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'''Compis''' ([[Sweden|Swedish]] name), '''Scandis''' ([[Norway|Norwegian]] name) was a computer system designed and sold to schools beginning 1984. Since it was intended for educational use, it received the name ''Compis'', which is short for ''COMPuter In School''. The name can also be interpreted as a pun on the Scandinavian word ''kompis'', meaning friend or pal. The development was started by [[Svenska Datorer]] in 1982 and was overtaken by [[TeleNova]] when the former went bankrupt. The computer was distributed by [[Esselte]] and mostly marketed towards, and sold to, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasium-level]] schools.
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{{Infobox computer
| aka = Scandis (Norway, Denmark and Finland)
| logo =
| image = Telenova Compis.jpg
| caption = An example Compis system, showing two 5.25-inch floppy disk drives, keyboard, monitor and external hard disk drive
| developer =
| manufacturer = [[Svenska Datorer]], [[TeleNova]]
| type =
| generation =
| release date = 1984
| lifespan =
| price =
| discontinued = 1988
| units sold =
| media =
| os = [[CP/M-86]], [[MS-DOS]]
| power =
| cpu = [[Intel 80186]]
| memory =
| storage =
| display =
| graphics =
| sound =
| input =
| connectivity =
| dimensions =
| weight =
| related =
}}

'''Compis''' (''COMPuter I Skolan'') was a computer system intended for the general educational system in [[Sweden]] and sold to Swedish schools beginning in 1984 through the distributor [[Esselte]] Studium, who also was responsible for the software packages.

The computers were also used in Danish, Finnish and Norwegian schools under the name '''Scandis'''.

== History ==
In 1980, the [[ABC 80]] used in the schools was regarded as becoming obsolete, and the National Swedish Board for Technical Development (''Styrelsen för teknisk utveckling'') was tasked to find a replacement. In 1981, the procurement ''Tudis (Teknikupphandlingsprojekt Datorn i Skolan) '' was launched, and while the decision was controversial, [[Svenska Datorer AB]] was awarded the contract with development beginning in 1982. After Svenska Datorer went bankrupt, production was transferred to TeliDatorer/Telenova under [[Televerket (Sweden)]].

The computer was distributed by [[Esselte]] and exclusively marketed towards, and sold to, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish schools, mainly high stage (year 7-9) and [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasium-level]].


The computer was based on the [[Intel 80186]] [[central processing unit|CPU]] and with [[CP/M-86]] as the operating system in [[Read-only memory|ROM]] (although it could also run [[MS-DOS]] from disk). The computer had a wide selection of ports, including one for a [[light pen]]. The Compis project was criticized from the start, and as the move to [[IBM PC]] compatibility came it was left behind and finally cancelled in 1988 although it was in use well into the 1990s.
The computer was based on the [[Intel 80186]] [[central processing unit|CPU]] and with [[CP/M-86]] as the operating system in [[Read-only memory|ROM]] (although it could also run [[MS-DOS]] from disk). The computer had a wide selection of ports, including one for a [[light pen]]. The Compis project was criticized from the start, and as the move to [[IBM PC]] compatibility came it was left behind and finally cancelled in 1988 although it was in use well into the 1990s.

== Applications ==


Notable applications being run on the Compis in an educational environment was:
Notable applications being run on the Compis in an educational environment was:
⚫
*[[COMAL]] interpreter
⚫
*[[Turbo Pascal|Turbo Pascal 3.0]] compiler, under the name Scandis-Pascal
⚫
*[[WordStar]] word processor
⚫
*'''Harmony''' software: word processing, spreadsheet and database. The name was a pun on [[Lotus Symphony for DOS|Lotus Symphony]], the dominant [[productivity software]] at the time.


⚫
* [[COMAL]] interpreter
⚫
Some schools had simple [[local area network]]s of Compis/Scandis computers, where 10–20 machines shared one [[hard disk]] of typically 10[[megabyte|MB]] capacity.
⚫
* [[Turbo Pascal|Turbo Pascal 3.0]] compiler, under the name Scandis-Pascal
⚫
* [[WordStar]] word processor
⚫
* ''Harmony'' software: word processing, spreadsheet and database. The name was a pun on [[Lotus Symphony for DOS|Lotus Symphony]], the dominant [[productivity software]] at the time.

⚫
Some schools had simple [[local area network]]s of Compis/Scandis computers, in which 10–20 machines shared one [[hard disk]] with a typical capacity of 10[[megabyte|MB]].

⚫
== See also ==

⚫
* [[Education in Sweden]]
⚫
* [[Unisys ICON]]

== External links ==


⚫
* [http://compisinfo.googlepages.com/ Compis Info]: A site dedicated to the Compis
⚫
==See also==
⚫
* [http://www.df.lth.se/~pi/compis/ Telenova Compis]: some documentation available here (page in Swedish).
⚫
*[[Education in Sweden]]
⚫
*[[Unisys ICON]]


==External links==
== References ==
* [https://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/lång/compis Nationalencyclopedins nätupplaga, "Compis"]
⚫
*[http://compisinfo.googlepages.com/ Compis Info] - A site dedicated to the Compis
* [https://www.internetmuseum.se/tidslinjen/compis-introducerar-datorn-i-skolan/ Swedish Internet museum]
⚫
*[http://www.df.lth.se/~pi/compis/ Telenova Compis] - some documentation available here (page in Swedish).


[[Category:Personal computers]]
[[Category:Personal computers]]
[[Category:Goods manufactured in Sweden]]
[[Category:Goods manufactured in Sweden]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1984]]

Revision as of 08:46, 25 April 2024

Compis
An example Compis system, showing two 5.25-inch floppy disk drives, keyboard, monitor and external hard disk drive
Also known asScandis (Norway, Denmark and Finland)
ManufacturerSvenska Datorer, TeleNova
Release date1984
Discontinued1988
Operating systemCP/M-86, MS-DOS
CPUIntel 80186

Compis (COMPuter I Skolan) was a computer system intended for the general educational system in Sweden and sold to Swedish schools beginning in 1984 through the distributor Esselte Studium, who also was responsible for the software packages.

The computers were also used in Danish, Finnish and Norwegian schools under the name Scandis.

History

In 1980, the ABC 80 used in the schools was regarded as becoming obsolete, and the National Swedish Board for Technical Development (Styrelsen för teknisk utveckling) was tasked to find a replacement. In 1981, the procurement Tudis (Teknikupphandlingsprojekt Datorn i Skolan) was launched, and while the decision was controversial, Svenska Datorer AB was awarded the contract with development beginning in 1982. After Svenska Datorer went bankrupt, production was transferred to TeliDatorer/Telenova under Televerket (Sweden).

The computer was distributed by Esselte and exclusively marketed towards, and sold to, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish schools, mainly high stage (year 7-9) and gymnasium-level.

The computer was based on the Intel 80186 CPU and with CP/M-86 as the operating system in ROM (although it could also run MS-DOS from disk). The computer had a wide selection of ports, including one for a light pen. The Compis project was criticized from the start, and as the move to IBM PC compatibility came it was left behind and finally cancelled in 1988 although it was in use well into the 1990s.

Applications

Notable applications being run on the Compis in an educational environment was:

Some schools had simple local area networks of Compis/Scandis computers, in which 10–20 machines shared one hard disk with a typical capacity of 10MB.

See also

External links

References

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