VTech PreComputer 2000: Difference between revisions

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The '''VTech PreComputer 2000''' by(also manufacturerknown as the Genius Leader 2000/2000 Plus)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Teameurope|date=2013-11-07|title=Dumping Blog: [[VTech]] - Stuff|url=https://team-europe.blogspot.com/2013/11/vtech-stuff.html|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Dumping Blog}}</ref> is an electronic learning aideaid manufactured by [[VTech]] and released in 1992. It featurescontains a [[dot matrix]] [[Liquid crystal display|LCD display]], a standard size [[Keyboard (computing)|keyboard]], 3334 activities for teaching in 4 different levels for 1 or 2 players and basicintroductory computer programming forwith 1the or[[BASIC]] 2programming playerslanguage. It has aan built in 8000080,000 word spell checker and a SAT word builder. It iscan eitherbe powered by a battery or by AC adaptoradapter. It could be extended with additional carts, e.g. the ''1000 Challenging New Questions'' cart (compatible with PreComputer 1000 and PreComputer 2000). It is athe successor ofto the [[VTech PreComputer 1000]] model.

== Specifications ==

The VTech PreComputer 2000 relies upon a [[Z80|Z80B]] clone as its processing core.

A 1MBit (128Kbyte) [[Read-only memory|ROM]] contains the [[Operating system]] and program data which can be expanded via the cartridge slot.

Output is supplied by a 2 row 20 column [[Dot matrix|dot-matrix]] LCD panel.

This machine features a rudimentary implementation of [[BASIC]] offering [[truth table]]s, [[array]]s, input statements and [[Variable (computer science)|variables]], allowing users to create simple text programs. One program may be held in memory at a time.

== Features ==

The VTech PreComputer 2000 offers the following features:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vtech |url=http://archive.org/details/v-tech-pre-computer-2000-manual |title=VTech PreComputer 2000 Manual |date=1992}}</ref><ref name=":0">VTech UK Advertising Flyer Ref: 95-0155-18</ref>

* 12 educational word activities

* 4 mathematics activities

* 4 word-based games

* 1,000 trivia questions in 4 categories

* 1,000 word vocabulary available for activities

* 80,000 word spell checker

* BASIC (stylized as PC2000 BASIC)

* Calculator

* Cartridge slot [[backward compatibility]] with the [[VTech PreComputer 1000]]

== Expansion cartridges ==

Cartridges for the [[VTech PreComputer 1000]] could be used but the following cartridges were available for the VTech PreComputer 2000:<ref name=":0" /> The cartridges could only be inserted with the power off before re-powering and pressing the 'Cartridge' button to activate.<ref>{{Cite web|author=[[Nostalgia Nerd]]|date=12 November 2015|title=vTech PreComputer 2000 Inspection|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18_hJ1qAC2k|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=YouTube}}</ref>

* Super Memory Expander (Stock Code: 80-1531) - 32Kbyte memory upgrade for BASIC programs

* Famous places and things (Stock Code: 801533) - Marketed for both PreComputer 1000 and 2000

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* [http://20thcenturyvideogames.com/index.php?action=vermodelos&tipo=5&sistema=VTech-Portable 20th Century Retro Games entry] (Gallery page for VTech models 1000, 1000 jr, 2000, ProScreen and Variety)

{{VTech products}}

[[Category:VTech|PreComputer 2000]]

{{Comp-hardware-stub}}