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 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
The Learning Pad 1996 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 & Learn Computer 1982 Mattel 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
I.Q. Unlimited Computer 1991 VTech Preliminary No
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 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 None No

Tablets & Smart Devices

Model Year Developer / Distributor MAME support ROMs Description
InnoTab None No
InnoTab 2 Preliminary No
InnoTab 2 Baby None No
InnoTab 2S None No
InnoTab 3 None No
InnoTab 3S None No
Kidizoom Smartwatch None No
Kidizoom Smartwatch DX None No
Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2 None No
Kidizoom Smartwatch DX3 None No