pctechguide.com

  • Home
  • Guides
  • Tutorials
  • Articles
  • Reviews
  • Glossary
  • Contact

Handheld Organizer origins

The term handheld computer has been applied to a wide range of portable electronic devices over the years. Its origins can reasonably be traced back to the handheld electronic calculators which first emerged in the early 1970s. These were to lead to devices which boasted more than the usuals electronic calculator functionality, The first integrated organiser device appearing in the late 1970s, adding the ability to store phone numbers and simple memos.

However, it is generally accepted that UK technology company Psion defined the PDA genre with the launch of its first organiser in 1984. At 142mm x 78mm x 29.3mm, and the weighing 225 grams, the Psion 1 was narrower than a large pack of cigarettes and slightly longer and thicker. Based on 8-bit technology, it came with 10K of non-volatile character storage in cartridges, two cartridge slots, a database with a search function, a utility pack with math functions, a 16-character LCD display, a clock/ calendar. The optional Science Pack turned the Psion into a genuine computer; capable of running resident scientific programs and being programmed in its own BASIC-like language, OPL.

The Psion 1 was superseded by the Psion II, and between the mid-1980s and the early 1990s, 500,000 Psion IIs were produced. Many of these were commercial POS (point of sale) versions that did not include the standard built-in organiser functions but ran specialised applications. The three main types were the CM, XP and the LZ, and came with varying ROM/RAM/Display sizes. The LZ was the highest specified version, with 64K of ROM, 32K of RAM and a 4×20 character display.

PSION

The Series 3a, launched in 1993, and based on 16-bit microprocessor technology represented the second generation in Psion’s evolution. Housed in a case that looks remarkably like a spectacle case and opens up in a similar way to reveal a 40 characters x 8 line mono LCD and 58-key keyboard in the base, the Series 3a broke new ground with its ability to link to a desktop PC and transfer, convert and synchronise data between the two environments. For a couple of years, Psion’s domination of the PDA market was assured, and the success of the 3a was built upon by the more powerful Series 3c and the third generation 32-bit Series 5, launched in 1997. The Series 5 boasted the largest screen – 640×240 pixel, 16 grey-scale – and keyboard of any PDA to date, but this proved insufficient to prevent Psion losing its leadership position in the PDA market to the 3COM’s ground-breaking PalmPilot range of devices.

  • Handheld Organizer origins
  • Handheld Evolution
  • Palm Pilot
  • Handheld Operating Systems
  • Handwriting Recognition
  • Handheld Synchronization
  • Handheld Applications
  • Guide to UMPCs – Ultra Mobile Personal Computers

Filed Under: PDA's and Other Handhelds

Latest Articles

Fix Frozen Tabs in Chrome

The browser is our window to the Internet. And, since so much of our lives are spent on the Internet, it is important to have a good, reliable browser. Chrome is one of the most popular browsers available because it is fast and reliable. But, there are times where it does not always act accordingly. … [Read More...]

How to Remove Unlimited Defender

Easiest Removal Option: Remote Repair: Paying an expert to remove this threat is always the easiest option. It's also the most expensive. PCTechGuide.com has reviewed several remote computer repair companies and we recommend http://www.pcninja.com This is a small computer repair company (Two … [Read More...]

5 Wonderful Online Business Ideas to Test Out in 2021

Are you wondering how you can create a successful online business? More and more often, entrepreneurs are looking for answers. We wanted to share some of the best business ideas in 2021 that are suitable for almost everyone, and some of them can be implemented without investment. You can find a few … [Read More...]

Gaming Laptop Security Guide: Protecting Your High-End Hardware Investment in 2025

Since Jacob took over PC Tech Guide, we’ve looked at how tech intersects with personal well-being and digital safety. Gaming laptops are now … [Read More...]

20 Cool Creative Commons Photographs About the Future of AI

AI technology is starting to have a huge impact on our lives. The market value for AI is estimated to have been worth $279.22 billion in 2024 and it … [Read More...]

13 Impressive Stats on the Future of AI

AI technology is starting to become much more important in our everyday lives. Many businesses are using it as well. While he has created a lot of … [Read More...]

Graphic Designers on Reddit Share their Views of AI

There are clearly a lot of positive things about AI. However, it is not a good thing for everyone. One of the things that many people are worried … [Read More...]

Redditors Talk About the Impact of AI on Freelance Writers

AI technology has had a huge impact on our lives. A 2023 survey by Pew Research found that 56% of people use AI at least once a day or once a week. … [Read More...]

11 Most Popular Books on Perl Programming

Perl is not the most popular programming language. It has only one million users, compared to 12 million that use Python. However, it has a lot of … [Read More...]

Guides

  • Computer Communications
  • Mobile Computing
  • PC Components
  • PC Data Storage
  • PC Input-Output
  • PC Multimedia
  • Processors (CPUs)

Recent Posts

8 Top-Rated Block Storage Solutions

Block storage offers a high-performance solution to traditional file storage in SAN environments. It works by dividing data into separate “blocks,” … [Read More...]

Disk Defragmenting with Task Scheduler in Windows XP for Computer Maintenance

Scheduling Disk Defragmentation is a little different, inasmuch as it doesn't appear in the default list of software displayed by the the Scheduled … [Read More...]

Sound Card Connectivity

Since 1998, when the fashion was established by Creative Technology's highly successful SoundBlaster Live! card, many soundcards have enhanced … [Read More...]

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2025 About | Privacy | Contact Information | Wrtie For Us | Disclaimer | Copyright License | Authors