I have two main units, two Schneider Monitor SM12, external disk drive and
two Power Adapters.
type computer
country
year 1999
os MS-DOS 3.3
cpu 8808-2
speed 9,54 MHz
ram 640 KB
disk 3.5″ disk
graphic 640×200 (4)
colors 32
sound PC-speaker
ports serial, parallel, mouse, keyboard, monitor, ISA-slot
The Schneider EuroPC — Germany’s Home PC
Released on 14 August 1988, the Schneider EuroPC was Schneider’s own design — the first computer Schneider developed independently after their distribution agreement with Amstrad ended in 1987. Using a Siemens 8088 processor switchable between 4.77 and 9.54 MHz, 512 KB of RAM, a built-in 3.5-inch 720 KB floppy drive, and MS-DOS 3.3 with Microsoft Works, the EuroPC put the entire computer — including the floppy drive — into the keyboard housing. This compact, all-in-one design made it one of the most unusual IBM PC-compatible computers of its era, and it became popular in Germany as an affordable entry into PC computing.
Schneider’s Own Innovation
The EuroPC represented Schneider’s transition from Amstrad distributor to independent computer manufacturer. Developed in cooperation with Commodore, the EuroPC introduced a distinctive innovation: all BIOS configuration was done entirely through software rather than jumpers — eliminating the fiddly hardware setup that frustrated many PC users of the era. The processor speed, video mode, and other settings could be changed through BIOS menus, anticipating the software configuration approaches that later became universal in PC design.
Affordable PC Entry Point
Priced at 1,800 DEM at launch, the EuroPC offered an accessible entry point into IBM PC compatibility for German families who wanted to use mainstream PC software but could not justify the cost of conventional desktop PC configurations. The bundled Microsoft Works provided immediate productivity capability, and the CGA/Hercules graphics compatibility ensured broad software compatibility. The single ISA expansion slot and external hard disk connector allowed users to expand the system as their needs grew.