website/content/museum/tandy-radio-shack-portable-wordprocessor-wp-2-wp-3.md

---
title: Tandy Radio Shack Portable Wordprocessor WP-2 / WP-3
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Portable
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1989'
cpus:
- NEC 70008A-6
params:
  name: Portable Wordprocessor WP-2 / WP-3
  image: /media/museum/photos/tandy_wp2_1s.jpg
  company: /companies/tandy-radio-shack
  company_name: Tandy Radio Shack
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: Portable Wordprocessor WP-2 / WP-3
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Tandy Radio Shack
  - label: TYPE
    value: Portable
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1989'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: word processor, simple terminal emulator program and telephone directory/calendar software
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: full stroke keyboard, 62 keys
  - label: CPU
    value: NEC 70008A-6 (Zilog Z-80 compatible)
  - label: SPEED
    value: 5.5296 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: |-
      WP-2 : 32 KB (up to 160 KB)\
      WP-3 : 64 KB (up to 160 KB)
  - label: ROM
    value: 256 KB (BIOS, word processor & spell check)
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80x8
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 480x64 (but not usable as no programmable language is available)
  - label: COLORS
    value: monochrome built-in LCD display
  - label: SOUND
    value: piezo buzzer
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 25.4 (H) x 297 (W) x 210 (D) mm / 1.1 Kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Parallel/Centronics Printer (DB25), Serial RS-232C (DE9), Tape Recorder Interface (DIN8), Half Card RAM Slot
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: RAM disk (with extra RAM chip), Memory Card (Battery backed PCMCIA sized card)
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: 4 x AA batteries or AC adapter (6v, 400 mA)
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: 32/128 KB RAM internal chips, 32/64/128/256KB option ROM card, 32/64/128KB option RAM card, Portable Disk Drive 2, Modems
  - label: PRICE
    value: |-
      WP-2 : US$349.95 (1991, USA), A$499 (1992, Australia)\
      WP-3 : $449 (1993, Australia)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - links
  - docs
  forum_thread: 1223
  photos:
  - title: WP-2
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/tandy_wp2_1.jpg
  - title: SIDE VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/tandy_wp2_2.jpg
  - title: REAR VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/tandy_wp2_rear.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: USA RADIO SHACK CATALOG (1991)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/pubs/tandy_wp2_pub_1.jpg
  - title: AUSTRALIAN TANDY CATALOG (1992)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/pubs/tandy_wp2_pub_2.jpg
  - title: AUSTRALIAN TANDY CATALOGS (1993)
    subtitle: ''
    text: WP-3 model
    image: /media/museum/pubs/tandy_wp3_pub_1.jpg
  links:
  - title: 8bit-micro
    url: http://www.8bit-micro.com/wp2wp3.htm
    text: Nice info there, with manual to download and tips on how to make your own Null modem cable
  - title: Larwe.com
    url: http://www.larwe.com/museum/tandywp2.html
    text: Nice detailed page about the WP-2 with good pictures
  - title: Official support pages from Tandy
    url: http://support.radioshack.com/support_accessories/5589.htm
    text: Go there while it's still online
  - title: The Tandy WP-2 & Citizen (NTS) WP10 Revised History!
    url: http://www.8bit-micro.com/wp2-Revised-History.htm
    text: article explaining difference between Tandy and Citizen models
  docs:
  - title: WP-2 OWNER'S MANUAL
    url: http://www.8bit-micro.com/download.htm
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/tandy_wp2_owner-manual_doc.jpg
    text: |-
      [**WP-2 OWNER'S MANUAL**](http://www.8bit-micro.com/download.htm)written by Tandy

       compiled/archived by Unknown\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 5,1 MB\
       source : [www.8bit-micro.com](http://www.8bit-micro.com)
  - title: WP-2 SERVICE MANUAL
    url: http://www.larwe.com/museum/tandywp2.html
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/tandy_wp2_service-manual_doc.jpg
    text: |-
      [**WP-2 SERVICE MANUAL**](http://www.larwe.com/museum/tandywp2.html)written by Tandy Radio-Shack

       compiled/archived by Lewin A.R.W. Edwards\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 13,5 MB\
       source : [www.larwe.com](http://www.larwe.com)
  oc_id: 1256
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608083548/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1256
    date: '2023-06-08'
---

Still sought after by writers and students, the Tandy WP-2 and Tandy WP-3 are perfect writing companions. Used to take notes, prepare reports and write letters, these WP systems are technically real computers based on a Zilog Z80 processor. The WP-2 is essentially a Tandy-branded version of a Citizen portable wordprocessor called the **CBM-10WP**.

Extract from Tandy catalog:\
"There are battery operated, weight only 3.1 pounds and are 1" thin. The full size keyboard lets you cut, paste, search, replace, center and justify your text with just a few keystrokes. And there's no need to lug around a heavy dictionnary. The jet black case houses a 100,000-word spelling checker and a 200,000-word thesaurus. For hard copies of your work, the WP-2 easily connectes to Tandy or IBM-compatible printers. You even add an optional modem to transfer files to your personal computer by phone."

The following applications are built-in ROM and available in standard: TEXT, TELCOM, PHONE (address), CALENDAR (schedule), SPELLCHECK and FILES.

The WP-2/3 while being dedicated word processors also have a terminal mode and x-modem file transfer capabilities. You can write programs on another computer, assemble them and xfer them to the WP-2/3 with x-modem and they can then be run.

The **WP-3** seems to be the exact same model except that it has 64 KB as standard (whereas the WP-2 has 32 KB). The only other significant difference between the WP-2 and WP-3 is that the WP-3 has British English dictionary and the keyboard can generate the UK pound symbol.

---

Contributors: David Wilson