--- title: Convergent Technologies Workslate categories: - Computers types: - Portable origins: - U.S.A. years: - '1982' cpus: - Hitachi 6303 params: name: Workslate image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_system_s2.jpg company: /companies/convergent-technologies company_name: Convergent Technologies specs: - label: NAME value: Workslate - label: MANUFACTURER value: Convergent Technologies - label: TYPE value: Portable - label: ORIGIN value: U.S.A. - label: YEAR value: December 1982 - label: END OF PRODUCTION value: July 1984 - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: None - label: KEYBOARD value: 61 rubber keys with numeric keypad and 5 function keys - label: CPU value: Hitachi 6303 (CMOS version of the Motorola 6800) - label: SPEED value: 1.228 MHz. - label: RAM value: 16 KB - label: ROM value: 64 KB - label: TEXT MODES value: 46 chars x 16 lines. LCD display - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: Unknown - label: COLORS value: Monochrome - label: SOUND value: Unknown - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 28 (W) x 21.5 (D) x 2.5 (H) cm. / 1.5 Kg. - label: I/O PORTS value: Telephone jack, Printer - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: Micro-cassette drive - label: POWER SUPPLY value: 4 x AA size batteries or AC adaptor - label: PERIPHERALS value: Printer, universal peripheral adapter - label: PRICE value: '$1795 - Pen-type printer/plotter: $399' tabs: - photos - hardware forum_thread: 871 photos: - title: LARGE VIEW subtitle: '' text: Thanks to **John Demian** image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_system_s4.jpg - title: RUNNING subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_system_s3.jpg - title: KEYBOARD subtitle: '' text: |- Despite its nice and rational design the keyboard was unsuitable for an intensive typing.\ Notice the small template on the numeric keyboard which allowed to use the numeric keypad for dialing. image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_keyboard_s1.jpg - title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_keyboard_s2.jpg - title: CONNECTORS subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** Volume knob\ **(2)** microphone and headphones jacks\ **(3)** RJ11 plugs for telephone line and handset\ **(4)** External AC adaptor Jack. When used stand-alone, the Workslate needs 4 AA batteries, as well as 2 button batteries for the memory backup\ **(5)** Peripherals RJ11 plug image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_connectors_s1.jpg - title: MAIN BOARD subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_mainboard_s1.jpg - title: DISPLAY BOARD subtitle: '' text: Although the board was made by Convergent, all the chips and the LCD display came from Oki in Japan. image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_displaycard_s1.jpg - title: MANUALS subtitle: '' text: The Workslate came with Three manuals and a cassette 'teach me now' holding several spreadsheet examples. image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_manuals_s1.jpg - title: CONVERGENT TASKWARES subtitle: '' text: |- A Taskware was a pre-formatted spreasheet dedicated to a specific use, mainly financial. It was composed of a cassette tape and a manual.\ Here are several Taskware manuals. image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_manuals_s2.jpg - title: ACCESSORIES subtitle: '' text: |- Complete system with 40-column printer, universal interface and bag.\ Were these accessories ever sold? image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_peripherals_1.jpg - title: CONVERGENT LABEL subtitle: '' text: Thanks to **John Demian** image: /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_label_s1.jpg hardware: - title: WC-100 subtitle: Universal connection interface text: Thanks to **John Demian** image: /media/museum/hardware/convergent_workslate_connexpansion_s1.jpg - title: WP-100 subtitle: 40 column printer text: Thanks to **John Demian** image: /media/museum/hardware/convergent_workslate_printer_s1.jpg oc_id: 891 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608224140/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=891 date: '2023-06-08' --- Convergent Technologies of Santa Clara, California introduced the Worslate the same time as the Tandy [Model 100](/museum/tandy-radio-shack-trs-80-model-100-102/). Although it was about the same size of the Model 100, the Workslate was primarily a spreadsheet machine. No other software could be loaded except some application which was adaptations of the basic spreadsheet program. The Workslate used a CMOS version of the old 6800 processor and 16B KB of RAM. RAM size couldn't be extended and allowed a limited 720 cells spreadsheet to be filled. The keyboard with circular rubber-keys was hard-to-use for text entry. However, with its phone book, memo pad, and financial calculator, the Workslate was designed for those who only wanted a business tool and didn't want to learn about computers. Also built-in were a tape drive able to record and play data's or voice annotations, a 300-baud modem and a printer port. The Workslate was first launched in the American Express Christmas catalog, and was sold as a high-tech novelty product. But no one was interested in buying a limited spredsheet machine for $895. Convergent Technology planned to sell 200,000 units within a year, but only 5,000 systems were sold in the U.S.A plus some hundreds in Europe. The product was discontinued in July 1984, and the company lost about $15 million. If you notice the keyboard has a "DoIt" key. The President of the fledgling company Allen Michaels used to roam the halls of the company at night and spray paint "DoIT" everywhere, hence the key name. **John Demian** from Modesto, California had the good luck to find a complete Workslate system and sent us the Convergent references for all the peripherals and Taskware he found:\ WorkSlate # WK-100\ MicroPrinter # WP-100\ Comm Port # WC-100 (has a Parallel and Serial interface for external printers.)\ Teach Me Now Tape # TW-120 WorkSlate Reference Guide # 09-00279-01 - 11/83\ Travel # 09-00385-00 - 11/83\ Loan Analysis # 09-00387-00 - 11/83\ Portfolio Analysis # 09-00388-00 - 11/83\ Financial Statements # 09-00390-00 - 11/83\ Cash Management # 09-00391-00 - 11/83\ Real Estate # 09-00729-01 - 3/84\ Electronic Information Services # 09-00735-01 - 3/84 --- **Contributors:** John Demian, Ken Wood
We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.