From: Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unisys_ICON
The ICON was a computer built specifically for use in schools, to fill a standard created by the Ontario Ministry of Education. It was based on the Intel 80186 CPU and ran an early version of the QNX Unix-like operating system. The system was packaged as an all-in-one machine similar to the Commodore PET, and included a trackball for mouse-like control. Over time a number of GUI-like systems appeared for the platform, based on the system’s NAPLPS-based graphics system.
The ICON was widely used, mostly in high schools in the mid to late 1980s, but disappeared after that time with the widespread introduction of PCs and Apple Macintoshes. They were also known as the CEMCorp ICON, Burroughs ICON, and finally Unisys ICON when Burroughs and Sperry Corporation merged to form Unisys in 1986. The machine was also nicknamed the “bionic beaver”.
It looks like there were several types of ICON computers as this one is not the “all in one” unit described in the Wikipedia article. It is interesting that the CPU is labeled as “Burroughs” while the Monitor and Keyboard are UniSys.
The CPU is very heavy and the keyboard/mouse unit is kinda cool — very big and robust.
Documentation Binders for the ICON:
- ICON Series Toolkit Operations Guide Vol. 1
- ICON Series Toolkit Operations Guide Vol. 2
- ICON Series MS-DOS Reference Manual 1215969
- ICON Series QDOS Operations and Reference Manual 1215944/1216157
- ICON Series C Compiler Programming Reference Manual
- ICON Series Software Installation and Implementation Guide (with Disks)
- ICON Series (Disks)
Software Disks for the ICON:
- ICON Series Netcard FileServer Boot Diskette – 4.01.00 Jan 1990
- ICON Series Upgrade Release Ver 4.10.01
- ICON Series Upgrade Release Ver 4.10.01 Netcard F/S Boot
- ICON Series Upgrade Release Ver 4.10.01 (Disks 1 to 5)
- ICON Series Upgrade Release Ver 4.10.01 Help Diskette
- ICON Series C Compiler – Ver 3.00.00 Dec 1987
- ICON Series Logo – Ver 3.00.00 Dec 1987
- ICON Series Edite Online Help – Ver 4.00.00 May 1989
- ISSW 4.10.01 Home Brew File Server Boot (copy) (University of Waterloo Computer Store Diskette)
- ISSW 4.10.01 File Server Boot (copy) (University of Waterloo Computer Store Diskette)
- Fileserver Boot Diskette – Ver 4.01.00 Jan 1990
- Netcard Fileserver Boot Diskette – Ver 4.10.01 Sept 17, 1991
- Configuration Diskette – Ver 4.10.01 Sept 17, 1991
- System SW Diskette – Ver 4.10.01 Sept 17, 1991 (Disks 1 to 5)
- Help Diskette – Ver 4.10.01 Sept 17, 1991
- System SW Upgrade Diskette – Ver 4.10.05 Nov 1, 1991
- C Compiler – Ver 3.00.00 Dec 1987
- Logo Diskette – Ver 3.00.00 Dec 1987
- Watcom Basic Interpreter – Ver 3.00.00 Dec 1987
- Watcom Pascal Interpreter- Ver 3.00.00 Dec 1987
- Watcom GKS Graphics and Tutorial Examples- Ver 3.00.00 May 1989
- QDOS – Ver 4.01.02 May 1990
- QDOS Support (English) – Ver 4.01.02 May 1990
- MS-DOS Boot Diskette – Ver 3.2 May 1989
- MS-DOS GW-Basic Interpreter – Ver 3.2 May 1989
Again, thanks to the estate of David Fletcher Evans from Ontario, Canada and Rob Warren and John Aycock for arranging the logistics/transport while I was away in Samoa consulting.
I also have UNISYS ICONs in my collection. The original CEMCORP ICON, the UNISYS ICON (what you have), the UNISYS ICON II, a Lexicon server, manuals and software disks. Last weekend I used my Kryoflux to image all of the disks. It looks like my System 3.00.00 disks were readable, but two of my 4.00.00 disks were bad. I don’t have the QDOS disks.
I know of only three people who have disks for this system: you, me, and the guy at pcmuseum.ca. Would you be willing to create images of your disks and make them available to me? I can make my disk images available to you. If you don’t have the hardware/software/time to do it, you could mail them to me (Toronto) at my expense and I can use my Kryoflux to do it then mail them back to you. I might also scan your manuals. They Kryoflux is a modern floppy controller with specialized software that looks at the magnetic fluxes on the disk and can recover data even when a regular DOS/Windows/Commodore/Apple/etc. computer cannot read it. Most of my ICON disks required error correction by the Kryoflux software. I’m glad I read them now before they become completely unreadable!
Also, if you’re ever willing to sell your ICON, Lexicon, manuals and software, I’d be willing to make a substantial offer.
Any luck on getting images of more disks?
Please, can you make copies of the diskettes? I would like to help in making an emulator for this incredible system. Please email me.
I remember our high school used to have the last revision of the Icon (I thought the Icon 3???), which was a more streamlined version of the Icon II above. I remember we had the Icon in keyboarding class with QDOS to run Microsoft Works for DOS.
I am **SO** trying to find/dig up any further information on these! I was focused on other hardware in my youth, but remember them well: So, partially for nostalgia, but also for preservation purposes — be it reverse-engineering hardware, emulation, ANYTHING — do you have any further information/contacts/archives to work with? ^^;
I was reading your post with great interest especially Mike’s desire to make an emulator. I was fortunate enough to be involved in the Ontario wide schools, computer and learning program and would love an icon emulator for the purposes of livestreaming the titles on twitch and uploading the vods to my YouTube channel so that other classic pc aficionados can get a taste of Canadian pc education in the 80s. It’s weird how you miss something. I was just thinking of the old game math maze.
I’m still trying to get as much information/images/documentation as possible, and although finding more contacts, have yet to get access to anything substantial — although I did find an awesome image of the main PCB!
Has anyone made anything either public or (privately) available? I’ve seen some progress on related QNX emulation, which is awesome.
What’s your youtube channel — curious! 🙂