Pocket Computers from the 1980s
The 8-Bit Guy・2 minutes read
Pocket computers evolved from basic scientific calculators to sophisticated devices with comparable power to room-sized computers from previous decades. These devices, like the Tandy PC series and HP 95LX, offered various applications, gaming capabilities, and advanced features like handwriting recognition and graphic displays.
Insights
- Pocket computers in the 1980s, exemplified by devices like the Tandy PC-1 and PC-2, showcased computing power comparable to room-sized computers from the previous decade, offering functionality beyond basic calculators and even contemporary graphing calculators.
- The introduction of PDAs in the late 1980s signaled the decline of pocket computers, as these new devices lacked the programming capabilities and computational power of their predecessors, marking a significant shift in the landscape of computing history.
Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free
Recent questions
What was the computational power of pocket computers in the 1980s?
Comparable to 1980s supercomputers.
What was the significance of the US Robotics Pilot in 1996?
Notable entry into the pocket computer market.
What was the HP 95LX pocket computer capable of?
Ran MS-DOS and supported various applications.
What were the popular Tandy pocket computer models in the 1980s?
Tandy PC series by Sharp and Casio.
What led to the decline of pocket computers in the late 1980s?
Replaced by PDAs lacking programming capabilities.
Related videos
LGR
LGR - Strangest Computer Designs of the '70s
The 8-Bit Guy
Documentary - The Sinclair ZX80, ZX81, and Timex Sinclair 1000
Psivewri
The History Of Tiny Computers (PDAs) - Where Did They Go?
LGR
LGR - Commodore PET Computer System Review
George
La Historia de la Computadora y Computación - Documental Completo | MODERN MARVELS
Summary
00:00
Evolution of Pocket Computers: Past to Present
- Pocket computers today have the same computational power as 1980s supercomputers.
- In 1996, notable devices like the US Robotics Pilot, later renamed Palm Pilot, entered the market.
- The Pilot required a dock to transfer information and new applications from a personal computer.
- Data entry on the Pilot was primarily done with a stylus using Graffiti handwriting recognition.
- The HP 95LX pocket computer from 1991 ran MS-DOS and supported various applications, including games.
- Tandy pocket computers, like the PC series, were popular in the USA in the 1980s.
- Tandy models varied in size and design, with some manufactured by Sharp and others by Casio.
- The Tandy PC-1, introduced in 1980, had computing power comparable to room-sized computers from the 1970s.
- The Tandy PC-2, released in 1982, featured a Z80 CPU, 2KB of RAM, and a graphics display.
- Tandy pocket computers could run basic programs and were used as scientific calculators, offering more functionality than contemporary graphing calculators.
13:21
Evolution of 1980s Pocket Computers
- The game "Sound Off" on tape requires repeating patterns like Simon Says, utilizing custom graphics.
- Early 1980s computers were top scientific calculators, capable of plotting graphs using an attached plotter.
- The plotter could print text and graphics in color with up to four pens, used for labeling cassettes.
- The Panasonic handheld computer lacked a battery compartment, while the Casio PB700 was a superior pocket computer with a graphic display and basic programming capabilities.
- The PB700 had a docking station with a plotter and micro cassette recorder, excelling in comparison to other pocket computers.
- The Seiko wristwatch computer ran on internal batteries, challenging to replace due to rarity and high prices.
- Pocket computers declined in popularity by the late 1980s, replaced by PDAs lacking programming capabilities, marking the end of an era in computing history.
