Compucolor

This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Compucolor" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Compucolor is a series of color microcomputers introduced by Compucolor Corporation of Norcross, Georgia. It was the first color home computer system with built-in color graphics^[1] and floppy-based data storage. It used the Intel 8080 CPU.

The first model was an upgrade kit for the company's color computer terminal, turning the Intecolor 8001 into the Compucolor 8001 by adding more RAM and a number of optional storage systems. Released in 1976, the 8001 was soon replaced by the Compucolor II in 1977, although shipments did not start until the next year. The Compucolor II was smaller, less expensive, and used the newly introduced 5.25-inch floppy disks instead of the former 8-inch models.

Compucolor opened its first retail computer store in Norcross, Georgia USA in 1979, aptly named the "Compucolor Computer Store." The store had limited success in the six months of operation, and the store concept was abandoned. By 1983, Compucolor was out of business.

Compucolor, and its forerunner, Intecolor, produced three computer designs (Intecolor 8001, Compucolor 8001 and Compucolor II) over the life of the parent company, Intelligent Systems Corporation.^[2] ISC formed in 1973 to produce color terminals.^[3]

Intecolor 8001

Intelligent Systems Corporation's first product was the Intecolor 8001,^[5] an intelligent terminal based on the Intel 8080. Released some time in early 1976,^[4] it consisted of a $1,395 kit based around a 19-inch RCA delta-gun CRT^[6] and came with 4 KB of random-access memory (RAM). The monitor's three separate electron guns produced a bright and colorful picture, but had the disadvantage of requiring constant adjustment to keep the guns properly aligned.^[7][6]

It offered a graphics display with 192 x 160 resolution and 80 x 48 character text display (in single row height) or 80 x 24 character in (double height mode), in 8 primary RGB colors (see below).^[6][8]

Connectivity was limited to an RS232 port.

The following table shows the Intecolor / Compucolor 8001 character set:^[9]

Compucolor 8001

In December 1976,^[4] the newly formed Compucolor subsidiary released the Compucolor 8001.^[10][11] This was another $1,295 kit that converted an Intecolor 8001 into a complete computer with BASIC on a built-in ROM.^[1] When initially booted, the machine starts in "terminal mode" an acts as a glass terminal for its RS-232 port. Pressing Escape+W launches the ROM-based BASIC interpreter, while Escape+P launched the machine code monitor program. It also included a program to aid in aligning the guns in the monitor.^[7]

An optional "floppy tape" drive with two 8-track tape cartridges was available for storage, running at about 4,800 bit/s and storing up to 1 MB per tape. The tapes were physically identical to common 8-tracks, but had much less tape on them so they could loop around faster (8-track tapes cannot be rewound). The tape drive proved too slow to be practical, and after even relatively short periods of use the tape would stretch and be rendered useless.^[7]

In 1977 they released a floppy disk controller based on the Western Digital FD1771 to support IBM 3740-style 8-inch drives, and in 1978, another supporting 8-inch drives from Shugart and Siemens.

Compucolor II

Compucolor II

Compucolor II computer with Centronics 737 printer (Zagreb, 1980)
Manufacturer	Compucolor Corporation[1]
Type	Home Computer
Released	1977;[1]
Lifespan	1977[14]-1980[15] (Compucolor II)
Units sold	1000+ [citation needed]
Operating system	Compucolor FCS
CPU	Intel 8080A[12] @ 1.99 MHz
Memory	8K,[1] 16K,[12] 32K[12]
Storage	51.2KB 5.25" Proprietary floppy drive
Display	13" color delta-gun CRT, 128x128[12]
Graphics	SMC CRT5027 (TMS 9927 clone)
Input	Proprietary parallel keyboard interface, modified EIA RS-232-C modem port, 50-pin custom bus.
Connectivity	EIA RS-232C
Power	120 or 240 AC 50/60 Hz
Online services	Intelligent Systems Information Service
Predecessor	Compucolor 8001

In 1977,^[16] Intelligent Systems Corp announced the Compucolor II,^[1][17] an all-in-one version of the 8001 system using a lower-cost General Electric 13-inch color television^[18] with the tuning section on the right removed and replaced by a 5.25-inch floppy disk mounted vertically. Three models were advertised, the 8 KB Model 3 for $1,495, the 16 KB Model 4 for $1,795, and the 32 KB Model 5 for $2,395. The company did not begin selling the systems until the middle of 1978,^[19] by which time the Apple II was widely available with similar specs at a lower price point. In February 1979, the prices were lowered to $1,695 for the Model 4, and $1,995 for the Model 5.^[20]

Unlike the 8001, the II booted into BASIC when started. Pressing Escape+D dropped into the "File Control System" disk operating system, and pressing Escape+E returns to BASIC.

See also

• Compucolor II character set
• Intecolor/Compucolor 8001 character set

References

External links

• AtariArchives.org – Product profile
• Compucolor.org – Compucolor II tribute site, including javascript emulator
• Compucolor 8001