Editing Tandy 2000 (section)

==History==
[[File:Tandy 2000 Ad, BYTE, July 1984.png|thumb|Ad in ''[[Byte (magazine)|Byte]]'' magazine, July 1984, co-marketing [[MAI/Basic Four]] software]]
The introduction of [[IBM]]'s Model 5150 [[IBM PC|Personal Computer]] in August 1981 created an entirely new market for microcomputers. Many hardware and software companies were founded specifically to exploit IBM's and [[Microsoft]]'s new presence as a standard-setter for small computers, and most other established manufacturers shifted focus to it as well.

By this date Tandy/Radio Shack had been in the small-computer market for four years, since its August 1977 introduction of the [[TRS-80 Model I]].<ref name="white198708">{{Cite magazine |last=White |first=Ron |date=August 1987 |title=The Tandy Story: 10 years after the TRS-80 Model I |url=https://www.vintageisthenewold.com/the-story-of-tandy-10-years-after-the-trs-80-model-1/ |magazine=80 Micro |access-date=2019-05-18}}</ref> The new computer division followed in October 1979 with the [[TRS-80 Model II]]—a high-end business-oriented system.<ref group="note">The TRS-80 Model II used a 4&nbsp;MHz Z-80, 64&nbsp;KB RAM, 8-inch floppy drives, and an expanded professional keyboard and screen.</ref> In 1983 the [[TRS-80 Model 4]] succeeded the Model III (which itself had replaced the Model I) in the consumer and educational markets. In the business segment the [[TRS-80 Model 12]] and [[TRS-80 Model 16|Model 16]] succeeded the Model II, adding higher-end features.<ref group="note">These higher-end features included hard drives, interoffice networking, specialized software for accounting, legal, and medical practices, and the [[Motorola 68000]] CPU running [[Xenix]] OS.</ref> Thus far Tandy/Radio Shack's computer lines occupied their own niches in the market because of their proprietary system software and applications.<ref group="note">Like the CP/M and Apple niche markets.</ref> Tandy attempted to monopolize software and peripheral sales by not offering third-party products in company stores.{{r|white198708}} Until the IBM PC was introduced, the nearest thing to an industry standard in small computers was CP/M-80;<ref group="note">CP/M was the common OS for most all business-oriented 8080/Z80 computers, though lacking a common disk format for 5.25 inch floppy drives</ref> no single manufacturer dominated.

By 1983 the IBM PC, and Tandy's discouraging of third-party products, had halved the company's market share and stopped profit growth.{{r|white198708}} Tandy's motive for moving into the new [[MS-DOS]] domain was twofold: to capitalize on the new market, and to leverage sales opportunities afforded by their solid position in small computers. Marketing management believed that many Tandy customers would prefer to stay with Tandy products when (inevitably, it seemed) they made the jump onto the burgeoning IBM/Microsoft bandwagon; it was figured that the company was well-positioned in this regard because of its large base of customers in both the consumer and business markets (with its Z80-based TRS-80 Models I/III/4 and 68000-based Models 12 and 16, respectively). Tandy's large presence as a computer retailer, with several thousand [[Radio Shack]] stores throughout the US, was deemed an advantage as well. All other PC manufacturers, especially IBM, relied mainly on sales to corporate accounts, not consumer retail as did Tandy/Radio Shack. Thus the company would become the market leader offering the hottest new trend—affordable 16-bit<ref group="note">The 8088 offers 16-bit registers and operations but its 8-bit external bus hampered speed of execution for most processing tasks. A fast 8-bit CPU could outperform it. Also touted was its ability to address more than 64&nbsp;KB RAM but this was accomplished only with a segmented architecture that greatly complicated programming and was not much better than an 8-bit CPU with bank-switched RAM (indeed, 8088 segment registers perform as a type of internal bank-switching).</ref> computers running MS-DOS—directly to the computing public.

Therefore, Tandy would have to produce an IBM-style computer running the emerging industry-standard MS-DOS. The company decided to distinguish it from similar products by producing a better computer.{{r|white198708}} The new machine would be aimed at the mid-price market between high-end consumers and low-end businesses. This was deemed prudent in order not to seriously cannibalize their current product lines serving both market segments. Most other big-name computer manufacturers made the same leap into the PC/MS-DOS market:

