It's definitely unique and different from most 'normal' operating systems. A different point of view would call the ROM the operating system, with MENU the GUI/browser that is not part of BASIC but optionally selects it, just like other apps like TELCOM, TEXT etc. and machine language programs which also save and load files etc.; they don't need or involve BASIC at all. From an OS point of view BASIC just supplies some standalone file management and a programming language.
It's quite different from systems like Commodore etc. where BASIC does indeed supply the main interface and control. In some ways I actually find the Model T OS similar to Android etc. m On Thu, Oct 6, 2022 at 10:12 AM B 9 <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 <[email protected]> > 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 >> >> <[email protected]> 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 <[email protected]> >> >>> <mailto:[email protected]> *On Behalf Of *Justin >> >>> Poirier >> >>> *Sent:* Thursday, September 29, 2022 8:04 AM >> >>> *To:* [email protected] >> >>> *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, [email protected] 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 <[email protected]> on behalf of >> >>> Will Senn <[email protected]> >> >>> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 28, 2022, 5:04 PM >> >>> *To:* [email protected] <[email protected]> >> >>> *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 >> >> >> >> [email protected] >> >> 303-981-4310 >> >> >> > >> > -- >> > Tommy Phillips >> > >> > [email protected] >> > 303-981-4310 >> > >> >> -- >> bkw >> >>
