ColecoVision & Coleco Adam Computer (1982-1984)

ColecoVision

The ColecoVision, launched in 1982, was the "second-generation" console that finally delivered on the promise of bringing true arcade-quality gaming into the home. Powered by the Zilog Z80A processor and a dedicated Texas Instruments video chip, it offered 16 simultaneous colors and 32 "sprites," allowing it to dwarf the graphical capabilities of the aging Atari 2600 and the Mattel Intellivision. The system was famously bundled with an exceptionally faithful port of Nintendo’s Donkey Kong, a move that helped Coleco sell over 500,000 units in its first four months alone. Its unique "Expansion Module" system also made it future-proof; Expansion Module #1 famously allowed the ColecoVision to play the entire library of Atari 2600 cartridges, while the ill-fated "Adam" computer expansion attempted to turn the console into a full home productivity suite. Despite its short lifespan due to the Video Game Crash of 1983, the ColecoVision remains a legendary platform for its library of near-perfect arcade translations like Zaxxon, Lady Bug, and Turbo, the latter of which came with a dedicated steering wheel and pedal peripheral.

Donation: Mark Scheck through local "Gift Economy" group

Coleco Adam Keyboard 

The Coleco Adam, released in 1983, was an ambitious "all-in-one" home computer system designed to transition ColecoVision owners into the world of productivity and education without sacrificing their gaming library. Marketed as a complete package for around $600, the Adam included a standalone CPU with a built-in "Digital Data Drive" (using high-speed 256KB cassettes), a full-sized professional keyboard, and a "SmartWriter" daisy-wheel printer that doubled as the system's power supply. Its primary innovation was its dual-mode capability: it could run sophisticated CP/M-compatible software and a built-in word processor, yet remained fully backward-compatible with all standard ColecoVision game cartridges. Despite its impressive technical specs and the inclusion of the hit game Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom on tape, the Adam was plagued by a disastrous launch, as early units generated a massive electromagnetic surge upon startup that could accidentally erase any data tape left in the drive. While these hardware flaws and the "Video Game Crash of 1983" led to its commercial demise by 1985, the Adam remains a fascinating relic of the era when toy companies briefly attempted to outmaneuver tech giants like Commodore and Apple in the home computing race.

Source of Keyboard: Elephants Trunk Flea Market 

TRIVIA:  Coleco stands for COnnecticut LEather COmpany

INTERESTING FACT:  That's a young Laurie Loughlin (actress) in the Coleco Adam commercial.