It is definitely an "Operating System", not just "BASIC".
- It hides device drivers behind nice interfaces. For example, just by changing the filename prefix one can save a file to a RAM disk filesystem, the serial port, a cassette tape, or even the printer. - As a file grows in the RAM disk, behind the scenes, the system is constantly moving other files around in memory to make room. - Memory is dynamically partitioned so that the RAM disk coexists with the RAM used as working memory by programs. - And of course it has all the nice utilities like the point-and-click file browser, serial terminal, and an editor which isn't half bad even by today's standards. I've been wondering what this Model T / Kyotronic / NEC operating system was called. I saw somebody referring to it as "BASIC-85", but I'm pretty sure that's wrong. Recently, Bill Gates' Model 100 was auctioned <https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot-detail/346156206445053-bill-gates-personally-used-trs-80-model-100-computer-with-autograph-note-signed/> and the details referred to the firmware system he and Jey Suzuki wrote as *"Microsoft’s N82 BASIC 80 programming software"*. That's a term I've never heard before. Has anyone else? —b9 On Thu, Sep 29, 2022 at 5:04 PM Brian K. White <b.kenyo...@gmail.com> wrote: > On 9/29/22 17:52, Tommy Phillips wrote: > > A BASIC operating environment doesn't really meet the definition of > > "operating system". > > It is literally, the operating system of that device. There is no > particular set of features that defines "operating system". The literal > and only definition of operating system is the system that operates the > device. > > > > But maybe I am being too pedantic. It wouldn't be the first time. > > > > On 9/29/2022 2:29 PM, Peter Vollan wrote: > >> Huh? The Model 100 says "Copyr. 1983 Microsoft" when you go into > >> basic. It is common knowledge that Bill wrote the OS himself. > >> > >> On Thu, 29 Sept 2022 at 09:08, Tommy Phillips > >> <to...@tommyphillips.info> wrote: > >> > >> ... and if I recall correctly, the Model 16 ran Xenix, thus being > >> the only TRS-80 to run an O/S from Microsoft. > >> > >> This, of course, was years before Linux. > >> > >> > >> On 9/29/2022 9:04 AM, Chris Trainor wrote: > >>> > >>> But still mostly a brand… the basis for the 80 was the Z80 in > >>> their early stuff, but like the Model 16 had a 68k in it. 😊 > >>> Plus even tho the II had a Z80 like the I, III & IV, I thought > >>> operationally it was substantially different and none of the > >>> I/III/IV stuff would work on it? (never used one, remember my > >>> grandfather having one at work, but that’s it) . Plus the 2 & > >>> 12 were very similar, but the 16, meant to be an ‘upgrade’ from > >>> the 12 was way different (being 68k based like Apple/Amiga > >>> products, but not as ‘hip’ as those 😊 ) > >>> > >>> --Chris > >>> > >>> *From:* M100 <m100-boun...@lists.bitchin100.com> > >>> <mailto:m100-boun...@lists.bitchin100.com> *On Behalf Of *Justin > >>> Poirier > >>> *Sent:* Thursday, September 29, 2022 8:04 AM > >>> *To:* m100@lists.bitchin100.com > >>> *Subject:* Re: [M100] is the m100 a trs-80? In walks like a, not > >>> is categorized as a > >>> > >>> TRS-80 starts for "Tandy Radio Shack" and "Z80 microprocessor." > >>> The M100/T102/T200 have an Intel 80C51 microcontroller, not a > >>> Zilog Z80, like the Model I, II, III, IV had, and even worse the > >>> TRS-80 Color Computers have a Motorola 6809, so even in > >>> themselves, they were not consistent in sticking to their own > brand. > >>> > >>> --Justin > >>> > >>> On Wed, 2022-09-28 at 17:09 -0400, chri...@macross.com wrote: > >>> > >>> TRS80 is a brand. There are substantial differences between > >>> the different models for the most part. Especially ones like > >>> the Model II. The 1, 3 and 4 had some limited compatibility > >>> but stuff written for one wouldn't necessarily work in the > >>> other. (Except that in theory you could boot a 4 into 3 mode > >>> to run 3 apps, but that wasn't really 'compatible' ). So > >>> the 100 and 102 (where brand changed to Tandy) are like the > >>> rest and different :). > >>> > >>> Oh and don't forget the whole color computer series was > >>> vastly different from the gray box models :) > >>> > >>> --Chris > >>> > >>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >>> > >>> *From:* M100 <m100-boun...@lists.bitchin100.com> on behalf of > >>> Will Senn <will.s...@gmail.com> > >>> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 28, 2022, 5:04 PM > >>> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com <m...@bitchin100.com> > >>> *Subject:* [M100] is the m100 a trs-80? In walks like a, not > >>> is categorized as a > >>> > >>> I've been reading around a bit (all over the world actually) > >>> and there's a lot of stuff written about and for the > >>> TRS-80... as though it's a machine, not a designation. I > >>> wonder, just how close is an m100 to these TRS-80's (Model 1, > >>> 2, 3, etc)? Should I concentrate on stuff that's written > >>> specifically about the M100? Or, will any old TRS-80 book or > >>> magazine or zine (TRS8BIT) do? It's pretty confusing. > >>> > >>> I do realize that there are significant differences in > >>> hardware and screen stuff - color, res, etc. But by and large > >>> is an m100 a "TRS-80" in that I can reuse code from one to > >>> the other comfortably (sans specific hardware references), or > >>> should I not waste my time? > >>> > >>> Looking for insight and reading material for M100 enthusiasts. > >>> > >>> Will > >>> > >> > >> -- > >> Tommy Phillips > >> > >> to...@tommyphillips.info > >> 303-981-4310 > >> > > > > -- > > Tommy Phillips > > > > to...@tommyphillips.info > > 303-981-4310 > > > > -- > bkw > >
