Tandy 1000RL computer & DeskMate review
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- Опубліковано 19 лют 2013
- The 1000RL features the Tandy sound and graphics that are used by hundreds of classic PC games, as well as digital audio recording, playback, and editing, and the DeskMate graphical user interface with kitchen-themed applications that earned it the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval!
- Наука та технологія
Good lord. I had this in 1988. I was 8 years old. My parents bought it, we used it for about a week and found that no software would run on it (games from the store) and that it “had no hard drive”. They returned it and bought a DTK 286 that was amazing. Now, 30 years later FINALLY I know how it ran deskmate without a hard drive. 30 YEARS of wondering.
This was my first computer. Amazing how far technology has advanced since then.
1000 RLX was fabulous!
Very in depth review. I had one of these models back in 1991 and learned how to use DOS from it. You showing the Desk Mate GUI brought all kinds of memories back immidiately.
Played lots of games on that thing. Two that come to mind are Fokker and Stellar 7.
I worked at Radio Shack years ago part time while going to college in my early twenty's. I used to sell these lol, looking at these I am feeling old now.. My fist computer was a Color computer 2, After that was a Tandy 1000 TX. I am now 48
the Tandy 1000 SL was my 1st computer system I ever owned, after watching videos on youtube about them, I now realize how much they could do back then.... wish I would have knew back then
I could tell from the moment you pushed the power button that it didn't have the stock hard drive. It didn't make that distinctive sound. Great review, by the way.
This was a fantastic computer with great software. Tandy sound and graphics really kept this usable. I'd take this over an IBM or Apple product of the day..
I saw the icon, and started reminiscing about playing hangman on my Tandy 1000 SL, and then you brought brought out a Tandy 1000 SL
I forgot to mention that the 1000RL uses the 8086's full 16-bit data path to the onboard video, and its IDE interface supports DMA. This makes it very quick for an XT-class machine. I just wish the CPU was socketed so I could replace it with a NEC V30!
I had A Tandy 1000 RL in 1990, I upgraded to 768k memory and also upgraded to the 40mb Hard drive which I believe had a RLL Interface. And I was hoping to daisy chain the 20mb to 40mb, but could not do that much to my disappointment. The 40mb hard drive cost me 300 bucks if I remember correctly. OUCH. But I did learn a lot on that computer, used BBS Boards with the 2400 baud modem.
watching this makes me wish I still had my old Tandy 1000SL? that my mom picked me up at a yardsale back in the 90s
Sorry to bother you but can you tell me what the model # of the second (MDA) monitor you used in this video...
It's a Mitsubishi Diamond Scan AUM-1381A.
Very satisfying review. I had the Tandy 1000 TL from 1989 - somewhere in the 90s. Can't actually remember what happened to it but it was my baby for a long time. [probably gave it away or something]. I've missed the SOUND program for a long long time 'til Audacity came along.
KENNETH UDUT my first PC was a TL. I loved the audio editing as a kid.
No, I have never cleaned it inside. It stays clean because it does not have a fan, therefore dust does not get sucked into it.
My first computer :)
Man I loved that machine! That little box was the beginning of my nerdom - I taught myself the ins and outs of DOS and did some BASIC programming as well.
Ah, the memories. Thanks for the trip back in time :D
There will be more on the way. I have recently sold a few of my more common vintage computers in order to make room for some of the rare and unique machines that most people have never heard of (like the Tano Dragon).
I spy an MCS 3050!
These vintage computer videos are really nice to be able to fill in the "holes" of hardware I never got to see or expirience.
Yes, there were some games which used 640x200 16-color mode, with dithering to make it look like even more colors on the screen. There's a thread about this somewhere on the Vintage Computer Forums.
This is DeskMate 3.04. It comes with the home organizer applications, but the tradeoff is that the business-type applications like Worksheet (spreadsheet) and Filer (database) that the other versions of DeskMate came with are missing.
