Chronology of Handheld Computers

Contents Page

1972-1992

1993-1996

1997-end

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1997

(month unknown)

• Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP 300LX handheld computer. It features 640x240 screen, Windows CE, 2 MB RAM, Type II PC Card slot, stylus, and keyboard. It is 7.2 inches wide. Price is US$499. [72.47]
• Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP 320LX handheld computer. It features 640x240 screen, Windows CE, 4 MB RAM, Type II PC Card slot, stylus, and keyboard. It is 7.2 inches wide. Price is US$699. [72.47]

May

• Apple Computer announces it will spin off its Newton Systems Group into a subsidiary company. [34.40]

(month unknown)

• Apple Computer releases the Apple eMate 300. It features 25-MHz ARM 710a processor, 3-MB RAM, 480x320 pixel backlit grayscale screen, Newton 2.1 operating system. Price is US$799. [91.34]

September

• Apple Computer announces it will not spin off its Newton Systems Group as it had announced in May. [34.40]

(month unknown)

• Franklin Rolodex Electronics introduces the REX PC Companion jandheld personal information manager. It is a 1/4-inch thick credit-card sized PC Card, weighing 1.4 ounces. It has a 160x98 black/white LCD display with five buttons. It can store about 3000 items, and uses two lithium watch batteries. Price is about US$150. [89.68]
• Texas Instruments introduces the Avigo handheld personal information manager. It has a 160x240 pixel LCD display, wireless file transfer, 1 MB RAM, and operates on two AAA batteries. Weight is 7 ounces; size is 5.5 x 3.25 x 0.75 inches; price is about US$300. [89.68]
• Apple Computer introduces the Newton MessagePad 2000. It features a 162 MHz processor. [60.45]

October

• Microsoft ships Windows CE 2.0 operating system. It includes support for color and 16-gray-scale displays, TrueType fonts, and Ethernet connectivity. Code name during development was Jupiter. [84.55] [97.102]

(month unknown)

