Educational computers

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 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

Educational Computers

Computers Designed to be 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

Toy Computers

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
Number Cruncher	1986	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
Smart Start	1986	VTech	None	No
Smart Start Basic	1992	VTech	None	No
Smart Start Basic Plus	1995	VTech	None	No
Smart Start Elite	1993	VTech	None	No
Smart Start Speller	1988	VTech	None	No
SmarTV	2002	VTech	None	No
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
Whiz Kid	1984	VTech	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.

Model	Year	Developer / Distributor	MAME support	ROMs	Description
ClassMaster Notebook	2002	VTech	None	No
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