VTech PreComputer 1000
This article may meet Wikipedia's criteria for speedy deletion because in its current form it serves only to promote or publicise an entity, person, product, or idea, and would require a fundamental rewrite in order to become encyclopedic. However, the mere fact that a company, organization, or product is a page's subject does not, on its own, qualify that page for deletion under this criterion. This criterion also does not apply where substantial encyclopedic content would remain after removing the promotional material as deletion is not cleanup; in this case please remove the promotional material yourself, or add the {{advert}} tag to alert others to do so. See CSD G11.
If this article does not meet the criteria for speedy deletion, or you intend to fix it, please remove this notice, but do not remove this notice from pages that you have created yourself. If you created this page and you disagree with the given reason for deletion, you can click the button below and leave a message explaining why you believe it should not be deleted. You can also visit the talk page to check if you have received a response to your message. Note that this article may be deleted at any time if it unquestionably meets the speedy deletion criteria, or if an explanation posted to the talk page is found to be insufficient. Note to administrators: this article has content on its talk page which should be checked before deletion. Administrators: check links, talk, history (last), and logs before deletion. Consider checking Google.This page was last edited by Onel5969 (contribs | logs) at 23:03, 9 October 2020 (UTC) (4 years ago) |
The VTech PreComputer 1000 is an electronic learning aid for ages 9 and above[1] manufactured by VTech and released in 1988 (USA)[2] and 1989 (Europe). It contains a dot matrix LCD screen, standard size keyboard and a number of activities, including trivia on science, history and general knowledge.[3]
The PreComputer 1000 is VTech's first child learning product to incorporate the BASIC programming language and is the predecessor to the PreComputer 2000.
Specifications
The VTech PreComputer 1000 relies upon a Z80B[4] clone as it's processing core. A 16Kbit (2Kx8bit) 2K Sharp LH5116-10[5] or Hyundai HY6116ALP-10[4] SRAM is used for RAM. As of 1992, a CMOS version of the Z80 marketed as the Z84 is used.
A Toshiba TC531000CP 1MBit (128Kx8bit) 128K ROM contains the Operating System and program data[4]. This ROM can be augmented when a cartridge is inserted into the side mounted cartridge slot and selected, thus providing expansion capability.
Text output is supplied by a single row 20 character dot-matrix LCD panel, sound output is via an inbuilt piezo element beeper.
Functions
The following functions are available on the unit: [6]
- Typing course
- Fact quizzes (250 facts in each of the following categories: General Knowledge, History, Science & Geography)
- Mathematics activities (5 activities for 1 or 2 players)
- Games (1 single player Typing Fun game, 2 two player games of Hangman and Scramble)
- Calculator
- BASIC (stylized as PRE-BASIC 1.0) programming with 9 example programs
BASIC implementation
PRE-BASIC 1.0 is a simplified unstructured BASIC implementation includes a simple line editor with the ability to change, insert or delete characters on a program line.[6]
Supported features include:[6]
- Single character variable names for numbers and strings
- String and numeric arrays up to three dimensions
- Data manipulation with LET.. DATA.. READ.. RESTORE
- Input and Output with LIST.. PRINT.. INPUT
- Mathematical functions (e.g. ABS, SGN, TAN)
- Logical operations (e.g. NOT, OR, AND)
- String handling (e.g. LEFT$, CHR$)
- Flow control with IF.. THEN.. ELSE, FOR.. TO.. NEXT.. STEP and GOSUB.. RETURN
- Single channel sound with 31 notes and 9 durations
Expansion Cartridges
The following cartridges were available for the PreComputer 1000 and also supported in the PreComputer 2000.[1] The cartridges could only be inserted with the power off before re-powering and pressing the 'Cartridge' button to activate.[6]
- Bible Knowledge (Stock Code: 80-0989)
- Fantasy Trivia[7] (Stock Code: 80-1001)
- General Knowledge II (Stock Code: 80-1002)
- Super Science (Stock Code: 80-1410)
- Speller (Stock Code: 80-1004)
- Famous places and things (Stock Code: 80-1533) - Marketed for both PreComputer 1000 and 2000
The same Toshiba TC531000CP 128K ROM is used in some cartridges.[7]
 | This computer hardware article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
External Links
- 20th Century Retro Games entry (Gallery page for VTech models 1000, 1000 jr, 2000, ProScreen and Variety)
- BASIC for Kids: The VTech PreComputer 1000 at Vintage Computing and Gaming (May 31st, 2007 by Benj Edwards)
- 5 Amazing '80s Geek Toys and Their Modern Equivalents at Wired (magazine) (June 1, 2012 by Chuck Lawton. Machines include: 100-in-1 electronics kits, Pre-Computer 1000, Etch-a-sketch Animator, Casio VL-1 Keyboard, Meccano Erector Sets.)
References
- ^ a b VTech UK Advertising Flyer Ref: 95-0155-18
- ^ PreComputer 1000 Course Book. VTech Educational Electronics. 1988. ASIN B000BSI01W.
- ^ "VTech Laptops". YouTube.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c By (2019-11-19). "Teardown: VTech PreComputer 1000 Is An Iconic PC In A Toy Wrapper". Hackaday. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
- ^ "Vtech precomputer 1000 1992 PCB". Imgur. 7/7/2020. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d "VTech PreComputer 3in1 Computer Teacher Course Book".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Precomputer 1000 Fantasy Trivia". Imgur. 7/9/2020. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)