• Franklin Electronic Publishers introduces the Franklin Rex-3-DS PC Companion PDA. It features Type II PC Card, two lithium batteries for about six months use, storage for 3000 contacts/tasks/appointments, 9 lines by 32 characters 1.3 x 2.1 inch monochrome LCD display, five buttons. Price is about US$180. [97.114]
• Franklin Electronic Publishers introduces the Franklin Rex-1 PC Companion PDA. It features Type II PC Card, two lithium batteries for about six months use, storage for 750 contacts/tasks/appointments, 9 lines by 32 characters 1.3 x 2.1 inch monochrome LCD display, five buttons. Price is about US$130. [97.114]
• Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP 620LX Palmtop PC. It features 16-MB RAM, 256-color 640x240 pixel 6.5-inch diagonal display, Windows CE 2.0, and lithium ion battery pack giving about 5.5 hours use. Price is about US$900; weight is 20.6 ounces. [103.116]
• Nokia introduces the Nokia 9000i Communicator, combining hand-held PC, digital cell phone, and fax. It features 4.5 x 1.4 inch LCD screen, QWERTY keyboard, GeoWorks operating system, Intel 24-MHz 386 procesor, and 8-MB RAM. Price is US$850-1000 plus monthly cell phone charge; weight is 14 ounces; size is 6.5 x 2.5 x 1.5 inches. [103.116]
• Psion introduces the Psion Series 5 Handheld Computer. It features EPOC32 operating system, 8-MB RAM, 5.3 x 2 inch 640x240 pixel display, flash memory slot, and two AA batteries giving about 35 hours use. Price is about US$600; weight is 12.5 ounces; size is 6.7 x 3.5 x 0.9 inches. [103.120]
• Texas Instruments introduces the TI Avigo 10 hand-held PC. It features seven buttons and LCD display, 1-MB RAM, and two AAA batteries giving about four weeks use. Price is about US$300; weight is 7 ounces; size us 5.5 x 3.3 x 0.8 inches. [103.124]
• 3Com introduces the 3Com PalmPilot Professional hand-held PC. It features six buttons and LCD display, stylus, 1-MB RAM, and two AAA batteries giving about ten weeks use. Price is about US$370; weight is 5.7 ounces. [103.120]
• Geofox introduces the Geofox-One Professional hand-held PC. It features Psion EPOC32 operating system, 33.6-Kbps PC Card modem, one Type II PC Card slot, about 25 hour battery life, 6.8-inch diagonal 640x320 monochrome LCD display. Weight is 13.7 ounces; size is 7.4 x 4.7 x 0.8 inches. [97.114]
• At the Fall Comdex show, Philips Mobile Computing Group introduces the Philips Velo 500 hand-held computer. It features 16-MB RAM, 75-MHz 3.3-volt 32-bit MIPS-based Philips PR31700 RISC processor, two AA batteries or a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack (lasting about 12-15 hours), 6.25-inch diagonal 640x240 pixel 16-shade monochrome LCD display, two Miniature Card slots, 61-key keyboard, 28.8-Kbps model, and Windows CE 2.0. Weight is 15.3 ounces; size is 6.75 x 3.75 x 1 inches; price is about US$640. [96.56] [97.112]
• At Fall Comdex, NEC Computer Systems Division of Packard Bell NEC announces the NEC MobilePro 700 hand-held computers. It features 4-gray-scale backlit 7-inch diagonal 640x240 pixel display, Windows CE 2.0; 8-MB RAM, 33.6-Kbps fax/modem, two AA batteries lasting about 30 hours, and keyboard. Weight is 24 ounces; width is 9.6 inches; price is US$699. [97.112]
• At Fall Comdex, NEC Computer Systems announces the NEC MobilePro 750C hand-held computers. It features color 7-inch diagonal 640x240 pixel display, Windows CE 2.0; 8-MB RAM, 33.6-Kbps fax/modem, lithium ion battery pack lasting about 11 hours, and keyboard. Weight is 28.8 ounces; width is 9.6 inches; price is about US$1000. [97.112]
• At the Fall Comdex, Sharp Electronics announces the Sharp Mobilon HC-4500C hand-held PC. It features 256-color LCD display, 16-MB RAM, 33.6-Kbps fax/modem, one Type II PC Card slot, lithium ion battery pack, keyboard, and Windows CE 2.0. Price is about US$1000. [97.112]
