<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000276283
<NAME>                        EVANS & SUTHERLAND COMPUTER CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         8,176
<SECURITIES>                                   48,928
<RECEIVABLES>                                  36,917
<ALLOWANCES>                                   851
<INVENTORY>                                    26,885
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               179,698
<PP&E>                                         123,168
<DEPRECIATION>                                 78,800
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 234,390
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          50,741
<BONDS>                                        18,015
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       1,813
<OTHER-SE>                                     163,821
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   234,390
<SALES>                                        159,353
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               159,353
<CGS>                                          84,139
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  84,139
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               60,825
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             1,300
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                6,838
<INCOME-TAX>                                   1,758
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            5,080
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   5,080
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .53