80 microcomputing

80 Microcomputing magazine, later shortened to 80 Micro, was launched in 1980 by Wayne Green, founder of several other hobbyist publications. It focused exclusively on the TRS-80 line of computers from Tandy/Radio Shack, starting with the Model I and eventually covering the Model III, 4, Color Computer, and even the Pocket Computer series. The magazine quickly became the go-to resource for TRS-80 users during the platform's heyday in the early 1980s.

Each issue was packed with practical content: type-in programs (often in BASIC or assembly), hardware modifications, product reviews, troubleshooting tips, and user-submitted projects. Its in-depth tutorials helped beginners learn programming while offering advanced insights for experienced users. *80 Microcomputing* also served as a vital advertising hub for third-party developers and peripheral makers supporting the TRS-80 ecosystem.

The publication reflected the spirit of the early personal computing era—hands-on, community-driven, and deeply technical. At its peak, it boasted a circulation of over 100,000, making it one of the most successful computer magazines of its time. However, as the TRS-80 line declined in the late 1980s, readership fell, and the magazine ceased publication in 1988. It remains a valuable artifact of early home computing culture and a rich resource for retrocomputing enthusiasts.