The Poqet PC is the world's first handheld, 1 pound, IBM/PC-XT compatible computer, and was released in 1989. The Poqet PC is fully MS-DOS compatible and is about 99.9% compatible with the original IBM/PC-XT desktop computer. This model, the PQ-0182, is the UK version of the 'Prime' model, which has 640KB RAM, compared to the 512KB RAM of the 'Classic' model. The Poqet PC had an impressive battery life of 500-100 hours (about 2-3 weeks) from two AA batteries, using voltage and frequency scaling which is commonly used in power management today, but not at the time.

Built-in software included MS-DOS 3.3, PoqetLink, and PoqetTools. PoqetLink is a file transfer program that allowed you to upload and download files with another IBM-compatible computer. PoqetTools was a basic PIM that contained the following utilities: PoqetCalc - a simple calculator, PoqetWrite - a basic text editor, PoqetSchedule - a calendar program with alarms, PoqetAddress - an address-book program, and PoqetTalk - a serial communications program.

Over the years the Poqet PC has been recognised for its achievements. In 1989, the year it was introduced, PC Magazine gave the Poqet PC the "Award for Technical Excellence" in the Portables category. In the same year it was given the "Award of Distinction" by Byte Magazine. In 2006 PC World named the Poqet PC as one of "The Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years" saying "Years before the Pocket PC, there was the Poqet PC. About the size of a videotape, the Poqet was pricey ($2000), but it ran off-the-shelf applications and could go for weeks on two AA batteries. Highly praised during its brief life, the Poqet vanished from the market after its manufacturer was acquired by Fujitsu."

Our PQ0182 has a serial number of 018200001423 and was made in Japan for the Poqet Computer Corporation of Sunnyvale, California.

Manufacturer: Poqet
Date: 1989

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH52136. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.