Rare Tiger Learning Computer Review (The Last Apple II)

[@LGR]

Wow, you actually found one of these, and in the box no less. Thanks for showing this rarity in action, I didn't know it had a UI like that!

[@BrianPicchi]

It's been on my wishlist for a long time.

[@NALTOHQ]

That “Hello! Please choose an activity!” Sound bite was also used in the Tiger Ed Ultra Pack PC, which I actually owned growing up.

[@Lachlant1984]

I'm interested to know more about that, was that a self contained portable unit?

[@BrendanRobert]

The serial port may yet be hackable -- are you able to get to the system monitor from basic via "call -151"? There's a possibility they used a different chip than the one in the SSC or just used different I/O ports but that doesn't mean we can't figure it out. ;)

[@D3codes]

yes, the system monitor is accessible from basic

[@jean-marcb8746]

Been dabbling around Apple II computers since 1983, but never heard of that thingie. (We're less well provided in old Europe). Thanks a ton indeed, man !

[@BryonLape]

Those graphics look really good for an old Apple II.

[@GeoNeilUK]

Kinda makes you wonder how close to the IIgs it was.

[@BryonLape]

Agreed. Even in double high res, the Apple //e didn't support that many colors.

[@Jeffrey314159]

Bryon Lape How come there's no APPLE II-F?

[@BryonLape]

Lol

[@RetroDawn]

Double Hi-Res supports 16 colors. Where do you see more than those 16 colors?

[@Apple2gs]

All these years I thought the Tiger Learning Computer was only test-marketed in one city, and had no idea it came with glossy retail commercial packaging! Cool to actually *see* one in operation! I wonder if it used a Mega II chip, like the one used on the IIGS and PDS Apple IIe Card. Too bad there's no way to get software on or off it, leaving it stuck with those 5 cartridges. For that reason, as is, it's essentially more of a prototype than a functional computer (unless someone can figure how to mod it).

[@fenarinarsa]

That and the graphical mode does not look at all like HGR or DHGR, it's something that definitively doesn't exist on the Apple IIe. Too sharp with too many colors.

[@dbranconnier1977]

If this thing would have included (in internal ROM) Oregon Trail, Tetris, Sim City, Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?, Karateka, Ultima and WordPerfect for Apple IIe, it would have been an instant hit. A built in 3 1/2" disk drive would have been nice too.

[@ToddFun]

Thanks for sharing! You find the most amazing old tech gear!

[@BrianPicchi]

It's essentially the last commercially sold Apple II computer.

[@JozsefBKA]

Good job sir, please keep up the good quality of your videos!

[@brickman409]

Wow, that's really cool! If it wasn't cancelled, I probably would have gotten one as a kid

[@Lachlant1984]

I wonder what would happen if you flipped the disk side selector switch while a cartridge was being used in the system.

[@Lachlant1984]

I suspect the distinction of being a real computer is because they're comparing it to the electronic learning aid toys made by the likes of VTech.

[@GeoNeilUK]

Seeing this makes me wonder if there are any devices like this based on the BBC Micro or Archimedes.

[@scottaveles6900]

Thank you for sharing this! What a strange machine. . .

[@jbmaru]

This must use a special graphics card too. Those graphics and animations were not available on the Apple IIe in standard.

[@RetroDawn]

Looks like Double Hi-Res to me.

[@ELPANCHO1993]

Hi I have the same device I was wondering how much are they worth today??

[@pokepress]

Bought one of these from the Toys R Us in Janesville Wisconsin (decent distance from any of your test markets). What does the AC adaptor look like and what’s the power specs on it?

[@thepirategamerboy12]

How in the world does it do that clear sampled speech in the GUI? Does the machine have an added chip for PCM or something? I wouldn't think Apple II hardware with a 1mhz CPU could play samples that good through the internal speaker.

[@gmcnewlook]

I'm guessing tiger was ripping on those v tech "computers" of the time period that looked like a laptop but weren't "real" computers.......

[@vwestlife]

Some of the VTechs were a "real" computer, such as the IQ Unlimited from 1991, using a Z80 processor and featuring BASIC, games, word processor, spreadsheet, etc. You could connect it to your TV or use its tiny built-in LCD. It appears to be based on MSX but I don't know that for sure. The Tiger Learning Computer could've been a viable product around that time too, but by 1997 it was way too late.

[@BrianPicchi]

Very likely. Tiger made some pseudo computers like those, too.

[@RetroDawn]

There was also the I.T./Precomputer Unlimited in the UK/US. It had a 68000 and a mouse. The IQ Unlimited, seems to be using Apple II-style artifact-color graphics, so not based on the MSX, but rather, perhaps using the VTech Laser Apple II clones video. I just got one and will be doing my best to figure out it's video and get my own software running on it.

[@keiyakins]

wait, you can format cartridges and lose their contents? That seems like a bad move for a kids product, they should be hard to fuck up.

[@TheYelverton07]

Keiya Bachhuber - No, these are EEPROM-like cartridges. The RAMDISK cart can be formatted, though.

[@CherryPixelBun]

IDK when they first came about, but there are those Vtech "Computers" that the box could be referring to then the Tiger computers calls itself "real". Not gonna lie, until you said it was super rare and that it doesn't read floppies I was expecting it to be a budget version of the Apple II.

[@dave4shmups]

That is very cool! And better then a Tiger Game.com!

[@fenixlolnope361]

Stickybear was actually super popular Apple II and PC software that I don't believe ever made it to the Macintosh

[@pentiummmx2294]

i remember playing Stickybear typing and Stickybear math on a Apple //c with a green phosphor monitor, there were Apple IIe and IIc computers along with Power Mac 5200 and Mac LC 500 series AIO systems back when i went to school, eventually they replaced them with imac g3s then later, PCs running Windows 98/NT/2000, then later Windows XP, then later Windows 7

[@opiniondiscarded6650]

I am definitely buying one of these

[@Polaventris]

What a bizarre and a cool machine!

[@RetroGamerVX]

I wonder how many have managed to hack that into a fully working apple 2 :o)

[@opiniondiscarded6650]

RetroGamerVX I will be definitely be trying this once I get one of these

[@TapGage]

Holy crap, man! How did you find this? Did the place you find it have any more?

[@BrianPicchi]

It was at a Goodwill store of all places.

[@TapGage]

+TanRu Nomad I guess as a St. Louisan I will have to keep an eye out for this from now on. Last I saw one of these sold it was as Sothebys for a few grand IIRC. Always have to check those kids "laptops."

[@UltimateThanos]

I think thy meant a real computer as opposed to some simple children's toy that resembled one.

[@BaneMcDeath]

Wondering how moddedand pimped out this beast could be? The sky is the limit these days.

[@abdulazizalserhani7625]

But I think adding an LCD screen, serial ports and a floppy drive would have raised the cost of the computer significantly and Tiger Electronics loved cheapness

[@raspoutine7241]

looking at the thumbnail be like: wait... Prodos??

[@Lachlant1984]

I see you're using the system with an Apple colour monitor, those monitors didn't have speakers in them, so does the computer itself have a built in speaker or not?

[@BrianPicchi]

Yes, it does.

[@pokepress]

There’s also an analog rca audio out jack.

[@nonproquoloremipsumdolor7626]

i haved one of these, it broke

[@SellamAbraham]

Do you still have it? And if so, want to sell it?

[@SevenDeMagnus]

Hi. Thanks. Subscribed. Got to time manage videos to at least once a week no matter (like Casey Neistat, it's everyday for him no matter what). God bless. Proverbs 31