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Radio Shack News Release
RS-89-008
July 27, 1988
NEW TANDY 1000 SL PERSONAL COMPUTER FEATURES
HIGH FIDELITY SOUND AND ADVANCED EASE-OF-USE TECHNOLOGY
Tandy Corporation, America's Technology Answer(tm) and the leading manufacturer
of PC-compatible personal computers, today strengthened its committment to
quality, value and ease-of-use by introducing the Tandy 1000SL personal
computer, a new generation of the best-selling Tandy 1000SX personal computer.
At a suggested retail price of $899, the Tandy 1000 SL personal computer is an
affordable system designed with the most requested features of home,
education, and small business users.
The 8086-based 1000SL is faster than the original 1000SX, with a processing
speed comparable to IBM PS/2 Model 25 and Model 30 computers. The 1000SL also
features a new high fidelity sound technology and a tactile-feel 101-key
keyboard which is fully compatible with the IBM Enhanced Keyboard.
Tandy, the first manufacturer to introduce "Power and Run" design in a PC/XT
compatible desktop computer, has enhanced this innovative yet easy-to-use
technology in the 1000SL.
The 1000SL has its MS-DOS 3.3 operating system and a new release of the
graphics-oriented DeskMate interface stored in read only memory (ROM). This
"Power and Run" design eliminates confusing start-up procedures for the user
and proceeds directly into the industry-accepted, user-friendly DeskMate
interface. Unless specified, the user will never be confronted with cryptic
prompts or strange commands when operating the computer.
Another usefule feature stored in ROM is an 80,000-word spelling dictionary
for use with any application written under the DeskMate interface.
Just as Tandy pioneered "Power and Run", the company now brings built-in
advanced audio "input and output" technology to personal computing. Tandy's
1000SL is the first MS-DOS personal computer to include the ability to record,
store and playback speech and sound through the use of internal digital to
analog converter circuitry.
With this innovation, Tandy has given software developers one of the most
exciting new tools yet with which to create quality products not available to
the industry today.
In addition to audio input and output, the Tandy 1000SL personal computer
supports three new on-board video modes, including monochrome text (MDA),
Hercules monochrome graphics, and an enhanced 640X200 high resolution color
graphics mode with the ability to display a full 16-colors. Optional EGA and
VGA adapters are also available.
All of these characteristics make the 1000SL a perfect solution for personal
finance and productivity, entertainment, classroom instructional labs, network
workstations, cirriculum and lesson planning, telecommunications and home
education.
The standard configuration of the 1000SL includes 384KB of memory, expandable
to 640K on the main board, one 5.225" 360KB internal floppy disk drive, five
PC-compatible 10-inch expansion slots, and support for an optional 8087 math
coprocessor.
For increased storage capacity, a second 5.25-inch 360 KB or 3.5-inch 720 KB
internal floppy drive may be added. Tandy has devised a new drive mounting
device which gives the user quick and easy installation of additional internal
floppy drives.
Other storage options offered are 20 megabyte and 40 megabyte hard disks.
In the Tandy tradition of value-added features, standard interfaces included
in the 1000SL are a parallel printer port, RS-232 serial port for mouse
support or communications, microphone/audio input jack, headphone jack with
volume control, RGBi monitor port and two joystick ports. These interfaces
are not found on many PC/XT-compatible computers except as extra cost options.
Without sacrificing expandability, the sleek footprint of the 1000SL has been
reduced to only 5.1 X 15.5 X 13.1 (HxWxD) inches.
The Tandy 1000SL personal computer (Catalog Number 25-1401) will be available
in September (1988). Prices are good at Radio Shack Computer Centers, Plus
Computer Centers and participating stores and dealers nationwide.
###
Specifications:
8086 Processor with optional 8087 Math coprocessor.
Clock speed: 8/4 MHz switchable
MS-DOS 3.3 and Deskmate software in 4 Meg ROM. 1K EEPROM (for startup
selections and configurations)
Included software: Text, Calendar, Address Book, Draw, Worksheet,
PC-Link, Hangman, Telecom, Filer, Form Setup, three HELP tutorials,
Music and Sound Editor
384K RAM on board, expandable to 640K on the motherboard
Keyboard: 101-key IBM Enhanced Keyboard style layout
Onboard video: Text: MDA or CGA compatible
Graphics: (720X348) Hercules monochrome
(640X200) 16-color
(640X200) 4-color
(320X200) 16-color
Suggested display options: VM-5 High resolution monochrome monitor
CM-5 / CM-11 RGBi CGA monitors
Sound: 8-bit DMA-driven Audio-to-Digial and Digital-to-Audio convertors.
Sound input from switchable mike-level/line-level input jack. Output from
internal speaker or headphone-level audio output jack.
EXPANSION SLOTS: 5 8-bit XT-compatible 10" slots
Standard I/O includes: Parallel printer ouptut (card edge connector), serial
port (9-pin DB-9M), 2 joystick ports, Mic/Audio in, Audio Out/Headphone out.
FCC Class B Certification