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Why could the original TRS-80 not type lowercase letters?

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A laptop computer — personal computer Programmers may use computer science to design portable computers such as laptops.

The original TRS-80 microcomputer was designed without the ability to display or type lowercase letters primarily as a cost-cutting measure. By omitting the hardware and logic required to support a full set of lowercase characters, Tandy Corporation was able to offer the machine at a breakthrough price of $399, which helped make the personal computer a commercial success through their chain of Radio Shack stores.1

While ASCII standards existed to define numeric values for both uppercase and lowercase letters, early microcomputer manufacturers often made trade-offs regarding memory and display capabilities to keep consumer costs low. The success of the initial TRS-80 eventually encouraged Tandy to introduce more powerful models, such as the TRS-80 Model II, which featured expanded capabilities suitable for small-business use.21