Educational computers

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The precursor to the Toy aisle console, educational computers became a new market In the 80s, simplified systems designed to be educational and ease of use. these computers started to died out in the late 1990s, when the 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.

NOTE - Not all educational computers belong here, a large majority of them are clones or re-skins not noteworthy enough to be added

Model Year Developer / Distributor MAME support ROMs Description
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
Accelerator Cyber Station ~ Unknown Oregon Scientific None No
AlphaByte ~ Unknown Oregon Scientific None No
B 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
Buzz Lightyear Star Command Laptop 2009 VTech None No
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
Carmen Sandiego Acme ~ Unknown Team Concepts None No
Cars 2 Laptop 2012 Vtech Preliminary No
Children's Discovery System 1981 Mattel 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 Preliminary No
Color Blast Notebook 2006 VTech None No
Computer Cool School 2008 Fisher-Price None No
Computer Fun 1988 Texas Instruments None No
Computer Kid Interactive TV 1997 Clementoni 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 None No
Computer Pal
In Concert
1998 VTech None No
Computer Typing Instructor 1993 Radio Shack None No
Comquest 1995 Data Concepts Preliminary No
Cyber Spy Notebook 2007 VTech None No
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
Fun 2 Learn Laptop 2006 Fisher Price None No
FX-Micom
FX-マイコン
1981 Gakken Good No
G 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
Genius Junior 1996 VTech Preliminary No
Genius Leader Notebook 1993 VTech Preliminary No
Girl Fun PC 2002 VTech None No
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
IQ Super PC ~ Unknown Team Concepts None No
J 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
JC The Junior Computer 1988 ~ Unknown None No
K 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
K28 Talking
Learning Computer
1981
(model 7-230)
1985
(model 7-232)
Tiger Electronics Imperfect
(model 7-230)
Preliminary
(model 7-232)
No
Knights of Knowledge 2001 VTech None No
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
Learning Computer ~ Unknown Radio Shack None No
Learning Computer II 1987 Radio Shack None No
Learning-Window Teaching Machine 1986 VTech Preliminary No
Little Smart PC Fun 1994 VTech None No
Lesson One 1980 VTech None No
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
MAC Mini Computer 1980 Entex None No
Master Pad FM 2001 VTech None No
Math Computer 1987 Playtime None No
Math Starter 1988 Fisher Price None No
Mega Duck Super Junior Computer 1995 Welback Holdings 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 None No
My First Computer 1986 Grandstand None No
My Own Leaptop 2010 LeapFrog None No
N 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
Nitro Fun Notebook 2008 VTech None No
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 Pal 1989 VTech None No
Pitagorin Junior 1993 VTech Preliminary No
PreComputer 1988 VTech 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
Prestige Elite
1998 VTech Preliminary No
Preschool Desktop ~ Unknown Team Concepts None No
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
See-A-Sound Phonics 1994 VTech None No
Sensu-Puter
(Math Master)
1984 Epoch (JP)
Grandstand (UK)
None No
SmarTV 2002 VTech None No
Speak Series Texas Instruments NA
Spell & Count 1986 Playtime None No
Spell N' Math Typing Instructor ~ Unknown Radio Shack None No
Spelling Starter 1988 Fisher Price None No
Super Color Whiz 1993 VTech None No
Super Note Club µ 1998 Bandai Preliminary No
Super Smart Start 1992 VTech None No
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
Talkatron 1985 Sears \ Tiger None No
Talking Computron 1986 Sears 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 None No
Talking Whiz Kid 1986 VTech None No The Talking Whiz Kid is the first computer in one of VTech's longest product lines.
Talking Whiz Kid Animated 1995 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Challenger 1994 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Einstein \ Millennium 1995 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Explorer 1994 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Genius 1993 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Honors 1995 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Knowledge Ball 1994 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Lessons 1997 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Mouse Pro 1995 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Notebook 1992 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Notebook 2000 \ 3000 1996 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Plus 1990 VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Power Mouse 1995 (Power Mouse)
1997 (Power Mouse Deluxe)
VTech None No
Talking Whiz Kid Super Animated 1997 VTech None No
Teach & Talk Exploration
Learning Laptop
2016 MerchSource\DCL None No
Tote & Go Laptop 2005 VTech None No
Type-Right 1985 VTech None No
U 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
Ultra Pack PC 1995 Tiger Electronics None No
W 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
Webstart Computer 1998 Tiger Electronics None No

Educational 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.

Model Year Developer / Distributor MAME support ROMs Description
ClassMaster Notebook 2002 VTech None No
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. and was designed to be both a simple PDA and a tool to teach basic English and Computer skills. there was 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.
IQ Unlimited Computer 1991 VTech Preliminary No This was the most advance educational computer Vtech ever released, it has a fully realized OS, 11 pre-loaded programs, Z80 CPU, and a BASIC interpreter. this is also one of the the rarest educational computer as it was not cheap when it launch in 1991.
IQ TV 512 1998 VTech None No The 512 is a minor update to the Precomputer Unlimited, increasing the RAM capacity from 128kb to 512kb.
Precomputer Unlimited (PCU) 1996 VTech Preliminary No Released in 1998 by VTech, The Unlimited is a Console-Computer hybrid akin to something like the Coleco Adam, Atari XEGS or the Odyssey 2. the Precomputer brand dates back to 1988 with the model 1000, and was your typical educational computer of the era. The Unlimited's main OS was heavily influenced by Windows 3.1 and the system it self included 45 programs built-in. Basic features and oddities that came standard on most late 90s and early 2000s VTech educational computers can be found on the PCU as well. this includes a cartridge slot for more programs and games, a parallel port for printing and an odd mouse that plugged into an RJ11 port. It is unknown how many units were sold, how many game were made for it or when it was discontinued.
The Equalizer 1996 Vtech None No