This is a great machine. I got mine a few days ago. I am waiting for the 220->110 Volt Converter (Germany)
More Videos, especially Tandy Games please!!! THX
Yes, it should run, however the graphics may be choppy because it was designed for a 286 or faster processor.
The CM-11 monitor is a CGA-only monitor and does not support the higher resolution used by the MDA/Hercules monochrome video mode. The Mitsubishi is a multisync-type monitor and works with anything from CGA all the way up to Super VGA. The DeskMate Music program does use instrument samples.
Ooh, I'll need to keep that drive letter bit in mind, as I own a 1000RL now.
The 1000RL does have one ISA slot, but it is not compatible with CPU upgrades because it has a soldered-in 8086 CPU.
You need DeskMate 3.x to get the Tandy DAC sound. Personal DeskMate II was from the 1000HX which only has the 3-voice sound chip.
This one only gives you amber when you feed it with an MDA/Hercules monochrome signal. Some other multisync-type monitors gave you a switch to choose between white, amber, and green for monochrome video.
This was my first computer. Memories.
I had a TI 99 4A as my first system, the RLX 1000 was next. I loved Desk Mate 3.
The Tandy 1000 series were the most popular PC clones sold in the USA at the time, so they are not that rare. Prices vary depending on which model and what it comes with (monitor, software, etc.). I think I got the 1000RL (with keyboard and mouse) and CM11 monitor for around $60 + shipping, but that was back in 2007.
I believe the original PS/1 had a base price of $1299, so the 1000RL definitely was quite a bit cheaper. I used the same camera throughout. DeskMate also had some third-party software released for it, including versions of Lotus 1-2-3, Quicken, PFS Write, and Q&A Write. The demo actually went into 20-column text -- the Tandy/PCjr 160x200 graphics mode! There is no coprocessor socket in the 1000RL.
Yes, the musical group that had hits like "Aquarius" and "Wedding Bell Blues".
The Tandy 1000 series can run normal DOS software just like any other IBM PC clones. You can install a VGA card, but I prefer to use the onboard CGA graphics, because that's what most 1980s PC games were designed for.
Killlllllllllller! Thank you for making this video!!!
great vid, love history!
17:03 I'm impressed that primitive hard drive alone doesn't suck all of those 44 watts!
My CM-11 works fine and still has a nice sharp picture.
Miss my Tandy trying to find working one to have my kids learn and see how it was in late 80s early 90s
This video alone gave me some great background info to the "Tandy" and "Hercules" options on older games. As said earlier, kinda filled in the gaps. I think I have said that my first "real" computer was AMD 80286 based, (and this was at Christmas 1992 or 1993) so I got my start a little later.
This brings back memories. The first computer we had when I was growing up was a Tandy 1000 with that monitor. I don't know which model of 1000, but I'm pretty sure it had a hard drive. I remember using CompuServe with it on a 9600 baud modem.
Wow, I use to sell these for the Shack back in the 80's and early 90's. What a flashback!
Windows 2.x has a driver for the Tandy 640x200 mode, but it is only 4 colors, not the 16 colors that the 1000RL/SL/TL support. I'm told this driver can also be used with Windows 3.x. I'm sure GEM and GeoWorks have Tandy drivers as well.
Tandy 1000s are great for playing classic DOS games. But the C64 and Amiga have lots of great games for them as well. It depends on which platform you prefer.
Neat computer! I think this would have been awesome to have in the early 90's. I had no idea that computers this early had "internet ready" capabilities. Very cool.
I wonder what browser would have been used!
"Reverse Piano" would make a great paranormal video sound!
I have a few TX's and several 486 Tandy machines. My favorites of the era. I had never seen that box for the Information Center. It is inside the Home Organizer. I tried to make an icon for the Info Center but all it did was the little blue oval thing. Did the Info Center come on a separate install so as to get that box?
That is an interesting machine the graphics seem all right to.
I have one , Love the GUI Deskmate :) QC
Yes, but this AMD 8086 is a surface-mount square chip, and I have never seen a V30 chip in that style. I've only seen them in the long rectangular DIP style.
