The OnHand PC (pictured here in the DS-20 dock) was released in 1998 by the Japanese company Matsucom. It featured 2MB of non-volatile storage and ran an operating system known as W-PS-DOS version 1.16. It had 128KB of RAM, with an additional 128Kb of ROM. The device's screen is a 102x64 STN 4-greyscale LCD which uses a timed backlight to save power.

Data could be entered either by using the joystick mounted to the front of the watch or by synchronizing data from a full-sized PC using the included software. A program called HandySurf also allows synchronizing internet content, such as Yahoo! News Headlines.

Communication with other devices is either through a 38,400 bit/s serial port dock, or through the 9,600 infrared link, the transmitter of which is mounted to the upper middle of the watch. It is possible to link two Onhands via this infrared link to play various two-player games.

The OnHand PC was discontinued by Matsucom on April 7, 2006.

Manufacturer: Matsucom
Date: 1998

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH43164. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

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