Tandy Radio Shack TRS 80 III personal computer, with printer, c 1981.

Introduced in August 1977 by the retail electronics chain Radio Shack, the TRS 80 was the first complete, pre-asembled small computer system on the market. The Level 1 basic computer came with 4k RAM, a monitor, a casette and all the cables and adaptors needed and sold for $599.95. The Model III improved on its design by integrating the monitor and keyboard in one unit and having a faster casette interface. Both were powered by the Zilog Z-80 microprocesor and had the Microsoft Basic programming language built in.