Tandy WP-2 Portable Wordprocessor

The Tandy WP-2 was a dedicated portable word processor with an 80-column LCD, full-size keyboard, spelling checker, thesaurus and communications software. Four AA batteries powered an instant-on writing system weighing just over three pounds.

Although less general-purpose than the Model 100 family, its distraction-free text environment and standard printer and serial connections made it a practical travelling writing machine.

Notable Features

• The handheld uses CMOS Z80A-compatible processor at 5.53 MHz.
• Program and working memory was 22KB text memory; optional internal and card expansions.
• Information is shown on 480 x 64 monochrome LCD; 80 x 8 text.

Historical Significance

• Although less general-purpose than the Model 100 family, its distraction-free text environment and standard printer and serial connections made it a practical travelling writing machine.
• The machine was manufactured for Radio Shack by a Japanese calculator or electronics company and given Tandy/TRS-80 branding.

Collector’s Notes

• LCD condition and battery leakage are the most important checks on surviving pocket computers.
• The matching printer, cassette interface, cables, manuals and memory modules make a more complete system.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Tandy WP-2 Portable Wordprocessor
Manufacturer	Tandy
Launched	Sunday, January 1, 1989
Launch Price	$349.95
Country	United States
CPU	CMOS Z80A-compatible processor at 5.53 MHz
Units Sold
Operating System	ROM-based Tandy word-processing environment
I/O	Parallel printer, RS-232 serial, cassette and memory-card interface
Keyboard	62-key full-size keyboard
Storage	Internal solid-state storage; cassette and optional portable disk drive
Sound	Programmable beeper or key feedback where supported
Graphics	Character-oriented LCD with no general bitmap graphics
Display	480 x 64 monochrome LCD; 80 x 8 text
ROM	ROM containing word processor, spelling, thesaurus and communications software
RAM	22KB text memory; optional internal and card expansions
CPU Speed	5.53 MHz