The form factor does exist, the AE PC Transporter card uses a surface mount NEC V30. I wonder if any early versions of Windows had drivers to take advantage of that 640x200 Tandy video mode.
I enjoyed DOS 6.22, Desk Mate, BASIC and a floppy drive and a HDD (quirky) I learned a lot on this system, full system.
I had the RL. I remember getting AutoCAD to run on it using a coprocessor emulator. It was pretty slow not having a real coprocessor, but I could use it for simple drawings.
I love these informative retrospective computer videos you've been doing recently, I hope you have more to come. Please forgive me for being ignorant, but when you were demonstrating MDA/HGA mode and CGA mode, is there any particular reason why you use the Mitsubishi monitor instead of the CM-11? what early DOS games do you have on the computer if any? I take it that Canon in D was composed using sampled instrument sounds as opposed to the Sega Master System esque synth chip in the computer,
I kept track of all my software for the RLX 1000 on the file program!
I liked the sounds!
You can put in 2drives and an XTIDE-Flash HDD
Yes.
My hard drive for the RLX 1000 was from the "Twilight Zone" because it switched from DOS to Desk Mate without any input, from me, with no known reason it would switch. Thankfully, I had a three-year warranty, I had a new drive, no more problem!
I paid $699.95 with a Monitor!
I loved Desk Mate 3! Apps!
Wow, that thing starts fast :o) Nice, never fully seen around one before :o)
Nice review!
Very informative! I remember these old Tandy computers my parents almost bought me one instead of that IBM PS2 as I believe a co-worker/friend of my mom had one a Tandy 1000 and wanted to sell it. I was always confused by these Tandys I never knew if they were custom hardware/software like other home PC's earlier or if they were just IBM clones. Probably that Deskmate confused me but it seems they had custom sound and video HW too. They couldn't run VGA PC/DOS software?
How do you get Cannon.sng to sound like that? In dosbox, it only has PSG notes instead of the .snd samples. I'm using Personal Deskmate II.
Sure, it might be more practical to do some of this stuff with a pen and paper, but why do that when it's just so much more fun on the computer! Besides, you can print it out and have neatly typewritten notes.
It's cool how they included some of these programs. It's got something for everyone.
Intel owned the copyright to the 8086 chip, and AMD manufactured it under license.
Yes, the TL/2 is more powerful and expandable, but is hard to find these days.
Desk Mate was a great GUI!
I found a Tandy 1000 RSX HD at goodwill yesterday.
While I am not familiar with the V30 CPU, could a person, (In theory at least and with the proper skills and equipment), unsolder the current CPU, and install the appropriate socket for said CPU?
That Hindi music at the end was pretty random. The Tandy 1000RSX could apparently run Windows 95 too. These were pretty good XT class machines given the built in features, not surprising considering how late they were released.
A very good gimmick!
Yes, it can run Windows 3.0.
Very nice! That makes me wonder if the 1000 HX needs a fan?
HOLY SHIT. I just found a Tandy 1000 HX in my basement!!
Lucky you
Any body that worked in customer service back in the day will get this joke:Where the hell is the any key?
joseph fulks press any key to continue HAHA!!!
It looks like "Tunnel" by Irwin Allen!
Tandy computers always looked awesome when I saw them at Radio Shack. I wasn't working back then. I owned a cheaper Commodore 64 which I really loved 😀. My High School had Commodore 64's and also Commodore PET computers that we learned BASIiC on 😀. Later in my last year of High School I.B.M. P.C. computers arrived at my High School 😀. Now I use Raspberry Pi's 😀. I own the Raspberry Pi. 2, Raspberry Pi 3, and Raspberry Pi Zero W which I just bought from Amazon 😀. Do you use any single board computers like the Raspberry Pi?
how do i get to deskmate? when i power on it just says insert disk containing autoexec.bat. im useing that exact computer.
Just click cancel or hit Escape and you can get in. Or if it boots up to the DOS prompt, type DESK and hit Enter.
