Difference between revisions of "Educational computers"

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The precursor to the Toy aisle console, educational computers date all the way back to the 1960s but the kind people usually think didn't exist until around 1980, when simplified systems designed to be educational, ease of use and have the durability of a toy became popular, these computers started to died out in the late 1990s, when the [https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Strange_and_forgotten_consoles#Toy_aisle_consoles Toy Aisle Consoles] started to appeal to parents looking for something similar to the more mainstream systems but with a bigger focus on safe, usually educational content. by the early 2000s, these kind of consoles had almost completely taken over the market these computers once controlled.
+
These computers are designed for educational purposes. these system were usually only sold and used in schools.
 
 
NOTE - Not all educational computers belong here, a large majority of them are clones or re-skins not noteworthy enough to be added
 
 
 
=Educational Computers=
 
Computers Designed to be for educational purposes. these system were usually only sold and used in schools.
 
  
 
<div style="max-width:100%; overflow:auto;">
 
<div style="max-width:100%; overflow:auto;">
Line 392: Line 387:
 
|}
 
|}
  
=Toy Computers=
 
  
<div style="max-width:100%; overflow:auto;">
 
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:Left;"
 
|+  style="background: #ECECEC;"|
 
! scope="col"|Model
 
! scope="col"|Year
 
! scope="col"|Developer / Distributor
 
! scope="col"|[[MAME]] support
 
! scope="col"|ROMs
 
! scope="col"|Description
 
|- id="A"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''A''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|Accelerator Cyber Station
 
|~ Unknown
 
|Oregon Scientific
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|AlphaByte
 
|~ Unknown
 
|Oregon Scientific
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="B"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''B''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|Buzz Lightyear Star Command Laptop
 
|2009
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="C"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''C''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|Carmen Sandiego Acme
 
|~ Unknown
 
|Team Concepts
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Cars 2 Laptop
 
|2012
 
|Vtech
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Children's Discovery System
 
|1981
 
|Mattel
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|The Children's Discovery System (CDS) is one of earliest examples of the modern educational computer we currently see in the toy aisles today. There's no mouse support like most computers of the era, and  only had three modes built in at launch. the CDS software could be expanded though cartridges. only 16 of the 21 advertised cartridges were released.
 
|-
 
|Clickstart
 
|2007
 
|LeapFrog
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Color Blast Notebook
 
|2006
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Computer Cool School
 
|2008
 
|Fisher-Price
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Computer Fun
 
|1988
 
|Texas Instruments
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Computer Kid Interactive TV
 
|1997
 
|Clementoni
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|This is not just a educational computer, it can also be connect to TV and act like a plug-n-play console
 
|-
 
|Computer Pal
 
|1999
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Computer Pal <br> In Concert
 
|1998
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Computer Typing Instructor
 
|1993
 
|Radio Shack
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Comquest
 
|1995
 
|Data Concepts
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Cyber Spy Notebook
 
|2007
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="F"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''F''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|Fun 2 Learn Laptop
 
|2006
 
|Fisher Price
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|FX-Micom <br /> FX-マイコン
 
|1981
 
|Gakken
 
| style="background: LightGreen;"|Good
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="G"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''G''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|Genius Junior
 
|1996
 
|VTech
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Genius Leader Notebook
 
|1993
 
|VTech
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Girl Fun PC
 
|2002
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="I"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''I''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|IQ Super PC
 
|~ Unknown
 
|Team Concepts
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="J"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''J''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|JC The Junior Computer
 
|1988
 
|~ Unknown
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="K"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''K''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|K28 Talking<br> Learning Computer
 
|1981 <br>(model 7-230) <br> 1985 <br>(model 7-232)
 
|Tiger Electronics
 
|style="background:Orange;"|Imperfect<br>(model 7-230) <br> Preliminary<br>(model 7-232)
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Knights of Knowledge
 
|2001
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="L"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''L''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|Learning Computer
 
|~ Unknown
 
|Radio Shack
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Learning Computer II
 
|1987
 
|Radio Shack
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Learning-Window Teaching Machine
 
|1986
 
|VTech
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Little Smart PC Fun
 
|1994
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Lesson One
 
|1980
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|-
 
|[[The Learning Pad]]
 
|1996
 
|Vtech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="M"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''M''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|MAC Mini Computer
 
|1980
 
|Entex
 
|style="background: Gainsboro;"| None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Master Pad FM
 
|2001
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Math Computer
 
|1987
 
|Playtime
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Math Starter
 
|1988
 
|Fisher Price
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|[[Mega Duck| Mega Duck Super Junior Computer]]
 
|1995
 
|Welback Holdings
 
|style="background:skyblue;"|Decent
 
|No
 
|Released around 1995, the Super Junior was Welback Holdings attempt to save their Mega Duck platform by turning it into educational computer, similar to what VTech was producing at the time. it didn't work and was quickly discontinued. Since its just a Mega Duck in a laptop shaped case, the 12 cartridges released for it should run just fine in MAME.
 
