Sycor
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Ann Arbor, Michigan , United States |
| Products | Programmable intelligent terminals (Key-Cassette terminal, Video Terminal, Sycor 301, Sycor 302, Sycor 340, Sycor 350) |
Sycor, Inc.—initially known as Systronics, Inc.—was an American computing firm established in 1967 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company specialized in manufacturing early programmable intelligent terminals that served as desktop computers.
Systronics Key-Cassette and Video Terminal (1968)
In July 1968, Systronics introduced the Key-Cassette terminal, priced at $18,000 per unit or $6,000 for bulk purchases, with shipments commencing in September of the same year. This device resembled the Datapoint 2200 by integrating a keyboard, CRT display, processor, and two cassette tape drives—one dedicated to data storage and the other for program loading. The company also provided "Teachware" software on cassette tapes to facilitate rapid operator training.
The Video Terminal variant omitted cassette drives by default but allowed optional additions. It was designed as a replacement for traditional dumb terminals or teletype machines such as the ASR-33.
Sycor 301 and 302 (1969)
Early in 1969, Sycor unveiled the 302 model as an enhanced version of the Key-Cassette system at a reduced price of $7,900. The more affordable Sycor 301, costing $7,000, included a single cassette drive compared to the dual drives found in the 302. Both models were promoted as "programmable data terminals," featuring an internal mini-computer that users could customize through programming.
Similar to the Datapoint 2200, these terminals supported device emulation via program cassettes without requiring hardware modifications. The first units were delivered in February 1969—more than two years before the Datapoint 2200's release—offering comparable functionality and pricing.
A specialized Securities Terminal edition was released late that year, featuring a custom keyboard and no cassette drives. This model was specifically targeted at stock brokers and was installed at both the New York Stock Exchange and American Stock Exchange by the end of 1969.
Sycor 340 (1971)
The Sycor 340 terminal debuted in early 1971 and continued production into the late 1970s. By this time, its programming language was officially designated TAL (Terminal Application Language). Although its appearance closely resembled earlier models, the 340 became Sycor’s top-selling terminal by 1978, representing half of the approximately 40,000 systems deployed.
This product line included several variants: the 340D equipped with floppy disk drives; the cassette-based 340E offering greater capacity; and the upgraded 350 model introduced in June 1975. The 350 featured integrated printers capable of speeds ranging from 60 characters per second up to 300 lines per minute.