Schneider Euro PC
The Schneider Euro PC was a PC compatible home computer, introduced in 1988 by the Schneider Computer Division.[1][2]
 | |
| Manufacturer | Schneider |
|---|---|
| Type | Personal Computer |
| Release date | 14 August 1988 |
| Introductory price | 1,800 DEM |
| Operating system | MS-DOS 3.3, GW-BASIC, Microsoft Works |
| CPU | Siemens 8088 @ 4.77 to 9.54 MHz |
| Memory | 512 KB (expandable to 640 KB) |
| Storage | 31⁄2-inch floppy disk drive (720 KB) |
| Display | 12" amber monochrome monitor (MM12) or 14" color monitor (CM14) |
| Graphics | Hercules, CGA |
| Successor | Euro PC II, EURO XT, Euro AT, Euro SX |
A follow-up to the success of the Schneider CPC series, the Euro PC offered an inexpensive entry into the emerging market for home PCs. The computer used a Siemens 8088 processor (clocked at 4.77, 7.15 or 9.54 MHz according to a BIOS setting or key combination), had 512 KB of RAM (expandable to 640 KB), and was shipped with MS-DOS 3.3 and Microsoft Works 1.0.[3]
As with many other home computers of its time, the computer circuit board was built into the keyboard housing.[4] A 12" amber monochrome monitor (MM12) and a 14" color monitor (CM14) were available for the system. The Euro PC had a graphics chip that could be switched between monochrome Hercules and color CGA modes.[5] The power supply was external, an unusual feature for a PC.
A 31⁄2-inch floppy disk drive (720 KB) was installed as a mass storage device. An external 31⁄2-inch floppy disk drive with 720 KB (FD720), a 51⁄4-inch floppy disk drive with 360 KB (FD360), and a 20 MB hard disk (XT Attachment, similar to IDE / ATA ) were available as accessories. This could not be replaced by any other model, as the drive parameters were permanently programmed into the BIOS. However, it was possible to operate other hard drives with a corresponding controller in the expansion slot.
The computer was sold through large mail-order companies at a price of 1,800 DEM. The highly competitive PC market left little room for new machines, but the Euro PC was still sold in considerable numbers thanks to its very low price and slim, home computer-like appearance.
An updated version, the Euro PC II introduced in 1989, had 768 KB RAM and a 8087 mathematical coprocessor.[1][6] Another version with further expansions was called EURO XT. The Euro AT offered a 80286 processor, 1MB of RAM, and a EGA graphics card. The Euro SX, introduced in 1992, came with a 80386SX processor.[7]
Technical details
| Euro PC | Euro PC II | Euro XT | Euro AT | Euro SX | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 8088 | 80286 | 80386SX | |||
| Max. Speed | 9,54 MHz | 12 MHz | 20 MHz | |||
| Standard Speed | 7,17/4,77 MHz | 6 MHz | ||||
| Wait-State | – | 0 | ||||
| Coprocessor (optional) | – | 8087 | 80287 | 80387SX | ||
| Expandable in motherboard | RAM | 512 KB | 512 KB* expandable 768 KB | 640 KB + 128 KB RAM-Disk | 1 MB | 4 MB |
| Disk Drives | – | 768 KB* | – | |||
| Expandable in system | – | 16 MB | ||||
| ROM | 32 KB BIOS with Setup | 64 KB Phoenix-BIOS with Setup | ||||
| Disk drives | 1 × 3,5 " | |||||
| Size | 720 KB | 1,44 MB | ||||
| Hard drives | optional external (HD20) | internal | internal (Seagate ST-142A) | internal | ||
| Size | – | 21 MB | 42 MB | |||
| Speed | – | 157 kbit/s | 664 kbit/s | |||
| Access time | – | 68 ms | 28 ms | |||
| Interleave | – | 1:1 | ||||
| Video board | Hercules, CGA | EGA, CGA and Hercules compatible | VGA | |||
| Video Memory | 64 KB | 256 KB RAM, 32 KB EGA BIOS | ||||
| Graphic modes | 720 × 348 | 720 × 348, monochrome | ||||
| CGA | 320 × 200, 4 colors, 16 colors | 320 × 200, 4 colors | ||||
| 640 × 200, 2 colors, 4 colors | 640 × 200 monochrome | |||||
| EGA | – | 640 × 350, 16 from 64 colors | ||||
| Schneider HI-RES Graphics | – | 640 × 480, 16 from 64 colors | ||||
| – | 752 × 420, 16 from 64 colors | |||||
| – | 800 × 600, 16 from 64 colors | |||||
| Text (16 colors) | 40 Columns × 25 Lines | |||||
| 80 Columns × 25 Lines | ||||||
| 80 Columns × 21 or 43 Lines | ||||||
| 100 Columns × 37 or 75 Lines | ||||||
| 120 Columns × 21 or 43 Lines | ||||||
| 132 Columns × 21 or 32 Lines | ||||||
| Optional graphics | EGA/VGA | EGA, VGA, SVGA with EURO-VGA board | VGA, SVGA with EURO-VGA board | VGA | ||
| Interfaces | Serial (RS-232) | 1 | ||||
| Parallel | 1 | |||||
| Mouse/Joystick | 1 | |||||
| External disc drives | 1 | |||||
| External hard drives | 1 | – | ||||
| Expansion slots | ||||||
| Total | 1 | 3 | ||||
| 8 Bit | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||
| 16 Bit | 1 | |||||
| Schneider Expansion Port | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Optional drive expansions | FD1200T | – | 5,25" disc drive with 1,2 MB | |||
| FD360 | 5,25" disc drive with 360 KB | |||||
| FD720 | 3,5" disc drive with 720 KB | |||||
| HD 20 | 20MB hard drive | 21MB hard drive | ||||
| STS40 | Tape drive with 40 MB capacity | |||||
| Keyboard | 86 Keys, QWERTZ | MF2 compatible, 102 Keys, QWERTZ | ||||
| Operating system | MS-DOS 3.3, GW-BASIC, MS-WORKS | MS-DOS 3.3, GW-BASIC | ||||
| Monitor | MM12 (Hercules), CM14 (CGA) | MM12 (Hercules, EGA monochrome), CM14 (CGA), EM14 (EGA, CGA), MS14 (Multiscan) | ||||
See also
References
- "Schneider EuroPC II". MCbx Old Computer Collection.
- Practical Computing. Electrical Electronic Press. 1989. p. 10.
- Wich, Jürgen (January 6, 2021). "Schneider EURO PC I". The Homecomputer Guy.
- Heikkinen, Tero (March 12, 2013). "Schneider EuroPC". Old Machinery.
- Tirziu, Bogdan (August 14, 2018). "Schneider Euro PC". The X86 Generation.
- "Schneider Euro PC". www.classiccomputer.de.
- Starr, Michael; Chapple, Craig (July 9, 2008). VINTROPEDIA - Vintage Computer and Retro Console Price Guide 2009. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781409212775 – via Google Books.