel printer, multi-drive expansion bay, and a framed TRS-80 Business Systems ad nearby

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	TRS-80 Model II
Manufacturer	Tandy
Launched	Tuesday, May 1, 1979
Discontinued	1983
Launch Price	$3,450
Country	United States
CPU	Zilog Z80A @ 4 MHz
Units Sold	~50,000
Power	Internal PSU, approx. 130W typical draw
Operating System	TRSDOS-II or CP/M 2.2
Expansion	Expansion chassis added drives, RAM, RS-232, and hard disk support
Storage	Built-in 8" single-sided floppy drive (500KB); up to 4 supported
Keyboard	Detachable full-stroke keyboard with numeric keypad
Sound	None
Graphics	None (text-only terminal style)
Display	80×25 character green-screen CRT (monochrome text only)
ROM	Bootstrap ROM for TRSDOS and CP/M loading
RAM	32KB standard, expandable to 64KB