• At the Fall Comdex, Sharp Electronics announces the Sharp Mobilon HC-4000 hand-held PC. It features 4-MB RAM, 33.6-Kbps fax/modem, one Type II PC Card slot, runs on two AA batteries for about 25 hours, keyboard, and Windows CE 2.0. Price is about US$600. [97.112]
• At the Fall Comdex, Sharp Electronics announces the Sharp Mobilon HC-4100 hand-held PC. It features 12-MB RAM, 33.6-Kbps fax/modem, one Type II PC Card slot, runs on two AA batteries for about 25 hours, keyboard, and Windows CE 2.0. Price is about US$700. [97.112]
• Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP 320LX Palmtop PC. It features Windows CE 1.1, 6.25 x 2.5 inch 640x240 pixel 16-shade grayscale LCD display, 4-MB RAM, stylus, keyboard, PC Card slot, CompactFlash slot, and is powered by two AA batteries. Size is 7,2 x 3.67 x 1.1 inches; weight is 15.6 ounces; price is US$499. [98.56]
• Casio introduces the Cassiopeia A-11 Plus hand-held PC. It features Windows CE 1.0, 4.6 x 2.4 inch 480x240 pixel 4-shade grayscale LCD display, 6-MB RAM, stylus, keyboard, PC Card slot, and it runs on two AA batteries. Size is 6.9 x 3.6 x 1.0 inches; weight is 13.4 ounces; price is US$399.95. [98.56]
• Apple Computer introduces the MessagePad 2100 hand-held PC. It features Newton 2.1 operating system, 4.9 x 3.3 inch 480x320 pixel 16-shade grayscale LCD display, 4-MB RAM, stylus, two Type-II PC Card slots, four AA batteries. Size is 8.3 x 4.7 x 1.1 inches; weight is 1.4 pounds; price is US$999. [98.56]
• NEC Computer Systems introduces the MobilePro 700 hand-held PC. It features 6.75 x 2.63 inch 640x240 4-shade grayscale LCD display, 8-MB RAM, stylus, keyboard, PC Card slot, CompactFlash slot, Windows CE 2.0, 33.6-Kbps modem, two AA batteries. Size is 9.6 x 4.8 x 1.2 inches; weight is 1.5 pounds; price is US$699. [98.56]
• Palm Computing introduces the PalmPilot professional hand-held PC. It features Palm OS 2.0, 3.25 x 2.5 inch 160x160 pixel monochrome LCD display, 1-MB RAM, stylus, two AAA batteries. Size is 4.7 x 3.2 x 0.7 inches; weight is 6 ounces; price is US$369. [98.56]
• Psion introduces the Series 5 hand-held PC. It features EPOC32 operating system, 5.25 x 2.0 inch 640 x 240 16-shade grayscale LCD display, 8-MB RAM, stylus, keyboard, CompactFlash slot, two AA batteries. Size is 6.7 x 3.5 x 0.5 inches; weight is 12.5 ounces; price is US$699. [98.56]
• Philips Mobile Computing Group introduces the Velo 1 hand-held PC. It features Windows CE 1.0, 4.5 x 2.75 inch 480x240 pixel 4-shade grayscale LCD display, 4-MB RAM, stylus, keyboard, DRAM slot, Flashcard slot, ROM socket slot, 19.2-Kbps modem, two AA batteries, rechargeable battery pack. Size is 6.25 x 3.75 x 1.0 inches; weight is 14.8 ounces; price is US$399.99. [98.57]
• Sharp Electronics introduces the ZR-3500X hand-held PC. It features Synergy operating system, 2.25 x 3.5 inch 320x240 monochrome LCD display, 2-MB RAM, stylus, keyboard, 14.4-Kbps modem, two AA batteries. Size is 6.3 x 3.5 x 1.0 inches; weight is 11.8 ounces; price is US$399. [98.57]
• Apple Computer introduces the Apple MessagePad 2100 hand-held computer. It features Newton 2.1 OS, 8-MB ROM with various applications, 4-MB DRAM, 4-MB flash RAM, optional 2-4-MB flash PC Cards, two Type II PC Card slots, 16-shade 4.9 x 3.3 inch display, four AA batteries, and a stylus. Weight is 22.4 ounces; size is 1.1 x 4.7 x 8.3 inches; price is about US$1150. [97.103]
• Casio introduces the Casio Cassiopeia A-20 hand-held computer. It features Windows CE 2.0, 8-MB RAM, 8-MB ROM, 6.2-inch wide 640x240 pixel 4-gray-scale display, keyboard, serial port, Type II PC Card slot, Compact Flash card slot, and two AA batteries or litium ion battery pack. Price is about US$600; weight is 15.2 ounces. [97.108]

