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Download Deskmate HERE! This version of Deskmate is for any PC compatiable computer. Before trying to use Deskmate, please click HERE for instructions. If you don't, it is unlikely you will be able to get DeskMate to work correctly.
 

    This page is dedicated to the Tandy 1000 TL/2.  It was my first computer, which was given to me by a neighbor's relative (about 4 or 5 years ago).  The computer was already far out of date at the time, but it still served its purpose well.  On it I learned many computer skills, including working with a graphical interface (DeskMate), using DOS,  and simple programing (GW-BASIC).  I also used it for real applications including typing, as a database, an address book, and as a place to put reminders for myself (using Deskmate's Notepad "corkboard" and its calendar program).

In the future, I will add pictures, links, and more to this page, so if you are interested, visit regularly:)
If you want to contact me, email me at  enterprise@nac.net

The following is information  I obtained from The Tandy 1000 TL/2 User Manual and on my own.  I will now share this with those who are interested:  (It is not yet complete, I will add more as time goes bye)

Introduction:
This computer was made in 1989, but different versions of the Tandy 1000 stretch as far back as 1984.  When the first version of the Tandy 1000 came out, it was based on a computer made earlier, the PC JR.  The PC JR did very poorly, but the Tandy 1000 did very well.  It was one of the first computers to include Video and Sound support.
    Another feature that the Tandy 1000 TL/2 (i'm not sure if it came with the original Tandy 1000)  had was important software built into ROM(read only memory).  This was good since it allowed software to load much faster then from Disk.  Information stored in ROM was kept even after the computer was turned off.  MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) and the main part of DeskMate were in ROM.  The computer launched into DeskMate almost immediately after startup (a refreshing change compared with the time it takes to start Windows 3.1/95/98).
The Tandy 1000 TL/2 was compatible for programs made for the IBM PC and the PC/XT so it could run most of the popular software at the time.  The rest of this writing refers to the Tandy 1000 TL/2, and other versions of the Tandy 1000 will be different from this.

Processor: (80286 chip)
The computer has a dual speed processor, which runs at 8MHz and 4MHz.  This was due to the fact that some older programs at the time didn't run correctly at 8MHz and required a slower speed.  Any software that you can still find for the Tandy today should be run at 8MHz, and going to 4MHz is something that you probably never will need to do.

Ram: (640k)
RAM stands for Random Access memory.  It is sometimes just referred to as memory.  This is where programs, instructions, and information are kept while you are working.  When the computer is turned off, anything in memory is erased, so be sure to save your work to a disk.
    There is 640 Kilobytes (k) of Ram in the computer.  One K is equal to 1024 bytes/characters of information.  At the time 640K was good enough to run just about anything.  Times have changed greatly now.  My current computer has 32mb of Ram ( approximately 32000K)  Most new computers come with 64mb of ram and some even come with 128mb.  32mb is the bare minimum you should have today, while 64mb is better yet.  There is no way to upgrade the memory of the Tandy to this large of an amount.  There were memory upgrades available for the Tandy at the time in the form of memory chips (which would increase it to 768k), or if you wanted more, you could plug in expansion cards.  Note:  Memory upgrades of today are not compatible with this old computer so you would have to find some place that sells old hardware.

MS-DOS and Basic Diskette:
The computer came with a diskette that contained the complete version of MS-DOS 3.3 and GW-Basic 3.2 programming language.(notes:  This version of DOS that came with the computer can only be used with Tandy computers|  If you don't like using GW-Basic you can also get Quick Basic which worked fine on my Tandy)

DeskMate:
Deskmate was a program that provided a collection of integerated programs to preform common tasks such as wordprocessing, spreadsheets, data bases, and graphics editing(a paint program).  You could also do advanced things such as limited sound editing, and a fairly sophisticated Music Composing and playing Program. As mentinoned above, the shell program for Deskmate was kept in ROM, making it extremely fast.  You could also run other programs designed for the PC right from the Deskmate Desktop (sort of like making shortcuts for MS-DOS programs in Windows).

Speller in ROM:
A spell checker built for the DeskMate interface was built into ROM, making it extremely fast.  Besides using Spell Checker for DeskMate Apps, you could also use it for other documents saved in American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format.  An example of such a file is one created in windows Note Pad (with a .txt extension).

Special EEPROM Circuitry:
EEPROM stands for electroniacally erasable programmable read-only memory.  It is a chip that can store setup information, and then remembers what they are even when the power is turned off.  Today, the CMOS chip stores this information, and requires a battery to let it retain this information.

Built-In Video Support:
The computer had video support built into it, which would display either CGA(16 colors at 640x200), or Monochrome video(1 color at 720x348)

Music and Sound:
It had a three voice sound circuit with an analog to digital/digital to analog converter, a built in speaker, a 1/8" microphone jack, and a 1/8" earphone jack.  With a microphone, you could record, store, and play music and sound.

3 1/2 inch Diskette Drive:
double density (720k)

Built-In hard Drive Support:
you could add either a 20mb hard drive or a 40mb hard drive.

Keyboard:
came with a 101-key, enhanced keyboard

1 Built-In Serial Port:
same as Serial Ports today, although much slower (most serial mice will still work with this computer)

1 Built-In Parallel Printer Port:
looks quite different from Parallel ports of today (can still get a printer for it if you have the right adapter cable)

2 Built-In Joystick Ports:
also quite different from Joystick ports of today.

4 10-inch Expansion Slots:
used for adding 8-bit adapter boards to upgrade or customize the computer.  No adapter boards are made for these types of slots anymore.

Diskette Drives:
You could add either a 5 1/4" or 3 1/2" drive, neither one can be high density.

Hard Disk Card:
You could also add a Hard Disk card with 20 or 40mb.  You cannot have both a hard disk card and a hard disk drive in the computer.

Modem:
Either internal or external, you would have to look hard to find an old modem that would work (and software that would work with it)

Math Coprocessor:
It would help programs that would do a great deal of calculations, just plug the chip into the socket board (would have to look hard to find the chip that would work)

TandyLink:
An adapter board that would let you connect your computer to others in a workgroup and share information with other members of the group.

Enhanced Video:
you could add either an EGA or VGA card to the computer (once again, you would have to look hard to find an old card that would work)

Other Options:
When this computer was still fairly new(1989), you could add things like a fax board, a CD-ROM drive, a digital scanner, an MIDI interface, a tape cartridge, an answering machine board, and a drawing tablet.   You would have to go to a place that sells old used computer hardware.  Might be able to find some stuff at a garage sale for a very cheap price.