Trash 80 (also written as Trash-80) is a nickname for the TRS-80 microcomputer sold in Radio Shack stores in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Developed and manufactured by Tandy Corporation, the TRS-80 had the largest selection of software available for any microcomputer system by 1979.

Computer companies, Microcomputer, Tandy, TRS

The origin of the “Trash-80” nickname may be a result of a ribbon cable on some TRS-80 models which oxidized prematurely due to insufficient insulation. When these cables oxidized, they sometimes caused the computers to reboot arbitrarily, unless the cables were “cleaned” with a pencil eraser. Despite this moniker, the TRS-80 was well-received by consumers, and experienced robust sales.

  • The history of the computer.