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+ style="background:#B0C4DE;" | First-generation PC workalikes by IBM competitors<ref group="note">The [[Epson QX-16]] deserves inclusion but technical data for it is too scant at this time</ref>
! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Computer name
! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Manufacturer
! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Date introduced
! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | CPU
! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | clock rate
! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Max RAM
! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Floppy disk capacity
! style="background: #CCCCCC;" | Notable features
|-
| [[Olivetti&nbsp;M24]]/[[AT&T&nbsp;6300]]
| [[Olivetti]], marketed by [[AT&T]]
| 1983 (AT&T&nbsp;6300 June&nbsp;1984)
| 8086
| 8&nbsp;MHz (later 10&nbsp;MHz)
| 640 KB
| 360 KB (later 720&nbsp;KB)
| true IBM compatible; optional 640x400 color graphics
|-
| [[Zenith Z-100]]
| [[Zenith Data Systems]]
| June 1982
| 8088
| 4.77&nbsp;MHz
| 768 KB
| 360 KB
| optional 8 color 640x255 graphics, external 8" floppy drives
|-
| [[HP-150]]
| [[Hewlett-Packard]]
| Nov 1983
| 8088
| 8&nbsp;MHz
| 640 KB
| 270 KB (later 710&nbsp;KB)
| primitive touchscreen
|-
| [[Compaq Portable]]
| [[Compaq]]
| Jan 1983
| 8088
| 4.77&nbsp;MHz
| 640 KB
| 360 KB
| true IBM compatible
|-
| [[Compaq Deskpro]]
| [[Compaq]]
| 1984
| 8086
| 8&nbsp;MHz
| 640 KB
| 360 KB
| true IBM compatible
|-
| [[MPC 1600]]
| [[Columbia Data Products]]
| June 1982
| 8088
| 4.77&nbsp;MHz
| 640 KB
| 360 KB
| true IBM compatible, credited as first PC&nbsp;clone
|-
| Eagle PC / 1600 series
| [[Eagle Computer]]
| 1982
| 8086
| 4.77&nbsp;MHz
| 640 KB
| 360 KB 
| 750×352 mono graphics
|-
| [[Texas Instruments Professional Computer|TI Professional Computer]]
| [[Texas Instruments]]
| Jan 1983
| 8088
| 5&nbsp;MHz
| 256 KB
| 320 KB
| 720x300 color graphics
|-
| [[DEC Rainbow]]
| [[Digital Equipment Corporation]]
| 1982
| 8088
| 4.81&nbsp;MHz
| 768 KB
| 400 KB
| 132x24 text mode, 8088 and [[Z80]] CPUs
|-
| Wang PC
| [[Wang Laboratories]]
| Aug 1985
| 8086
| 8&nbsp;MHz
| 512 KB
| 360 KB
| 800x300 mono graphics
|-
| [[MBC-550]]
| [[Sanyo]]
| 1982
| 8088
| 3.6&nbsp;MHz
| 256 KB
| 360 KB (later 720&nbsp;KB)
| 640x200 8 color graphics (R, G, B bitplanes)
|-
| [[Apricot PC]]
| [[Apricot Computers]]
| late 1983
| 8086
| 4.77&nbsp;MHz
| 768 KB
| 720 KB
| 800x400 mono graphics, 132x50 text mode
|-
| TS-1603
| [[Televideo]]
| Apr 1983
| 8088
| 4.77&nbsp;MHz
| 256 KB
| 737 KB
| keyboard had palm rests, 16 function keys; built-in modem
|-
| '''Tandy 2000'''
| [[Tandy Corporation]]
| Sept 1983
| 80186
| 8&nbsp;MHz
| 768 KB
| 720 KB
| redefinable character set, optional 640x400 8-color or mono graphics
|}

Shortly after IBM's introduction of its 286-based [[PC/AT]], one reviewer remarked, "The bottom line is that the Tandy 2000 is still one of the hottest single-user machines on the market, and a full year after its introduction, its superiority remains unchallenged."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Harrell |first1=John B. III |title=ALPS' Utilities To the Rescue |magazine=80 Micro|date=February 1985 |department=2000 PLUS |page=119-121 |url=https://archive.org/details/80-microcomputing-magazine-1985-02/page/n119/mode/2up |via=www.archive dot org|publisher=CW Communications |access-date=July 17, 2020}}</ref>

Applications software compatible with the MS-DOS operating system would run properly on the Tandy 2000. This means that the software had to access the computer's hardware (particularly the video display) strictly through calls to the operating system's [[BIOS]]. However, programs written to run under the similar [[PC DOS]] operating system on an actual [[IBM PC]] computer often bypassed calls to the operating system because the IBM BIOS was poorly designed and implemented. To function with adequate speed of execution, and to perform operations not provided for by the IBM BIOS, applications programmers often coded their programs to directly address the hardware of the IBM PC. Therefore any computer such as the Tandy 2000 that had hardware that differed in its details from an IBM PC would not execute programs the same way, which most often manifested incorrect results by those programs.