December 31

• Shipments of handheld computers in the US for the year: 2.471 million. [37.28] [46.9] [47.28]
• Worldwide shipments of handheld computers for the year: 5.5 million. [53.232]
• Worldwide shipments of PalmPilot handheld computers for the year: about 350,000. [46.9]

1998

January

• At the Consumer Electronics Show, Microsoft announces the Palm PC hand-held computer, running Windows CE 2.0. Code name during development was Gryphon. [97.28]

(month unknown)

• To date, about 500,000 Windows CE devices have been shipped. [56.46]
• Apple Computer ceases development of its Newton operating system and Newton OS-based products. [35.6]
• 3Com introduces the Palm III handheld computer. It features Palm OS 3.0, 2 MB RAM, infrared port, monochrome touch-screen display. Size is 4.7 x 3.2 x 0.7 inches; weight is six ounces; price is US$399. [92.61]

March

• Handheld PC market share: 3Com (Palm) 59%, Sharp 17%, HP 13%. [41.28]

(month unknown)

• For a short time in the spring, Microsoft calls all small Windows CE devices PalmPC computers. [99.148]
• 3Com begins shipping the Palm III handheld computer. The Palm III features 2 MB RAM, two AAA batteries allowing use for 6-8 weeks. Weight is about 6 ounces. Price is US$399. [52.76] [87.56]
• NEC Computer Systems introduces the MobilePro 750C handheld PC. It features Windows CE 2.0, 256 color touch screen, keyboard, 33.6 Kbps modem, PC Card slot, compact flash card slot, and 16 MB RAM. The system operates for about eight hours on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Weight is under 2 pounds; price is US$899. [85.76]
• Microsoft announces Windows CE Handheld PC Professional Edition hardware reference design, based on Windows CE 2.11. [46.41]
• Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP Jornada 820 Handheld PC. It features a StrongARM SA-1100 processor, 8.2-inch diagonal 256-color LCD display, 16-MB RAM, V.90 modem, VGA port, USB port, keyboard, and Windows CE. Weight is 2.6 pounds; price is about US$1000; size is 9.5 (wide) x 1.3 (thick) inches. [99.149]
• LG Electronics introduces the LG Phenom Express handheld PC. It features a Hitachi SH3 7709R processor, 8.2-inch LCD touch screen, 32-MB RAM, V.90 model, keyboard, and Windows CE. Weight is 1.9 pounds; price is about US$900. [99.152]
• Sharp introduces the Sharp Mobillon Pro PV-5000 handheld PC. It features a MIPS 3922 processor, 8.2-inch LC touch screen, 16-MB RAM, keyboard, Type II PC Card slot, IrDA port, and Windows CE. Weight is 2.7 pounds; price is about US$900. [99.157]
• Nadem introduces the Vadem Clio handheld PC. It features a NEC VR4 III MIPS 4000 processor, 9.4-inch LCD touch screen, 16-MB RAM, keyboard, stylus, Windows CE, IrDA port, PC Card slot, CompactFlash slot. Weight is 3.2 pounds; price is about US$1000; size is 11.3 x 8.8 x 1 inches. [99.157]
• Royal Consumer Business Products introduces the Royal daVinci PDA. It features 256-KB RAM. Size is 5 x 3 inches; price is about US$100. [99.60]

December

• Palm announces the Palm VII handheld computer. [51.137]

December 31

• Market share of US mobile computers for the year: 3Com Palm 40%. [43.29]
• Worldwide shipments of handheld computers for the year: 3.988 million. [47.28] [64.18] [78.7]
• Installed base (worldwide) of handheld computers: 8.2 million. [64.18]

1999

February

• Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP Journada 420 hand-held PC. It features 256-color 320x240 display, and Windows CE. Price is US$499; weight is 8 ounces. [99.9]

(month unknown)

