Atari Portfolio
The Atari Portfolio is a portable 16 -bit personal computer, which was introduced in 1989 by the company Atari. At about the size of a VHS video cassette and weighing about 500 grams, it can be called a predecessor of modern PDAs. The portfolio is compatible with the IBM PC, which makes it an all-purpose computer essentially. With built-in programs that can be run using function keys, including address and appointment management, writing text and spreadsheet can be operated. With appropriate software, but it is also suitable for programming, games, and to control and regulate.
The portfolio has a typewriter - style keyboard, which can be operated quite well despite their small keys. The monochrome liquid crystal display screen has a resolution of 240 × 64 pixels, and is CGA - compatible, the representation is converted into pure monochrome. When a CPU with 4.92 MHz pulsed, low-power variant of Intel 8088 is used with the name 80C88, which has access to a 128 -KB RAM and 256 KB of read-only memory. The built-in DIP -DOS (MS- DOS 2.11) compatible operating system makes the unit compatible with a range of common MS- DOS applications. However, the memory was very tight already for the late 1980s and also the unusual resolution of the display prepared many applications problems. Nevertheless, the portfolio found many supporters who have remained faithful to him to some extent today.
The DIP -DOS includes some internal applications, which could be started by the command app or pressing the key combination ATARI A. The menu offers a simple word processing, ultimately nothing more than a simple text editor, a Lotus 1-2-3 compatible spreadsheet, a simple address management, a calendar with alarm clock and a calculator. Address management has a special feature, they can play registered telephone numbers as tones. If you held the microphone of a phone to the speaker, this can be used for easy dialing. The choice menu also includes a function for data transfer to a PC and a system menu, on which you can adjust internal settings of the system.
As removable media Atari offered special memory cards (Bee cards) that were available with capacities ranging from 32 KB to 128 KB. With external adapters can the portfolio with serial and parallel interface, but also with additional 512 KB of memory equip. All extensions are plugged into a port on the right side, by which the flexibility of the device in mobile applications suffers a bit. As the power source on the go serve three batteries of type AA, which enable a multi-day, non-stop operation. Stationary and the operation via an AC adapter is possible.
The data transmission to " pofo " as he is called by his followers lovingly carried to the PC and Atari ST optionally via a terminal program via the optional serial port, using a special parallel port cable and special software that was included for PCs and is already included in the portfolio, or the flash cards that the portfolio as drive A: and B: could respond. The B: drive was another card slot in the 512 KB extension. For the PC, there was a suitable external card drive, which was controlled via a special ISA card. However Resourceful programmers also created a driver for the portfolio with which to (100 MB) could operate on the parallel port expansion, a ZIP drive. On a ZIP disk then loosely fit the entire free software that was it for the computer. Meanwhile, there's even an adapter to operate Compact Flash cards in it; this is, however, quite rare and therefore expensive.
The unit cost about U.S. $ 400 in the basic equipment in the U.S., in Germany the " Intelligent pencil " was ( Atari advertising slogan for the pofo ) initially offered for 999 DM. Thanks to the small hardware of the portfolio for several weeks has long- through with a set of AA batteries.
Curiosities
In the movie Terminator 2 - Judgment Day an Atari Portfolio for the manipulation of ATMs or security approaches used by John Connor. In the film, all product features and nameplates are visible ( product placement ).