TANDY SHOWCASE: Collect ~ Archive ~ Share
Computing
Beginning in 1977, Tandy and Radio Shack entered the computer arena & were known for their industry-leading systems for many years. Scroll down to see some of the featured systems.
(Note: some images are from our personal collection while others were obtained online and remain the property of the original owners)
The Matra & Hachette "ALICE" Computer
The Matra & Hachette Ordinateur Alice is a home computer sold in France beginning in 1983. It was a clone of the TRS-80 MC-10, produced through a collaboration between Matra & Hachette in France and Tandy Corporation in the United States.
The Alice is distinguished by its bright red casing. Functionally, it is equivalent to the Tandy MC-10 Micro Color Computer, with a SCART connector replacing the RF modulator for video output. The Alice also features the European AZERTY keyboard layout, vs. the QWERTY configuration we are used to in the US.
Matra & Hachette commissioned the acclaimed French artist Jean Giraud to illustrate the box and user manual for the Alice system.
The computer is configured for 220V AC power and actually uses a transformer "brick" to deliver 10V AC to the system itself. We use our PYLE transformer to convert from 110V to 220V as the starting point.
For video, the Alice uses SECAM/SCART output. We use a video converter which translates from SECAM or PAL to NTSC and adapts from the SCART to HDMI interface.
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This TRS-80 was donated by the original owner, who had used it back in college.
The computer was stored in a cardboard box in the corner of a garage. It had definitely seen better days...
Initial disassembly... notice the red "reset" button added by the owner (the main reset button is hard to reach at the back of the case). We cleaned the main circuit boards and the case as much as possible.
The key caps had seen quite a bit of "everything" over the decades...
...thankfully it was all on the surface and cleaned up nicely.
Once reassembled, the system looks much better.
On a side note... overall we don't refinish the computer cases if possible... that worn look where the palms would rest, are indicative of the memories lived out through this system.
This Tandy 1000 TL/2 System was gifted to us from the original owner. Looking great at 35 years old!
