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TRS-80 Color Computer

26-3001 · 26-3002 · 26-3003 · 1980–1991 · desktop

Specifications

Cpu: Motorola 6809E, 0.89 MHz
Ram: max: 64 KB on the CoCo 1/2 with the later 64K memory boards; the CoCo 3 (a later revision) addressed up to 512 KB via its GIME chip · base: 4 KB (early units), 16 KB became the common configuration
Ports: Cassette in/out · RF (channel 3/4) TV output · Composite video (later revisions) · 2x joystick ports (analog) · Program Pak cartridge slot · Serial I/O (bit-banged, RS-232-ish via cassette port on early units) · Expansion/bus connector (Multi-Pak Interface)
Display: Motorola 6847 VDG: 32x16 text (native low-res graphics modes up to 256x192, 2 to 4 colors depending on mode), RF modulator output, later units added a composite video jack
Storage: base: Cassette tape via the built-in cassette port (no internal storage) · options: 5.25" floppy disk drive(s) via the Tandy Disk Extended Color BASIC (Disk BASIC) controller cartridge
Os Support: latest: Extended Color BASIC and Disk Extended Color BASIC in ROM/cartridge; OS-9 Level II (Microware, multitasking Unix-like OS) was the community's OS of choice on 64 KB+ machines · shipped: Color BASIC in ROM
Release Price: $399 (4 KB configuration, 1980)

Variants

Models

Color Computer (CoCo 1)Original 1980 launch unit, chiclet keyboard, 4 or 16 KB RAM.

Color Computer 2 (CoCo 2)1983 revision with a proper full-travel keyboard and a smaller, cheaper board; same 6809E core.

Color Computer 3 (CoCo 3)1986 revision with the GIME chip: 128 KB RAM standard (expandable to 512 KB), new higher-resolution graphics modes, and a real-time clock.

Upgrade paths

RAM

16 KB to 64 KB on the CoCo 1/2 via a same-slot RAM chip swap (4116 to 4164 DRAMs), a common homebrew mod; CoCo 3 reached 512 KB with third-party boards · The 64K mod was one of the most popular CoCo hacks: swap the 16-pin DRAMs and cut/jumper a trace, doubling addressable RAM under OS-9.

~$40 for a 64K upgrade kit at the time

MODERATE

storage

Up to 4 external 5.25" floppy drives via the Disk Extended Color BASIC controller cartridge · The controller plugs into the Program Pak slot (or a Multi-Pak Interface for multiple cartridges at once); turned a cassette-only CoCo into a real OS-9 workstation.

~$400 for a drive and controller cartridge

MODERATE

CPU

6809E swapped for a Hitachi 63B09E (a faster, software-compatible clone) in some homebrew and third-party accelerator projects · Not officially supported, but the 6809-based CoCo scene produced a steady stream of these drop-in and accelerator mods over its life.

~$20-$40 for the chip

HARD

other

Multi-Pak Interface to run up to 4 Program Pak cartridges (disk controller, RS-232 pak, speech/sound pak) simultaneously with software switching · Essential for anyone running Disk BASIC alongside other cartridges; without it the single Program Pak slot is a bottleneck.

~$99 at the time

EASY