• Palm Computing introduces the Palm VII Connected Organizer handheld computer. It features 2 MB RAM, and modem. Price is US$599; size is 5.25 x 3.25 x 0.75 inches; weight is 6.7 ounces. Two AAA batteries power the unit for 2-3 weeks. Connectivity via Palm for email and Internet access costs US$9.99 for 50 KB transferred per month, or US$24.99 for 150 KB. [67.52] [77.26,40]
• Sony Electronics introduces the Sony VAIO C1 PictureBook handheld computer. It features digital video camera, 266 MHz MMX Pentium, 4.3 GB hard drive, 64 MB RAM, Windows 98, Zoomed Video PC Card slot, USB port, V.90 modem, 8.9 inch TFT 1024x480 display, Microsoft Works, Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition, Intuit Quicken, Microsoft Money 98. Weight is 2.4 pounds; size is 1.5 x 9.5 x 5.5 inches; price is US$2299. Battery life is about 1.3 hours. Optional external 16x CD-ROM drive costs US$299. [77.58]
• NEC Computer Systems introduces the NEC MobilePro 770 handheld computer. It features 131 MHz NEC VR4121 processor, 32 MB RAM, 24 MB ROM, 8.1 inch 640x240 16,000 color LCD display, V.90 modem, VGA (800x600 to external monitor), PC Card and CompactFlash slots, Windows CE Handheld PC Professional v3.0. Weight is 1.7 pounds; size is 1.1 x 9.6 x 5.2 inches; price is US$799. Lithium-ion battery life is about 10 hours. [77.59]
• Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP Jornada 680 handheld computer. It features 13 MHz Hitachi SH-3 processor, 16 MB RAM, 16 MB ROM, 6.5 inch 640x240 256-color LCD display, V.90 modem, Windows CE Handheld PC Professional v3.0. Size is 1.3 x 7.4 x 3.7 inches; 1.1 pounds; price is US$899. Lithium ion battery life is about 8 hours. [77.59]
• Palm Computing releases the 3Com Palm IIIe handheld computer. It features 2 MB RAM, and reverse backlit LCD touchscreen. Size is 4.6 x 3.8 x 0.8 inches; weight is 5.8 ounces, and it uses two AAA batteries. Price is about US$230. [50.66] [62.44]
• Psion introduces the Psion Revo personal digital assistant. It features 8 MB RAM, 36 MHz ARM 710T RISC processor, 53-key keyboard, 1.5 x 4.5 inch monochrome 480x160 pixel touchscreen, 8 MB ROM, Symbian EPOC32 v5.0 operating system, 19.2 Kbps modem. The system operates for about 14 hours on nickel hydride batteries. Size is 0.8 x 6 x 3 inches; weight is 7.8 ounces. [79.49]
• Compaq Computer introduces the Aero 1500 handheld computer. It features 16 MB RAM, 240x320 resolution 16-grayscale display, Windows CE, Compact Flash Card slot. Power lasts 12-14 hours on a lithium-ion battery. Price is US$349. [93.119]

2000

(month unknown)

• Palm Canada introduces the Palm IIIc handheld computer in Canada. Features include color active matrix thin film transistor display, 8 MB memory, Palm OS 3.5, for about CDN$679. [63.31]

April

• Compaq Computer introduces the iPAQ Pocket PC handheld computer. It features 2.25 x 3 inch color screen, USB port, 206 MHz Intel StrongARM processor, 32 MB RAM, Windows CE 3.0. Expansion packs offer access to PC Cards, flash memory cards, email, music file playing, digital camera, modem, bar code scanner, etc. Basic unit price is $699. [76.34] [101.40]

(month unknown)

• In New York City's Grand Central Station, Microsoft launches the Pocket PC, a specification for handheld computers. The Pocket PC runs Microsoft Windows CE 3.0, and includes several applications: music player, word processor, Internet browser, and more. [65.12]

October

• Transmeta releases the 600-MHz Crusoe processor. [102.162]

(month unknown)

• Sony Computer Entertainment introduces the Sony PlayStation 2. It features single analog DualShock2 controller, two memory card slots, two USB ports, one i-Link (IEEE 1394) port, 128-bit Emotion Engine graphics processor. The system can also play PlayStation games, and supports DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, CD-ROM, DTS, and Dolby Digital media. Size is 12 x 3.5 x 7 inches; weight is 5 pounds; price is about US$300. [100.48]
• Handspring releases the Handspring Visor Prism PDA. It features a Motorola 33-MHz DragonBall VZ processor, Palm OS 3.5.2H, 16-bit color 160x160 pixel 3.1-inch diagonal screen, and rechargeable lithium ion batteries giving about two weeks use. Price is about US$450, size is 4.8 x 3.0 x 0.8 inches; weight is 7.2 ounces. [100.50]
• Handspring releases the Handspring Visor Platinum PDA. It features a Motorola 33-MHz DragonBall VZ processor, Palm OS 3.5.2H, 16 gray shades 160x160 pixel 3.1-inch diagonal screen, and two AAA batteries giving about 4-6 weeks use. Price is about US$300, size is 4.8 x 3.0 x 0.7 inches; weight is 5.8 ounces. [100.50]