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Compucolor is a series of colormicrocomputers introduced by Compucolor Corporation ofNorcross, Georgia. It was the first color home computer system with built-in color graphics^[1] andfloppy-based data storage. It used theIntel 8080 CPU.

The first model was an upgrade kit for the company's colorcomputer terminal, turning theIntecolor 8001 into theCompucolor 8001 by adding moreRAM and a number of optional storage systems. Released in 1976, the 8001 was soon replaced by theCompucolor 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]

Intelligent Systems Corporation's first product was theIntecolor 8001,^[5] anintelligent terminal based on the Intel 8080. Released some time in early 1976,^[4] it consisted of a $1,395 kit based around a 19-inchRCA delta-gunCRT^[6] and came with 4 kB of random-access memory (RAM). The monitor's three separateelectron 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 primaryRGB colors (see below).^[6][8]

Connectivity was limited to aRS232 port.

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

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

An optional "floppy tape" drive with two8-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 afloppy disk controller based on theWestern Digital FD1771 to supportIBM 3740-style 8-inch drives, and in 1978, another supporting 8-inch drives fromShugart andSiemens.

The original ROM-basedBASIC 8001 was a clone ofMicrosoft BASIC^[12] for the 8080, differing only in the way it handledstrings, requiring memory to be set aside for them usingCLEAR X where X was a number of bytes, and having separateFRE(X) andFRE(X$) to return the amount of general memory and string memory separately.^[13] After threats from Microsoft, ISC arranged a deal with the company to supply a licensed version of the language.

Compucolor II

Compucolor II computer with Centronics 737 printer (Zagreb, 1980)
Manufacturer	Compucolor Corporation[1]
Type	Home Computer
Release date	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 AC50/60 Hz
Online services	Intelligent Systems Information Service
Predecessor	Compucolor 8001

In 1977,^[16] Intelligent Systems Corp announced theCompucolor II,^[1][17] an all-in-one version of the 8001 system using a lower-costGeneral 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, the8 KB Model 3 for$1,495, the16 KB Model 4 for$1,795, and the32 KB Model 5 for$2,395. The company did not begin selling the systems until the middle of 1978,^[19] by which time theApple 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. PressingEscape+D dropped into the "File Control System"disk operating system, and pressingEscape+E returns to BASIC.

The Compucolor II was based on the 8080 operating at1.99 MHz clock rate and used aSMC CRT5027 video controller,^{[21][22][23][24]} a Japanese-produced version of theTexas InstrumentsTMS 9927, programmed to provide a screen format of 32 lines with 64 characters per line (seeCompucolor II character set). Internal proprietary ROMfirmware allowed a plot graphics array of 128 H by 128 V available in eight colors.^[12][25]

Three available keyboards having 72 (standard), 101 (expanded), or 117 (deluxe) individual keys, attached to the computer with a 25-pinribbon cable. The keys were full-travel "Cherry brand" type having gold cross-bar contacts with excellent feel and reliability. Key tops were engraved with special legends to help manage computer functions.

The Compucolor II used a custom designed51.2 KB 5.25" floppy disk drive, which was placed on the right side of the monitor cabinet. The design utilized aserial interface and was referred to as the "Compucolor Drive" or "CD". There were reliability issues with this design since any variance in motor spindle speed would cause difficulty reading or writing floppy media. Also there were a few electromagnetic issues within the cabinet space that interfered with the floppy recording and read process.

Thedisk operating system known as "File Control System" or "FCS" was designed in-house. In FCS, when a file was deleted, the individual file would be removed from the file list volume and the remaining data would be moved to fill sequential empty space, using the4 KB portion of display video RAM as a transfer buffer memory. In modern-day terms, files would be automatically defragmented to prevent cross-linked files.

Most legally available software for the Compucolor II was written by in-house software programmers.^[26] Over 20 software titles were officially released by Compucolor with custom 5-1/4" artwork title covers:^{[27][28][29][30]}Air Raid,^[31]Asteroids,^[32]Backgammon,^[33]Othello,^[34][35][17]Blackjack,^[36]Bounce,^[37]Chess,^[38]Cubic Tic Tac Toe,^[39]Hangman,^[40]Lunar Lander,^[41]Maze Master,^[42]Sharks,^[43]Shoot,^[44]Solitaire,^[45]Star Trader,^[46]Star Trip,^[47] andSwarms.^[48]

There was also a groundswell of hobbyists and user groups^[49] who created software for sale or "shareware" among its groups.

The most important title for the Compucolor II was probablyStar Trip, which mimicked theStar Trek genre. Another line of game software was also marketed widely and included titles such asLightning Command,^[50]Target Omega,^[51]Freebooter^[52] andBomb Squad.^[12]

Productivity software like word processors or programing language interpreters were also available.^[53][54][28]

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

• The Compucolor 8001 CTR(PDF). Compucolor Corporation. 1976.
• Veit, Stan (1993).Stan Veit's History of the Personal Computer. WorldComm.ISBN 9781566640305.

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

• Computer-related introductions in 1976
• Home computers
• 8-bit computers

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