Chronology of
Handheld Computers

This document is an attempt to bring various published sources together to present a timeline about Handheld Computers.

This timeline is an off-shoot of my research on a Chronology of Personal Computers. I am adding info to this timeline as I encounter it, without looking too hard for large quantities of information at this time.

References are numbered in [brackets], which can be found at the end of this document. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2001 January 24.

1972

(month unknown)

• Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP-35, the first scientific handheld calculator. [4.178]

1973

(month unknown)

• Texas Instruments enters the pocket calculator field with the introduction of the Texas Instruments SR-50 Slide Rule Calculator. It sells for about US$75. [4.179]

1980

July

• Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Pocket Computer. It features a 24 character display, with 1.9 KB of programmable memory. Price is US$230. [5.172] [8.198] (August [7.30])

(month unknown)

• Panasonic and Quasar unveil handheld computers, made by Matsushita. The unit uses a 1 MHz 6502 CPU, and weighs 14 ounces (397 grams). [6.34]

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. [10.67]
• 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. [11.216] [15.41]

August

• Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP75C portable computer. It features a rechargeable battery pack, 16K RAM, 65 key keyboard, 1 line by 32 character LCD display, magnetic card reader, 48K ROM including BASIC interpreter, text editor, and scheduler. Size is is 11.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches; weight is 26 ounces; price is US$995. [31.184] [45.178] [74.D4]

(month unknown)

• NEC introduces the PC-2001 Hand-Held Computer. It features an 8-bit 4 MHz CMOS uPD7907 microprocessor, 36 KB ROM, 16 KB RAM, serial port, and 40x2 character LCD screen. [18.125]
• 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. [18.125]
• 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. [18.125]

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. [38.17]

(month unknown)

• Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Pocket Computer, Model PC-4, replacing the PC-1, for US$70. [20.288]

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. [45.251]
• At the Japan Microcomputer Show, Canon shows the Canon X-07 Handy Personal Computer. It features an NSC 800 microprocessor (Z80 compatible), 20 KB ROM with BASIC, 4-line by 20-character display, just over one pound weight, for about US$445. [45.251]
• At the Japan Microcomputer Show, National shows the National JR-800, featuring 63A01V processor (compatible with Motorola 6801), 8-line by 32-character LCD, 16 KB RAM, 20 KB ROM with BASIC, 1551 bytes of video RAM, five-octave music, 1 5/8 pounds weight, 10 1/4 x 5 5/8 x 1 3/8 inches, and runs for 25 hours on batteries. [45.252]

(month unknown)

• 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. [21.37]
• Radio Shack introduces the PC-3 pocket computer. It features 24-character LCD, 1.4 KB RAM, 4 ounce weight, for US$99.95. [45.7]
• Sharp introduces the PC-1250 pocket computer, for US$110. It measures 5 5/16 x 2 1/2 x 3/8 inches. [45.7]

1984

January

• Seiko Instruments U.S.A. Inc. displays the first wristwatch computer, with a 10-character, 4-line LCD. [1]

(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. [71.15]

1989

(month unknown)

• Atari Computer introduces the Portfolio, a 1-pound DOS-based PC. It uses a 4.92 MHz 80C88 processor, 240x64 resolution screen, and runs on three AA batteries. Price: US$400. [12.57]

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. [75.115]

1991

(month unknown)

• Apple Computer petitions the FCC to allocate a 40 MHz wide band of frequencies for use with its personal digital assistants. [32.211]

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. [19.128]

October

• At the Microprocessor Forum, Advanced RISC Machines presents the 32-bit ARM600 processor. It incorporates 33,494 transistors. [57.1] [66.134]

(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. [39.128]
• 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. [73.40]

1992

January

• 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 Computer will enter the consumer-electronics market by the end of the year. [22.67] [33.49]

(month unknown)

• 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. [66.63]

October 14

• At the Microprocessor Forum, AT&T Microelectronics unveils its Hobbit processor, implementing the CRISP architecture. Formal name of the processor is ATT92010. Processor speed is 20-30 MHz, depending on voltage. Price is US$35 in quantities of 10,000. [57.1]
• At the Microprocessor Forum, Advanced RISC Machines introduces the ARM250 chip, combining the core ARM processor with memory controller, video controller, and I/O interface. CPU speed is 12 to 16 MHz. The chip uses under 100,000 transistors, built in a 1-micron CMOS process. Price is US$25 in 100,000 unit quantities. [57.1]

(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. [58.1]
• 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. [58.1]

 

1972-1992

1993-2001

Check my list of references for details on specific events.
Also check my list of other timelines.