1972
- January
- Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP-35 calculator, the first pocket scientific calculator. [202.178] [1298.187]
1980
- July 31
- Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Pocket Computer. It features a 24 character display, QWERTY keyboard, and 1.9 kB of programmable memory. Price is US$230. [253.172] [266.198] [1112.144] [1332.D3] (August [256.30])
- (month unknown)
- Panasonic and Quasar unveil handheld computers, made by Matsushita. The units use a 1 MHz 6502 CPU, and weigh 14 ounces (397 grams). [255.34]
1981
- November 10
- Panasonic introduces The Link handheld computer, the size of a small book, with a keyboard but no display. It can be hooked up to a television or to a host computer via a telephone dial-up connection. Price is US$500-600. [1807.D5]
1982
- January
- Sharp introduces the Sharp PC-1500 Hand Held Personal Computer. It comes with 16 kB ROM, and 3.5 kB RAM. Price for computer is US$300. Price for tiny color graphics printer that attaches to the side, US$250. [285.67]
- Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Pocket Computer, Model PC-2, for US$280. It uses a 1.3 MHz 8-bit microprocessor, and has a 26-character display, with upper and lower case characters. It comes with 16 kB ROM, and 2.6 kB RAM, expandable to 16 kB. An optional 4-color printer attaches to the side. [286.216] [393.41]
- (month unknown)
- Sanyo introduces the PHC-8000 handheld computer. It features a NSC-800 CMOS microprocessor, 24 kB ROM, 4 kB RAM, one-line LCD screen, optional I/O unit PHC-8010 allows connection to video monitor and microcassette recorder and adds 14 kB ROM and 22 kB RAM. [447.125]
- Toshiba introduces the Pasopia Mini. It features an 8-bit CMOS microprocessor, 4 kB RAM, 20 kB ROM including 16 kB BASIC, and a one-line LCD screen. [447.125]
1983
- January
- At the Winter CES, Commodore Business Machines demonstrates the HHC-4 (Hand-Held Computer). It features 24-character LCD screen with 4 kB RAM expandable to 16 kB. This was one of Commodore's pre-PET business products. Price is US$199. [804.17]
- May
- At the Japan Microcomputer Show, Casio shows the Casio FP 200 handheld microcomputer. It features 8-line x 20 character display, 8 kB RAM, 32 kB ROM, for about US$300. [885.251]
- (month unknown)
- Radio Shack introduces the PC-3 pocket computer. It features 24-character LCD, 1.4 kB RAM, 4 ounce weight, for US$99.95. [885.7]
- Sharp introduces the PC-1250 pocket computer, for US$110. It measures 5 5/16 x 2 1/2 x 3/8 inches. [885.7]
- Texas Instruments introduces the Compact Computer 40 (CC-40). It uses the 8-bit TMS 70C20 processor, 6 kB RAM, 34 kB ROM with BASIC, and 31x1 LCD display. It runs on four AA batteries, lasting up to 200 hours. [529.37]
1984
- January
- Seiko Instruments U.S.A. Inc. displays the first wristwatch computer, with a 10-character, 4-line LCD. [9]
- (month unknown)
- Casio unveils the PB-700 handheld computer. It features 4 kB RAM (expandable to 16 kB), 20x4 character display, 58 key keyboard, BASIC. Weight is 4.5 pounds; price is about US$200. Optional add-on FA-10 color printer/plotter costs about US$250. Optional add-on CM-1 microcassette module costs about US$90. [1076.15]
1985
-
- Seiko introduces the PC Datagraph RC-1000 wrist terminal. It features 2 lines of 20 characters display, six buttons, and RS-232 port for serial connection to personal computers. Price is US$150. [1146.28]
1989
- April 11
- At the Comdex show, Atari Computer introduces the Portfolio portable computer. It features keyboard, MS-DOS, 128 KB RAM, 8 line by 40 character wide LCD display, uses memory cards, uses 3 AA batteries, includes word processor, spreadsheet, address book, calendar, and calculator. Weight is one pound; the system is about the size of a videocassette. Price is to be US$399 when released in June [309.57] [2167.D7]
- September
