This thing is simple computing. Built-in "applications" include a text editor for creating documents and an early spreadsheet that is surprisingly functional, if not a little odd. There's a 300 baud modem for dialing information services that no longer exist. Also, a terminal program that uses the RS-232 port to communicate with other computers, the only trouble is that fewer and fewer modern computers even support this old standard.
If you want to code up your own apps, go right ahead, there is a MS Basic built in. In fact much of the system administration is done through the basic interpreter.
The computer will run for 20 hours on a set of 4 "AA" batteries, try that with your 15" HD screen, Quad Core, 16GB RAM, Windows laptop!
Amazingly, this thing cost $1000 when it came to market in 1984. I paid $4.50 for it in 2011.
It's said that Bill Gates of Microsoft is nostalgic for this platform - Tandy model 100, 102, and 200, because it's the last product in which he personally wrote the majority of the code.
If you want to try one of these out with out actually getting one, then check out the VirtualT emulator available on SourceForge. But, be warned, using this thing is nothing like using a modern PC. It's takes a little getting used to how simple this computer really is.
