The "TRS-80 Pocket Computer" was the first pocket computer Tandy/Radio Shack distributed. Nowadays, it is often referred to as the TRS-80 PC-1, so as to differentiate it from its successor, the TRS-80 PC-2 (and following), which is a clone of the Sharp PC-1500.
The TRS-80 Pocket Computer was custom manufactured by Sharp Corporation, and is technically identical with the Sharp PC-1211 (see there for more technical information). There were some minor differences: The colour style was a bit different, with gray and black prevailing instead of brown, and of course with a Radio Shack type label; moreover, the computer came with a soft (instead of hard) protective case, and an additional Quick Reference Card.
The peripherals were - of course - the same as for the Sharp models: The cassette interface unit (Catalog Number 26-3503), and the printer and cassette interface (26-3505 ), which incorporated a single needle mechanical dot printer.
Special thanks to Roman von Wartburg and his site for information and picture.
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
It used four MR44 1.35 V Mercury button cells, which are no longer manufactured. The WEINcell MRB675 is a "zinc air" substitute that works well. Several other batteries with the correct voltage will fit, but they are for fundamentally different applications, like hearing aids, and are made to discharge constantly. They will not stop when the device will turn off, and will not last very long.
Wednesday 16th December 2020
Chris Daniels (USA)
I have a PC-1 and still use it to this day. I have a friend repairing the printer batteries and I will attempt to re-ink the ribbon. I am looking for a digital recorder that will work with the cassette interface.
Monday 17th April 2017
Bill Potter (United States)
I have a PC-2 with the printer /cassette interface. The pens in the printer use a water based ink and I seriously doubt that you would be able to find replacements. Your best bet might be to refill the ink pens. I haven''t tried it on mine yet, but inkjet printer ink might work fine. If it''s too saturated, you might want to thin it with distilled water.
Monday 2nd April 2012
Dave Parker (USA)
NAME
TRS 80 PC-1
MANUFACTURER
Tandy Radio Shack
TYPE
Pocket
ORIGIN
U.S.A.
YEAR
1980
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
BASIC interpreter
KEYBOARD
57 keys, QWERTY calculator type with numeric key-pad
CPU
Sharp CMOS SC43177 and SC43178 (4 bits)
SPEED
256 kHz
RAM
1920 Bytes; 1424 steps / 178 memories available
ROM
11,2 kB (?)
TEXT MODES
1 line x 24 chars. (LCD screen)
GRAPHIC MODES
None
COLORS
Monochrome
SOUND
CPU controlled piezo buzzer, 1 tone with fixed frequency and duration
SIZE / WEIGHT
175 (W) x 70 (D) x 15 (H) mm / 170 g
I/O PORTS
9 pin expansion port for printer and cassette interface
