Following the release of Commodore the VIC-20, Tandy has also released a color computer and modified the original VideoTex by removing the modem, using joystick ports and a cassette interface in it and Microsoft Basic.

The name TRS-80 is actually incorrect. TRS stands for Tandy Radio Shack and 80 refers to the Z80 processor in all Tandy computers of the time. Internally at Tandy it was also called the TRS-90, but for marketing purposes the TRS-80 name is still linked.

Due to the different CPU, this machine could not run software from the other Tandy computers. Storage is standard on a cassette recorder which could be connected. On the right side a cartridge can be inserted where games, software or additional hardware can be connected (for example a floppy drive).

The first Color Computer is recognizable by its gray color. There are 3 types. The original has the label on the left and a badge with the memory on the right, the second model has the label in the middle and the third (excluding American model) is the same as the second model, only in a white case.