Tandy engineers tested one hundred of the most popular PC programs and half were found to be incompatible with the 2000's hardware.<ref group="note">One was the bestselling Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet/database, but Lotus programmers were so excited by the new computer's ultrafast performance that they agreed to adapt it for the 2000.</ref> Tandy's marketing department failed to appreciate that similar non-compatible computers from DEC, TI and Eagle were not successful.{{r|white198708}} Its strategy of offering a high-performance PC was the origin of the Tandy 2000's technical specifications. Some of the rival computers improved the PC hardware and matched the Tandy 2000 in one or two dimensions, but none offered across-the-board enhancement. Except as noted, they ran MS-DOS but were incompatible with the IBM PC at the hardware level. The copycat computers competed primarily on lower pricing and, like Tandy, exploiting their installed customer bases.

Tandy described the 2000 as having a "'next generation' true 16-bit CPU", and with "More speed. More disk storage. More expansion" than the IBM PC or "other MS-DOS computers".<ref>{{cite web|title=Radio Shack Computer Catalog RSC-12, page 4|url=https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1985_rsc-12.html?fb3d-page=04|website=radioshackcatalogs dot com|publisher=Tandy/Radio Shack|accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref> While admitting in 1984 that many MS-DOS programs did not support the computer, the company stated that "the most popular, sophisticated software on the market" was available, either immediately or "over the next six months".<ref>{{cite web|title=Radio Shack Computer Catalog RSC-11, page 6|url=https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1984_rsc-11.html?fb3d-page=06|website=radioshackcatalogs dot com|publisher=Tandy/Radio Shack|accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref>

Two models of Tandy 2000 were introduced: a dual-drive floppy-only model for {{US$|long=no|2750}} and the 2000HD with a single floppy drive and a half-height 10 MB hard drive for {{US$|long=no|4250}}. The dual-floppy model had 128&nbsp;KB RAM and the hard-drive-equipped 2000HD had 256&nbsp;KB.<ref>{{cite web|title=first Tandy Model 2000 computer catalog entry 1984 RSC-11|url=https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1984_rsc-11.html?fb3d-page=04|website=radioshackcatalogs dot com|accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref><ref group="note">(these prices exclude video monitor; {{US$|long=no|249}} extra for text monochrome)</ref> For comparison, at this time the low-end [[TRS-80 Model 4]] with two floppy drives cost {{US$|long=no|1999}}<ref>{{cite web|title=1984 Radio Shack Computer Catalog RSC-11, pg. 22|url=https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1984_rsc-11.html?fb3d-page=22|website=www.radioshackcatalogs.com|publisher=Tandy/Radio Shack|accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref> and the high-end Model 16 with two floppy drives cost {{US$|long=no|4699}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=1984 Radio Shack Computer Catalog RSC-11, pg. 8|url=https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1984_rsc-11.html?fb3d-page=08|website=www.radioshackcatalogs.com|publisher=Tandy/Radio Shack|accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref>

Tandy executive Ed Juge said that within six months Tandy realized that it had erred with the 2000.{{r|white198708}} By early 1985 ''[[InfoWorld]]'' reported that Tandy introduced the [[Tandy 1000]] because it "found that the market prefers true PC compatibility" to the 2000's incomplete compatibility.<ref name="bartimo19850311">{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5C4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28 | title=Tandy Revamps Product Line | work=InfoWorld | date=1985-03-11 | accessdate=21 January 2015 | author=Bartimo, Jim | pages=28–29}}</ref>{{r|white198708}} The Tandy 2000 received a lukewarm welcome by the market and the computer press because of its inability to run most popular MS-DOS applications. This was not anticipated by Tandy because, at the time, it was accepted practice for new software to be created for each new computer that came to market. This is also why so many of the other PC-style computers by other manufacturers were not hardware-compatible with the IBM PC. Though the company supported the machine with hardware add-ons and software tailored specially for it (including bestsellers like Lotus 1-2-3 Release 1A and [[AutoCAD]]), the computer failed to gain popular acceptance and was never developed further. It would not be until late 1986, with the introduction of the [[Tandy 3000]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Radio Shack Computer Catalog RSC-16, pg. 98|url=https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/c1986_rsc-16.html?fb3d-page=98|website=www.radioshackcatalogs.com|publisher=Tandy/Radio Shack|accessdate=July 18, 2016}}</ref> that Tandy offered a PC-style computer with performance comparable with the Tandy 2000.

The Tandy 2000 was marketed through early 1988 with continual price cuts.<ref name="rsc17"/> Eventually they were closed out for $999 and the remaining unsold computers were converted into Radio Shack store operations terminals (which, coincidentally, had been one of the backup plans for the original [[TRS-80]] Model I).