The LNW-80 is the first computer built by LNW Research. The computer is 100% compatible with the Tandy TRS-80 Model 1, but has some hardware enhancements. Most notable are the high-resolution color graphics, which could also be used for a 80x24 screen, with a special software driver (TRS-80 is 64x16, while 80x24 is the screen size most CP/M software needed). Other enhancements were high processor speed (4 MHz), color support, and optionally, CP/M support. The LNW-80 was also sold as a kit.
The LNW supported four screen modes:
Mode 0 is the default TRS-80 screen with 64x16 characters, and 128x48 semi graphics.
Mode 1 is 480x192 monochrome.
Mode 2 uses high res graphics memory to colorize the mode 0 graphics. This results in 128x48 dots with 8 colors per dot. This mode could be used to 'colorize' the standard TRS-80 games when loaded with special software.
Mode 3 uses low res character memory to colorize the high res pixels. This results in 384x192 pixels on 128x48 color fields. Per color field a foreground and background color is selected from the basic 8 colors. The colors are white, green, yellow, red, magenta, blue, blue-green and black.
LNW started by making third party extensions for the Tandy TRS-80 model 1 market. They started in 1979 or 1980 with a System Extension, a D.I.Y. kit replacement of the Tandy Expansion Interface. The LNW80 appeared at the end of 1980. Later came the LNDoubler, a high quality double density adapter in 1981. 1983 saw the LNW II, an upgrade of the LNW80 capable of running CP/M and the LNW Team, which included an Intel 8088 board for MS-DOS compatibility. The company folded due to bankruptcy in 1984.
The LNW80 computer was LNW's attempt to take advantage of the success of the TRS-80 Model I, a very popular and inexpensive computer system first released by Radio Shack in 1977. While claiming to be fully hardware and software compatible with the TRS-80, the LNW80 has additional circuitry to expand its features and capabilites.
LNW Research Corp. was formed and run by Gene Lu, Michael G. Norton, and Ken Woog.
Their first product was an "expansion system" for the TRS-80 to increase its limited capabilities. According to magazine advertisements, this was first offered as a kit in January of 1980 for only $69.95, but the purchaser would have to buy all of the required integrated circuit chips (ICs) and assemble it in order to create a functioning device.
In November of that same year, LNW offered the LNW80 TRS-80 clone computer. This single, bare circuit board cost only $89.95, but again would require hundreds of dollar of additional components to complete the assembly.
In October of 1981, another accessory for the TRS-80 was released - the "LNDoubler", which allowed the use of double density-floppy drives instead of the more limited single-density drives.
Eventually all of their products - the LNW80 single-board computer, the expansion interface, and the LNDoubler, would be combined into a single case, fully assembled, as the LNW80 computer, for $1495. A kit version was also available for approximately $900.
In addition to the TRS-80's features, the LNW80 has a higher clock speed - 4MHz vs. 1.77MHz, but is capable of stepping back down to 1.77MHz for compatibility reasons.
The LNW80 features include cassette I/O operations at 500/1000 baud, a real-time clock, both serial and parallel ports, and a floppy drive interface for either 5 1/4 or 8-inch floppy drives, none of which exist on the original, unexpanded TRS-80 Model I.
While the LNW80 also has support for color and higher resolution graphics, these are of limited use since they are not supported by original TRS-80 software applications.
LNW eventually filed for bankruptcy in 1984 after, rumor has it, a robbery of their warehouse in which most of their inventory disappeared. The inventory reportedly eventually surfaced at an all-LNW repair facility in Southern California.