---
title: LNW RESEARCH LNW-80
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1982'
cpus:
- Z-80A
params:
  name: LNW-80
  image: /media/museum/photos/lnw_lnw80_system_1.jpg
  company: /companies/lnw-research
  company_name: LNW RESEARCH
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: LNW-80
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: LNW Research
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1982'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: '1984'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Microsoft Basic Level II
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke 74 keys with numeric keypad
  - label: CPU
    value: Z-80A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 1.77 Mhz. or 4 Mhz.
  - label: RAM
    value: 48 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 12 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 32 or 64 chars. x 16 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 4 modes from 64 x 48 to 480 x 192 pixels
  - label: COLORS
    value: 8 colours
  - label: SOUND
    value: Buit-in speaker. Tones generator
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: '42 (W) x 56(D) x 9(H) cm. Weight: 13 Kg'
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: F.D. unit, RGB, Parallel, Serial RS-232, Tape recorder.
  - label: OS
    value: TRS-DOS or CP/M
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Biult-in Power supply
  - label: PRICE
    value: $1695
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - docs
  photos:
  - title: USER MANUALS
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/lnw_lnw80_manuals_1.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: U.S. ADVERT (1982)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: U.S. ADVERT (1982)
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Advert said:

      ...You will get more performances than with the IBM PC, the Apple II, TRS80 Model II or TRS80 Model III along with software support of TRSDOS or CP/M, the two most widely used operating systems. This means you, the user, can select from the largest base of business or personal software...
    image: null
  docs:
  - title: LNW80 MICROCOMPUTER OPERATIONS MANUAL
    url: http://www2.asub.arknet.edu/wade/lnwo.htm
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/lnw80_operations-manual.jpg
    text: |-
      [**LNW80 MICROCOMPUTER OPERATIONS MANUAL**](http://www2.asub.arknet.edu/wade/lnwo.htm)written by Ciarán McManus / LNW

       compiled/archived by Wade\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 1.5 MB\
       source : [TRS 80 Hardware Manual Download Page](http://www2.asub.arknet.edu/wade/hardware.htm)
  - title: LNW80 TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL
    url: http://www2.asub.arknet.edu/wade/lnwt.htm
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/lnw80_technical-reference-manual.jpg
    text: |-
      [**LNW80 TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL**](http://www2.asub.arknet.edu/wade/lnwt.htm)written by David L. Kelly / LNW

       compiled/archived by Wade\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 7 MB\
       source : [TRS 80 Hardware Manual Download Page](http://www2.asub.arknet.edu/wade/hardware.htm)
  oc_id: 595
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230531231236/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=595
    date: '2023-05-31'
---

LNW company name came from its three founders' names: Gene **L**u, Michael G. **N**orton (President) and Ken **W**oog. In 1980, the company started manufacturing expansion and interface cards for the [Tandy TRS-80 Model 1](/museum/tandy-radio-shack-trs-80-model-i/) and then sold the first TRS-80 compatible single-board kit.

The LNW-80 was an early TRS-80 clone system, sold as a kit or assembled, and fully hardware and software compatible. It was a powerful machine offering much more advanced features than the original Model 1, including most features found on the TRS-80 expansion interface:

\- Two selectable speeds, 1.77 Mhz (Tandy original) and 4 Mhz.\
\- 8 colours, 480 x 192 high resolution graphics\
\- RGB and monochrome monitor outputs\
\- Expanded keyboard with numeric keypad\
\- Versatile floppy disk controler for single/double sided 5.25" or 8" disks, single or double density format\
\- Serial RS-232C and Parallel interfaces.

Later, LNW sold two other computers, the **LN80 II** and the **LN80 TEAM**, a MS-DOS based system (no info at the moment).

In 1984 the company went bankrupt mainly because of its warehouse burglary, as all of its computers stock disapeared!