|-
 
|Mouse Computer
 
|1992
 
|Texas Instruments
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|My First Computer
 
|1986
 
|Grandstand
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|My Own Leaptop
 
|2010
 
|LeapFrog
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="N"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''N''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|Nitro Fun Notebook
 
|2008
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Number Cruncher
 
|1986
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="P"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''P''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|PC Pal
 
|1989
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Pitagorin Junior
 
|1993
 
|VTech
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|PreComputer
 
|1988
 
|VTech
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|The PreComputer was a educational computer product line launched by VTech in 1988. the first two models were similar to a Palmtop or a Pocket PC of the era, while the later Junior modal was the more common laptop design. although it doesn't use a mouse like later systems.
 
|-
 
|PreComputer <br>Prestige Elite
 
|1998
 
|VTech
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Preschool Desktop
 
|~ Unknown
 
|Team Concepts
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="S"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''S''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|See-A-Sound Phonics
 
|1994
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Sensu-Puter <br /> (Math Master)
 
|1984
 
|Epoch (JP) <br /> Grandstand (UK)
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Smart Start
 
|1986
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Smart Start Basic
 
|1992
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Smart Start Basic Plus
 
|1995
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Smart Start Elite
 
|1993
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Smart Start Speller
 
|1988
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|SmarTV
 
|2002
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Spell & Count
 
|1986
 
|Playtime
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Spell N' Math Typing Instructor
 
|~ Unknown
 
|Radio Shack
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Spelling Starter
 
|1988
 
|Fisher Price
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Super Color Whiz
 
|1993
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Super Note Club µ
 
|1998
 
|Bandai
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|Super Smart Start
 
|1992
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="T"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''T''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|Talkatron
 
|1985
 
|Sears \ Tiger
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Computron
 
|1986
 
|Sears
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|The Talking Computron has a Red 8x1 LCD Screen, 19 activities/games built in, and had a speech synthesis capabilities that were impressive for the time. Sears also sold four cartridges for extra content at their stores as well.
 
|-
 
|Talking Master Mouse Computer
 
|1993
 
|Texas Instruments
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid
 
|1986
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|The Talking Whiz Kid is the first computer in one of VTech's longest product lines.
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Animated
 
|1995
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Challenger
 
|1994
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Einstein \ Millennium
 
|1995
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Explorer
 
|1994
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Genius
 
|1993
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Honors
 
|1995
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Knowledge Ball
 
|1994
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Lessons
 
|1997
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Mouse Pro
 
|1995
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Notebook
 
|1992
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Notebook 2000 \ 3000
 
|1996
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Plus
 
|1990
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Power Mouse
 
|1995 (Power Mouse) <br> 1997 (Power Mouse Deluxe)
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Talking Whiz Kid Super Animated
 
|1997
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|[[Teach & Learn Computer]]
 
|1982
 
|Mattel
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Teach & Talk Exploration <br>Learning Laptop
 
|2016
 
|MerchSource\DCL
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Tote & Go Laptop
 
|2005
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Type-Right
 
|1985
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="U"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''U''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|Ultra Pack PC
 
|1995
 
|Tiger Electronics
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|- id="W"
 
| colspan="5" style="background: #ECECEC;"| '''W''' <small>{{IndexComp}}</small>
 
|-
 
|Webstart Computer
 
|1998
 
|Tiger Electronics
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|Whiz Kid
 
|1984
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|}
 
 
=Toy Computers (OS-Based)=
 
Unlike most educational computers, the systems here have an actual OS and not just a basic GUI to get from program to another.
 
