Here is my second system I ever had!:
http://oldcomputers.net/mc-10.html
Super cheap, barely useful computers were sold by the millions in the early 80's. The scheme worked great for Sinclair of the UK - the
Sinclair ZX-80 ($199) in 1980, and the
Sinclair ZX-81 ($99) in 1981, combined easily sold over 500,000 units.
The
Timex/Sinclair 1000 ($99) in 1982 sold more than that all by itself, and the new and improved
Timex/Sinclair 1500 from 1983 sold for less than $80.
The TRS-80 MC-10 (MC=Micro Color) is a scaled-down version of the original
TRS-80 Color Computer computer from 1980. The reason for this is apparently because cheap, simple computers seem to be popular, and the MC-10 has a few things going for it which most of the Sinclairs lacked - a better keyboard, and a color display.
To keep the price down, the MC-10 has only 4K of RAM, but just like the Sinclairs, an external 16K RAM module ($69.95) can be added, as seen in the pictures here, for a total of 20K of RAM.
While the MC-10 may be superior to the "competition", like them it is too small and limited to be useful for either work or play
Another inexpensive color system, the
Mattel Aquarius computer from the same year, sold very poorly as well.
There were just too many new computers in the year 1983, and competition was fierce. The price of older systems was dropping, making them a better deal than the simple micro-computers like the MC-10.
The optional "Low-Cost" TP-10 Thermal Matrix Printer ($129.95) is a nice addition for hardcopy.
-S
PS. I had that printer too!