I started creating DIY job tracking and billing applications on WANG computers in 1979 at a large magazine printer where I had become customer service production manager. In 1982 I got recruited by the US Information Agency to manage its overseas publishing centers. USIA used WANG equipment and I had all my applications on a WANG 14” removable hard disk but when I tried to get the IT bureau of the US Information Agency to give our office a computer to run them on it refused, saying I was unqualified. Undaunted I went down to the Radio Shack store and bought a Model 100 and dot-matrix printer with my own money. I initially used the cassette tape accessory to store programs later upgrading to the 3.5” diskette drive when it became available. I selected the Model 100 so I could carry it back and forth to work in the top case of the Honda GL500 “Silverwing” motorcycle I commuted on. At the time USIA had reporters who would cover new on Capitol Hill, State Department and other Diplomatic missions in DC. After I showed them my Model 100 with the built-in modem USIA bought some for them but still wouldn’t give me a computer I could program on and wouldn’t until 1984 when it finally started installing IBM compatible PCs. I saw an interview with Bill Gates in which he mentioned the Model 100 saying it was the last project at Microsoft he personally wrote code for. The operating system code on the machine can be examined using the PEEK command and is filled with “Easter Eggs” like the names of some of the programmers who worked on it.
I had the 102 as a kid, used it as a terminal as well as playing around in BASIC, when I wasn't on the C64. Was missing one of the keycaps (either left shift or caps lock) and one horizontal line of pixels never functioned. I think it's still in storage, and I was unaware of the NiCd... I should probably open it up! Have enjoyed some of the modern hobbyist community around the Cambridge Z88, I suspect actually giving my 102 some use could be a fun time as well. Great video, cheers!
When you had it apart did you happen to see any kyocera branding / logos on any components ? Possibly the LCD panel and any ceramic resonators or crystals could have been made in house at that time.
I think that Tandy computer formed the basis of some shop checkouts, in supermarkets here (New Zealand) in the 1980's, just as manual pricing was fading out and scanning codes were becoming more common. As the video notes, that RS-232 port is Female and recessed into the body of the case, so that a Gender Changer Adapter is required or the plugs won't fit in the holes correctly. I guess there's a bit of that going around, eh. (cheerio from the other side of the planet. We're enjoying the beginnings of Summer here, but have sent you some cooler weather, so drag out that old petrol mains generator you fixed up awhile back and make sure it's fuelled up, still got residual magnetism and working and ready to go in case the snows come at ya !)
In the video it sounded like you said it was a 1-1/2 farad capacitor you replaced the nicad battery with...huh? Even at 5.5V that'd be a pretty big sucker. Did you mean to say millifarad or microfarad instead ?
I'm guessing you haven't heard of supercapacitors? They have extremely high capacitance for their size. The 5.5V 1.5F capacitor I used is about the size of the final joint of your pinky finger. 1.5 mF or uF wouldn't do squat for replacing a NiCd battery.
You can go to Eva's channel here:
th-cam.com/channels/LaOMn4m1QAihwuFV51DO0g.html
I started creating DIY job tracking and billing applications on WANG computers in 1979 at a large magazine printer where I had become customer service production manager. In 1982 I got recruited by the US Information Agency to manage its overseas publishing centers. USIA used WANG equipment and I had all my applications on a WANG 14” removable hard disk but when I tried to get the IT bureau of the US Information Agency to give our office a computer to run them on it refused, saying I was unqualified. Undaunted I went down to the Radio Shack store and bought a Model 100 and dot-matrix printer with my own money. I initially used the cassette tape accessory to store programs later upgrading to the 3.5” diskette drive when it became available.
I selected the Model 100 so I could carry it back and forth to work in the top case of the Honda GL500 “Silverwing” motorcycle I commuted on. At the time USIA had reporters who would cover new on Capitol Hill, State Department and other Diplomatic missions in DC. After I showed them my Model 100 with the built-in modem USIA bought some for them but still wouldn’t give me a computer I could program on and wouldn’t until 1984 when it finally started installing IBM compatible PCs.
I saw an interview with Bill Gates in which he mentioned the Model 100 saying it was the last project at Microsoft he personally wrote code for. The operating system code on the machine can be examined using the PEEK command and is filled with “Easter Eggs” like the names of some of the programmers who worked on it.
How ironic I bought one at the end of Christmas I can't wait for it to come in
Even with new technology, these old devices are far more fascinating due to their obscurity and quirks.
Hella sweet snagola...
@32:56 - let me sing you the song of my people...
I had the 102 as a kid, used it as a terminal as well as playing around in BASIC, when I wasn't on the C64. Was missing one of the keycaps (either left shift or caps lock) and one horizontal line of pixels never functioned. I think it's still in storage, and I was unaware of the NiCd... I should probably open it up! Have enjoyed some of the modern hobbyist community around the Cambridge Z88, I suspect actually giving my 102 some use could be a fun time as well. Great video, cheers!
Can we have a link to Evangeline's channel?
There's a pinned comment now :)
When you had it apart did you happen to see any kyocera branding / logos on any components ? Possibly the LCD panel and any ceramic resonators or crystals could have been made in house at that time.
I think that Tandy computer formed the basis of some shop checkouts, in supermarkets here (New Zealand) in the 1980's, just as manual pricing was fading out and scanning codes were becoming more common. As the video notes, that RS-232 port is Female and recessed into the body of the case, so that a Gender Changer Adapter is required or the plugs won't fit in the holes correctly. I guess there's a bit of that going around, eh. (cheerio from the other side of the planet. We're enjoying the beginnings of Summer here, but have sent you some cooler weather, so drag out that old petrol mains generator you fixed up awhile back and make sure it's fuelled up, still got residual magnetism and working and ready to go in case the snows come at ya !)
Do you know what sd card adopter that would work for it?
In the video it sounded like you said it was a 1-1/2 farad capacitor you replaced the nicad battery with...huh? Even at 5.5V that'd be a pretty big sucker. Did you mean to say millifarad or microfarad instead ?
I'm guessing you haven't heard of supercapacitors? They have extremely high capacitance for their size. The 5.5V 1.5F capacitor I used is about the size of the final joint of your pinky finger. 1.5 mF or uF wouldn't do squat for replacing a NiCd battery.