Dick Smith System 80

The Dick Smith System 80 was the Australasian version of EACA’s Video Genie, a ready-to-use computer broadly compatible with the Tandy TRS-80 Model I. It integrated the keyboard, power supply, RF modulator and cassette recorder in one sloping desktop case.

Dick Smith Electronics supplied the machine through its extensive Australian and New Zealand retail network with manuals, software and expansion hardware. Its lower price made TRS-80-style computing accessible to a large new audience.

Notable Features

• Built-in cassette recorder, power supply and RF modulator simplified home setup.
• Level II BASIC and broad TRS-80 Model I software compatibility provided an established library.
• Full-travel keyboard and integrated case were practical improvements over many early micros.

Historical Significance

• One of the most successful early personal computers sold through Dick Smith Electronics.
• Helped establish a substantial home-computing community in Australia and New Zealand.

Collector’s Notes

• Several unadvertised Mark I board revisions exist despite identical external badging.
• Cassette belts, keyboard contacts and expansion-port condition are common restoration concerns.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Dick Smith System 80
Manufacturer	Dick Smith Electronics
Launched	Tuesday, January 1, 1980
Country	Australia
CPU	Zilog Z80 at approximately 1.77 MHz
Units Sold
Operating System	Level II BASIC; TRS-80-compatible disk operating systems with expansion
I/O	Expansion bus, second cassette, video and printer through expansion
Keyboard	Integrated full-travel keyboard and cassette controls
Storage	Built-in cassette recorder; external disk expansion available
Sound	Cassette output used for simple sound
Graphics	128 x 48 block graphics
Display	Television output; 64 x 16 text
ROM	12KB Level II BASIC
RAM	16KB standard; commonly expanded to 48KB
CPU Speed	Approximately 1.77 MHz