Just because it was so very cheap, I got myself a V-Tech IQ TV512 learning computer. It's not good, which was to be expected, but it's not horrible. Actually, the previous owner used it for some texts about astronomy and letters to friends. As it can print, that makes totally sense. I even got the inkjet printer that V-Tech sold for these in box, which seems to be pretty rare, but I could not be bothered to even turn that on once. Ink is most probably dry and the printer weighs less than a letter (might be a bit exaggerated, but still). So now that I have this neat but pretty bulky machine, what should I do with it? Maybe just sell it before I put it in the basement and forget about its existence entirely? 
Can't see myself using it, don't want to store it up in my flat. Why the heck did I even get it? Curiosity, be damned! 
Verwaltet von:
#vtech
New blog post! Is it still possible to get cheap Z80-based home computers? VTech is on your side, as long as you don't look too closely at that keyboard (woof.) But I managed to get it to draw some pixels, and generate composite video, so we're off to a great start learning and playing together with the VTech Socrates. #retrocomputing #retrogaming #z80 #kicad #vtech
https://www.leadedsolder.com/2025/04/22/vtech-socrates-pickup.html
Hi! How is your day going today?
This isn't exactly a powerful computer but it does have a real BASIC interpreter. I bought it for $5 with some non-working keys and a dodgy LCD but some Deoxit and a couple of bodge wires fixed it right up.
Yet another piece of obsolete obscure technology: #vtech Media Desktop.
Unlike ancient VTech Pre-computer models, it doesn't have BASIC or LPT. But it has enough CPU power to play voice samples, and it has a mini USB port to connect it to a computer for "sync". Mac says it's a USB stick, and shows some "user data" files on it.
In 15 or so years ago, it was possible to download new apps for this device - right from the manufacturer's website. The site is dead, and WebArchive doesn't have a copy of anything important related to it. I wish someone backed up the apps :<
The device is very unhackable, the SPI flash has only user data, and the only other chip visible on the board is a "blob". I suspect it might be powered by 16-bit Gplus chips, because later vTech toys are using it.
I'm making some progress getting the vbcc compiler to generate code for the #vtech #vsmile. However, the CPU has only 4 general purpose registers (R1-R4) with the other ones (SP, PC, SR/flags and BP/framepointer) already in useby the cpu itself or the code generator.
The register allocation in vbcc endsup allocating all 4 registers at the start of a function and freeing them at the end, despite not actually using them that much. So all code that needs a temporary register has to push/pop one
Hmm, just noticed that info.gigaset.net is no longer resolving. It was the backend for some services provided by Germany's last manufacturer of #DECT and mobile phones, #Gigaset, to users of its IP phones. Gigaset had gone bankrupt last year and was bought by #VTech earlier this year.
They have recently fired a quarter of employees.
I guess, they are more interested in Gigaset's manufacturing capabilities in Europe than the phone business.
Ein #Chinesisches Unternehmen schnappt sich mal wieder ein führendes europäisches Unternehmen zum Schnapper. #GIGASET war in die #Insolvenz gerutscht. Wobei, die Mehrheit gehörte schon einem anderen chinesischen Investor.
#VTech #DECT #Entlassungen #digitaleSouveränität
https://www.heise.de/news/Gigaset-Erste-Entlassungen-nach-Uebernahme-9613216.html
https://www.heise.de/news/Gigaset-Uebernahme-Erstmal-aufatmen-langfristig-untergehen-9609630.html
VTech übernimmt Vermögenswerte von Gigaset, stärkt Position bei Schnurlostelefonen. Gigaset, ein DECT-Marktführer in Europa, bietet Business-Telefonie und Smart-Home-Lösungen. Die Akquisition ermöglicht VTech globale Expansion und Produktentwicklung. #gigaset #vtech #dect #smarthome
There seems to be a Microsoft #BASIC interpreter hidden in the #VTech PreComputer 1000:
https://hackaday.com/2023/11/30/is-microsoft-basic-hidden-in-this-educational-childs-toy/
Is Microsoft BASIC Hidden in This Educational Child’s Toy? - The VTech PreComputer 1000 is a rather ancient toy computer that was available in ... - https://hackaday.com/2023/11/30/is-microsoft-basic-hidden-in-this-educational-childs-toy/ #retrocomputing #precomputer #microsoft #toyhacks #basic #vtech #z80
Random Controller of the Day
Vtech Socrates Controller
1988
Wireless (Infra-Red Signal)
The Vtech Socrates was a z80 based educational computer launched in 1988. It was controlled by a wireless keyboard (using infra-red), which had two wired joypads attached to it.
The system also supported additional Mouse and Touch Pad peripherals.