• Please review our updated Terms and Rules here

Why the "10" in TRS-80 MC-10?

J

jgerrie

Member
Joined
May 24, 2013
Messages
12
Location
Sydney
Does anyone know why Tandy chose to call the TRS-80 MC-10 the "MC-10"? I mean, I understand the "MC" part, which is obviously "Micro Color" computer, but what's up with the 10? Why not something more sexy or catchy like Micro Color 1, or Micro Color 2000, or just "micro color computer"? It's obviously not after its CPU chip, which was a Motorola MC6803. Just wondering:confused:
 
I suspect Radio Shack figured out that having multiple lines all with Models 1 was a bad idea. Note that 1983 had the MC-10, Model 100, and Tandy 2000 with each set of extra zeroes indicating a jump in capability. The true Z-80 based TRS-80 was marked as the Model 4 with the CoCo getting the CoCo 2 appellation. Now, it is easy to find the right upgrade for the computer one owns. No more returns.

I have never been an employee of Tandy or subsidiaries. The actual reason may differ.
 
Radio Shack MC-10

Radio Shack MC-10

Isn't it obvious, duh!

attachment.php





^ That's a joke, of course, laugh it up :shocked:
 
lmao.. I love the speculations so far. We don't have members here who worked for Tandy/Radioshack speaking up yet? I've honestly always wondered about model numbers in general also.
 
Maybe it was chosen to be half of a VIC-20?

But like the 20 in VIC-20, probably it was just a nice sounding number to add on the end of an acronym to make it flow off the tongue better. Just calling it the TRS-80 MC seems too short, and the full name Micro Color Computer doesn't lend itself to a clever nickname like Coco (MiCoco? MicroCo?), so MC-10 is simply a more complete sounding and easier to say model number.

Also I bet $10 was the final closeout price of the MC-10 after Radio Shack discontinued it. :)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top