---
title: NANO SKS 2500
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Transportable
origins:
- Germany
years:
- '1982'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80 A
params:
  name: SKS 2500
  image: /media/museum/photos/sks2500.jpg
  company: /companies/nano
  company_name: NANO
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: SKS 2500
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Nano
  - label: TYPE
    value: Transportable
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Germany
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1982'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Unknown
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full stroke keyboard with numeric keypad, editing keypad and function keys
  - label: CPU
    value: Zilog Z80 A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Optional Motorola 68000 and Intel 80186
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB (up to 256 KB)
  - label: ROM
    value: Unknown
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: from 40 x 12 to 132 x 43
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: Block graphics mode (eacjh character was a 2x3 or 2x4 block, depending the video mode, with bits turned on or off based on the character code used)
  - label: COLORS
    value: Monochrome
  - label: SOUND
    value: Unknown
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: RS232 (2 up to 4)
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 2 x 5.25'' floppy disk units
  - label: OS
    value: CP/M or Oasis (now known as Theos) or MERCURE (?)
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Power supply built-in
  - label: PRICE
    value: Unknown
  forum_thread: 221
  oc_id: 211
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608142445/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=211
    date: '2023-06-08'
---

John Benfield, who worked on this computer reports :

I redesigned the video card for Canada Computer when the SKS was imported into Canada. (there was a pretty nasty bunch of design flaws in the original card that would cause the driver transistors in the HV section to vaporize if you switched video modes too often). I also wrote lot of utilities for it and ported most of the BBS type software of the time (Modem7, Xmodem, RBBS, etc.).

I think that SKS means "Steinmetz Kunstliche Systemtechnik" or something like that.

The available co-processors included a Motorola 68000 and an 80186. Neither were really marketed. I assume that they were all "prototypes" since the MSDOS was a bit dodgy. I never did see any OS that booted on the 68000, but it did make a nice little co-pro that you could use with your own code under CP/M or Oasis (you had to link in a set of "beta" libraries to use it.). It was rumoured that the co-pro would support Xenix, but I never saw a running copy of it anywhere.

The text modes went from 40x12 up to 132x43 (though if you knew the architecture, you could essentially program the video controller to just about any geometry that you wanted to.)

All of the machines shipped with CP/M and the PerfectOffice suite (PerfectCalc, Perfect Writer, Perfect Filer, etc.). Microsoft Basic only shipped with the 80186 co-pro and MSDOS package. It was an option with CP/M.

The floppy controller was fully programmable and there were utilities to run it at 800K, 720K, 400K, 360K, 320K and 160K. With a bit of bit-tweaking, you could make it read just about any 5.25" disk of the time.

There was an internal card cage that accepted a number of add-on cards (including the co-pros discussed earlier). There were also expansion slots on the motherboard for additional RS-232, parallel, RS-422 and IEEE-488 interfaces (though the IEEE-488 was a very specialized item that had to be ordered directly from SKS)

There was also a desktop version of this machine.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>