The Lobo MAX-80

Lobo Systems advertisement from the
December 1983 issue of 80 Micro

The Lobo MAX-80 was a TRS-80 compatible computer sold by Lobo Systems (originally known as Lobo Drives International). Introduced at the 1982 National Computer Conference (where one could be reserved for a $100 deposit), the MAX-80 offered an impressive array of features including:

• a Z80B running at 5.07 MHz (making it one of the fastest microcomputers at the time)
• 64K of memory standard, with sockets for an additional 64K
• a double-density floppy disk controller with support for both 5¼″ and 8″ drives
• a hard disk controller interface
• video support through a standard RCA phono jack
• a screen size of 64 by 16 or 80 by 24 with a partially redefinable character set
• a TRS-80 style keyboard with CONTROL and ESCAPE keys, as well as F1 through F4
• one parallel port
• two serial ports
• real time clock with battery backup

There was a great deal of interest in the MAX-80 and articles about it were published in all of the TRS-80 magazines. A MAX-80 Users’ Group, MAXIMUL, was formed which published a newsletter devoted to the MAX-80.

Compatibility

Unlike other TRS-80 compatibles, such as the PMC-80 or the LNW80, the MAX-80 wasn’t hardware compatible with the TRS-80. It shared some hardware characteristics, such as memory-mapped keyboard and video. But there were many differences from the Model I and Model III, including different disk hardware, no cassette support and no BASIC in ROM. As a result, no self-booting TRS-80 disks would work on the MAX-80, whether they were operating systems or games.

In many respects, the MAX-80 had more hardware similarities to the Model I than the Model III. But in terms of software compatibility, the MAX-80 was based on the Model III. According to some estimates, 95% of all Model III software (excluding games) would work unmodified on the MAX-80. Games were a separate problem because they usually relied on direct hardware access and the slower TRS-80 speed. Almost all major TRS-80 software packages were compatible, and Logical Systems sold a $10 patch disk of fixes for those that exhibited problems (such as VisiCalc and Scripsit).

Operating Systems

Much like the earlier Lobo LX-80 Expansion Interface, the MAX-80 required a special version of LDOS to run TRS-80 programs. Lobo Systems offered two different operating systems for the MAX-80:

• CP/M 2.2, and later CP/M 3.0, came supplied with the MAX-80 and it was regarded as an especially good implementation of CP/M.
• LDOS, from Logical Systems, was able to run most TRS-80 Model III programs.

There were two other MAX-80 operating systems available from third parties:

• MULTIDOS, from Cosmopolitan Electronics Corporation, was largely compatible with MULTIDOS for the TRS-80 Model III.
• MaxDOS, sold by Bryan Headley, was a patched version of Model 4 LS-DOS that remained completely compatible with all standard LS-DOS software. This was a remarkable achievement when you consider that the MAX-80 predated the Model 4.

There were also plans for a MAX-80 version of DOSPLUS, but I haven’t found any evidence that it was ever released.

Hardware

The MAX-80 was a complete computer in a 17″ by 10″ keyboard unit (which consumed only 28 watts). A standard configuration originally cost $820.00 for a 64K unit and CP/M. An additional 64K cost $95.00. Later on, the standard configuration changed to a 128K unit for $945.00.

All that was required to make a complete system was a monitor and disk drives. Many types of standard monitors could be used and Lobo Systems sold a 12″ monitor for $175.00. They also sold a variety of disk drive units, including:

• dual 40 track 5¼″ single-sided floppy drives for $690.00
• one 80-track double-sided floppy drive for $1,175.00
• dual single-sided 8″ floppy drives for $1,185.00
• dual double-sided 8″ floppy drives for $1,485.00
• one 4.8 MB hard drive (Winchester) for $2,100.00

Lobo also sold a “well-equipped” MAX-80 system (128K keyboard unit, monitor, and two 5¼″ drives) for $1599.00.

Support

With its 5.07 MHz processor, the MAX-80 was one of the fastest microcomputers available at the time. Although its lack of graphics and color deterred some, it remained an attractive choice for those who wanted both CP/M and LDOS compatibility. However there is little doubt that the introduction in 1983 of the TRS-80 Model 4, a 4 MHz computer which offered both CP/M and complete Model III compatibility, must have dampened interest in the MAX-80.

In 1985, Lobo Systems announced a new computer called the Mini Max. It was a $795 transportable computer designed to compete with the TRS-80 Model 4P. I don’t know if any were produced, and both Lobo and the Max-80 disappeared soon after.

MAXIMUL and their MAX-80 newsletter both outlasted Lobo Systems, ending only in 1989. MaxDOS also remained available until at least 1988.

Written by Matthew Reed | Filed Under Computers · Bryan Headley · LDOS · Lobo Systems · MULTIDOS