I now sell three different types of TRS-80 Model I/III/4, and thought I’d take a moment to explain the differences:
- AUSTRALIAN DELIVERY: these are computers originally sold by Tandy Electronics chain in Australia and are 240V/50Hz operation, and the sticker underneath states “Tandy Electronics” and 240V/50Hz operation. On Model III and 4 they have a removable IEC (mains) power cord.
- US DELIVERY: these are computers originally sold by Radio Shack and Computer Centre chain in the United States and are 120V/60Hz operation, and the sticker underneath states “Radio Shack” and 120V/60Hz.On Model III, 4, and 4D the power cord is built in and dangles out the back – this is normal. These machines require a cheap 120V Step-Down converter to run, and they work perfectly well. (For other details on US Delivery machines, see the section below “WHY BUY AN AMERICAN COMPUTER?”
- AUSTRALIANISED-US DELIVERY: these are 120V US computers which I have converted internally to 240V operation and have an Australian plug on the end of the usual US dangly power cord. A sticker under the computer states that the computer is now for 240V use. They don’t require a 120V Step-Down transformer. These Australianised-US computers will be listed in with the Australian computers, but clearly marked as such.