<div style="max-width:100%; overflow:auto;">
 
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:Left;"
 
|+  style="background: #ECECEC;"|
 
! scope="col"|Model
 
! scope="col"|Year
 
! scope="col"|Developer / Distributor
 
! scope="col"|[[MAME]] support
 
! scope="col"|ROMs
 
! scope="col"|Description
 
|-
 
|[[I.Q. Unlimited Computer]]
 
|1991
 
|VTech
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|
 
|-
 
|IQ TV 512
 
|1998
 
|VTech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|The 512 is a minor update to the Precomputer Unlimited, increasing the RAM capacity from 128kb to 512kb.
 
|-
 
|[[PreComputer Unlimited|PreComputer <br> Unlimited]] (PCU)
 
|1996
 
|VTech
 
|style="background: Red;"| Preliminary
 
|No
 
|Released in 1998 by VTech, The PCU has a Windows 3.1 inspired OS and runs on a DragonBall MCU, a 68000-based microcontroller widely used on Palm OS device of the era. It is unknown how many units were sold, how many game were made for it or when it was discontinued.
 
|-
 
|[[The Equalizer]]
 
|1998
 
|Vtech
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|}
 
 
=Tablets & Smart Devices=
 
<div style="max-width:100%; overflow:auto;">
 
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:Left;"
 
|+  style="background: #ECECEC;"|
 
! scope="col"|Model
 
! scope="col"|Year
 
! scope="col"|Developer / Distributor
 
! scope="col"|[[MAME]] support
 
! scope="col"|ROMs
 
! scope="col"|Description
 
|-
 
|InnoTab
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|InnoTab 2
 
|style="background:salmon;"|Preliminary
 
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|InnoTab 2 Baby
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|InnoTab 2S
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|InnoTab 3
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|InnoTab 3S
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|Kidizoom Smartwatch
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|Kidizoom Smartwatch DX
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|Kidizoom Smartwatch DX3
 
|style="background:gainsboro;"|None
 
|No
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|}
 
 
----
 
----
 
{{NEL}}
 
{{NEL}}

Revision as of 21:34, 14 April 2024

These computers are designed for educational purposes. these system were usually only sold and used in schools.

Model Year Developer / Distributor MAME support ROMs Links Description
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
800 Junior 1986 Elwro Good VJUNIOR
A A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A5105 1988 Robotron Preliminary OC
ABACUS Educational Computer 1971 Feedback None
Alfa \ Beta 1986 Didaktik Good PMD 85
emulator
C A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
CNC-9606 Notebook 1997 Comet None No Released during the 90s coupon craze that Turkey had. the CNC9606 was given out by Turkish newspapers after exchanging a coupon for it.
It was designed to be both a simple PDA and a tool to teach basic English and Computer skills. there were different versions depending
on the newspaper you sent the coupon to, some had floppy drives and expansion ports while other had those features removed.
it's unknown how many were given out.
Compis / Scandis 1984 Telenova Imperfect Wikipedia
Corvette (Корвет) 1987 Moscow State University Preliminary Wikipedia
Cosmac Microtutor 1976 RCA None OC
CP1 1980 Kosmos Preliminary OC
E A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
EPA-6800 1977 Electronic Product Association None OC
ET-3400 Microcomputer
Learning System
1976 Heathkit Good OC
F A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Fred 1971 RCA None OC
H A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Hektor 1981 Open University Good OC
Hektor II 1982 Open University Good OC
Hektor III 1984 Open University Good OC
HP-5036A 1979 Hewlett Packard None OC
I A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
IA-7301 1976 Iasis None OC
Icon 1983 Unisys None OC
Instructor 50 1978 Signetics Good
Intercept Jr Tutorial System 1976 Intersil None
IQ-151 1984 ZPA Good
L A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Link 480Z 1981 Research Machines Preliminary OC
M A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
MEK-6802-D5 1982 Motorola Preliminary OC
Menta 1981 Dataman Designs None OC
Micro-Professor EPB-MPF-1B 1984 Multitech None
Micro-Professor MPF-IP 1984 Multitech None
Microlab 1985 Educatel None OC
MPF-1 A/B 1981 Multitech None OC
MS-0511 (UKNC) 1987 Elektronika Preliminary UKNC-BTL
P A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
PC-1715 1985 Robotron Preliminary OC
Pecom 32 \ 64 1985 Elektronska Industrija NIS Good OC
Poly 1 1981 Polycorp Preliminary The Poly
Preservation
Project

OC
Primo 1984 Microkey Good Gaia's
shrine

OC
PT501 1979 Open University None OC
R A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
RC-702 Piccolo 1980 Regnecentralen Preliminary OC
RC-759 Piccoline 1984 Regnecentralen Preliminary OC
RM-380Z 1977 Research Machines Good OC
S A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
SchoolServer 1995 Acorn Computers None
SDK-80 1975 Intel Good
System 00 1971 RCA None OC
T A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The Fox MT-80Z 1992 E & L Instruments None
Tiki-100 1984 Tiki Data Good
TIM-011 1987 Mihajlo Pupin Institute Preliminary
TK-80 1976 NEC Good