TRS-80 Model 1 (Tandy, 1977). Estimated units sold: hundreds of thousands; original price: $599; current market value: $25 to $250
The TRS-80 or Trash-80 was sold at Tandy's Radio Shack stores. It was probably the first computer American consumers encountered at their local shopping mall. Ugly and spartan but extremely useful, it spawned an array of add-ons, spinoffs, and successors that made Radio Shack the world's leading computer retailer for a period of time. Vintage examples don't cost a fortune.
TRS-80 Model 100 (Tandy, 1983). Estimated units sold: 6 million; original price: $799; current market value: $25 to $200
The Model 100--sold, like all TRS-80s, at Radio Shack. It was the first popular notebook computer. Sturdy, practical, and portable, the Model100 and its offspring gained a loyal following among reporters, some of whom used them into the 1990s, long after DOS-powered laptops had taken over the market. Almost 25 years after the Model 100's introduction, you can still find folks who do real work on them. Mint or Pristine 32KB units go for $200 and more while less minty examples often go for $100 or less.
The Model 100--sold, like all TRS-80s, at Radio Shack. It was the first popular notebook computer. Sturdy, practical, and portable, the Model100 and its offspring gained a loyal following among reporters, some of whom used them into the 1990s, long after DOS-powered laptops had taken over the market. Almost 25 years after the Model 100's introduction, you can still find folks who do real work on them. Mint or Pristine 32KB units go for $200 and more while less minty examples often go for $100 or less.