- Poqet Computer ships the Poqet PC computer, featuring 512 kB RAM, 6.8 x 2.7 inch monochrome LCD screen, 80x25 text, 640x200 pixels, 77 keys, 7 MHz Intel 80C88 processor, 640 kB ROM, MS DOS 3.3 and GW BASIC in ROM, card slots for ROM or RAM. The system runs for about 100 hours on AA batteries. Weight is 1 pound; price is about US$2000. [1084.115]
- October
- Grid Systems Canada unveils a handheld computer that features handwriting recognition, 1 MB RAM, 10 MHz processor. Price is CDN$3500; weight is 4.5 pounds. [1808.11]
1990
- September 8
- Tesler dumps AT&T Hobbit processor for Newton in favor of ARM610 processor. [2605.188]
1991
-
- Apple Computer petitions the FCC to allocate a 40 MHz wide band of frequencies for use with its personal digital assistants. [634.211]
- September 12
- Sony introduces the Data Discman, a handheld computer that can operate on small compact discs costing US$20-50 each. Release is set for November, with price US$550. [2362.D3]
- September
- Chips & Technologies introduces the F8680 PC/Chip microprocessor. It is designed for use in notebook and handheld computers. The CPU is compatible with the Intel 8086 and Intel 80186. The chip also includes a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter, CGA-compatible display controller, and PCMCIA support, making it the most integrated chip ever produced to date. Price is US$45. [477.128]
- (month unknown)
- Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP 95LX handheld computer. It runs MS-DOS 3.2, includes Lotus 1-2-3 v2.2 in 1 MB of ROM, displays MDA graphics, and weighs 11 ounces. 512 kB RAM is standard, with optional 128 kB and 512 kB RAM cards. Two AA batteries can power the system for six weeks. Price is US$699. [808.128]
- Psion introduces the Psion Series 3 palmtop computer. It features 8 row by 40 column LCD display, 4 MHz NEC V30 processor, 384 kB ROM with operating system and seven built-in applications, 128 kB RAM, slot for Flash EPROM memory cards. It runs for up to 120 hours on two AA batteries. Size is 6.5 x 3.3 x 1 inches; weight is 0.5 pounds; price is US$425. [1080.40]
1992
- January 9
- At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show, Apple Computer chairman John Sculley coins the term Personal Digital Assistant, referring to handheld computers that typically operate via a stylus on a LCD display. Sculley announces that Apple will enter the consumer-electronics market by the end of the year. [1300.D4] [1809.67] [1810.49]
- (month unknown)
- Apple Computer and Sharp announce an agreement to co-develop a personal digital assistant, based on Apple's software and Sharp's hardware. [420.125]
- May 29
- At the Spring Consumer Electronics Show, Apple Computer announces the Newton pen input device. Features include: multitasking NewtOS operating system, ARM 610 processor, one PCMCIA 2.0 card slot, 7 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch size, 3 x 6 inch screen, and weight of under one pound. [421.129] [1058.63] [2605.192]
- (month unknown)
- Eo announces the Personal Communicator 440 handheld pen-based microcomputer. It features 20 MHz Hobbit processor, 4 MB RAM, PenPoint operating system in ROM, 480x640 screen, optional internal 20 MB hard drive, optional external floppy disk, keyboard port, one PCMCIA Type II slot, and various built-in software programs. Weight is 2.2 pounds. Size is about 11 x 8 x 1 inches. Battery life is about 4 hours. Pricing will start at about US$2000. [964.1]
- Eo announces the Personal Communicator 880 handheld pen-based microcomputer. It features 30 MHz Hobbit processor, 4 MB RAM, PenPoint operating system in ROM, 480x640 backlit screen, optional internal 64 MB hard drive, VGA output port, SCSI II interface, optional external floppy disk, keyboard port, two PCMCIA Type II slots, and various built-in software programs. Weight is 4 pounds. Size is about 13 x 9 x 1 inches. battery life is about 4 hours. Pricing will start at about US$3000. [964.1]
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