TRS-80 Color Computer 3

A TRS-80 Color Computer 3.

The TRS-80 Color Computer 3, nicknamed the "CoCo," is an 8-bit personal computer created by Tandy Corporation and first sold through Radio Shack in 1986. It is the third model in the TRS-80 Color Computer line and, while mostly backward compatible with the first two CoCo models, software developed for the CoCo 3 could not be run on the earlier models.

The computer uses the same Motorola 6809E CPU as clocked at the same speed as the previous two models, but adds far more RAM and a more powerful GPU capable of higher graphic resolutions and more colors. Because of this, any software developed for the new features of the CoCo 3 could not be run on the previous two models. Some software had two different versions released for both models, for example: Arkanoid and Silpheed: Super Dogfighter.

Despite the software incompatibility, few web sites that discuss CoCo software make a clear distinction between the models, typically only those which specialize in the Color Computer line.

Personal

I didn't learn about the distinction between the CoCo 3 and its previous models until I started playing various games on the system in my 40s. Seeing a very noticeable distinction between the graphic capabilities made look into the models further.