Any tips on finding a replacement floppy drive for this? I cleaned and lubed but no luck. I don't think it even spins as I can't hear it when trying to access
Does the indicator light up? Maybe the drive has bad capacitors.
vwestlife Yes, the light illuminates. That's about all it does.
The "Twilight Zone!"
Thanks for watching!
Cool. Are you selling any of these Tandy systems?
How much do these Computers run for today, are they a collectors item or are they common?
That CRT background noise makes me uncomfortable
Just wait until you're older, then you won't even hear it anymore!
Hi Kevin. Question, Is there any way to convert the Tandy Deskmate .SND files to .WAV format? I downloaded a couple of them for hahas and I cannot get them to play. I open them in my Goldwave digital audio editor and tried all settings and it just emits static. Is there a converter of some type for windows that can convert between .snd and .wav?
And if you wanted to could you take out the Hard drive from this machine and view the files on a regular windows PC?
Yes: www.oldskool.org/guides/tvdog/sound.html
The hard drive can only be installed in a more recent PC if it's a ST-351A/X, which can be switched into AT mode.
vwestlife
I tried Conv2snd v2.02 but it doesn't seem to work on my PC. I have windows 8.1
Do I need to run it from DOS prompt?
coondogtheman1234
Yes, it is a DOS program.
vwestlife
I tried it using cmd on windows and It didn't work but I have Dosbox for a few old DOS games I can try that.
Is that Ravi playing in the background?
+VWestlife Tandy 1000RSX
Which brand of processor using for this model
AMD or Intel
And it have the math-coprocessor socket?
This is not a 1000RSX.
The Tandy 1000RSX has a 386SX CPU.
is that someone playing the saw in the background audio?, @20:32.
Indian music.
This video makes me want to pay a visit to Princeton Record Exchange for some reason...
is it only compatible with the tandy standered or the ibm pc and pc jr ?
Yes, it also supports PC speaker and IBM PCjr sound.
I recently got an RL and hooked it up to my tandy rgb-11 monitor but all i get is green bars. The monitor works fine with my TL/2. Any thoughts?
It's probably running in MDA/Hercules mode. Press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V to switch it to CGA mode.
@@vwestlife Ok thanks. I briefly thought about that as I was looking at some old documentation but it just said it shifts between colour and monochrome but I see now it also talks about resolution. Very well built machines, I turned on my TL/2 for the first time in 18 years recently and deskmate had the current day and year! The clock was only 8 hours off.
Yes. The monochrome mode is much higher resolution (720x350) and runs at a higher frequency than what CGA monitors can support.
Ah, the 1980s, the decade of the 8086. Moore's Law? What's that?
I remember when we would boot ours up, the default setting played an audio file that said "Welcome to Deskmate. For help at any time, please press the key labeled F1".
Do you have that file on your 1000RL, and if so, could you please post a video with that recording? I'm dying to hear it again!
I have a 1000RLX and it says that when it starts DeskMate.
vwestlife Nice! Can you record a clip and post it?
you said it has no fan design because there is no hard drive. but then later you show us the hard drive. ?? Also, that demo program with the graphics and sound, is that on all Tandy computers? I have a 1000 in storage for the past 20 years, might take it out soon.
The hard drive model doesn't have a fan either. Most Tandy 1000s came with DeskMate but the sound and graphics demo is something I downloaded from oldskool.org.
Would you be able to install Windows 3.00 on that?
Songs in 12:49 like a GOD
How did you set the date of that computer to 2013? I thought that Tandy computers are having Y2K bug issues
No, that only applies to the old TRS-80 models I, III, and IV. The Tandy 1000 line of PC compatibles are all Y2k compliant.
I love twilight zone!
Can this computer play Test Drive 3 The Passion?
3:53 Hey, we can see your face almost clearly there at this point of this old-ish video. You guarded down there!
I've been on camera multiple times over the years, so I don't understand your point.
Why the name intel printed on a amd processor?