The Compucolor 1 was the first world integrated system which included a graphic colour display. It came with a flicker-free 75 Hz band width monitor and an external floppy tape drive using continuous loop 8 tracks tape cartridges, the same that the ones used in the radio systems of the time, with 1 MB storage capacity and a transfer 'speed' of 600 char./second. The system could be expanded with additional ROM and RAM. Programs were written with the integrated ROM Basic language which used only one PLOT instruction with numerous parameters to manage graphic displays. A special hardware feature called 'Vector Graphics' allowed the computer to draw straight lines. An optional light pen could be used too with the PLOT instruction.
The only difference between the 8001 and the 8051 versions seems to be in the screen size which is of 19 inches in the 8051 model.
This first version of the Compucolor was followed by the Compucolor II, sold by Intelligent Systems Corp.
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
Keep in mind, that price equates to over $13,000 in 2023! You had to be *dedicated* back then to be a computer hobbyist.
Thursday 19th January 2023
Chris (US)
One of the few systems I miss in my collection. If someone can offer one, please contact me via my website.
