website/content/museum/amstrad-penpad.md

---
title: Amstrad PenPad
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Pocket
origins:
- United Kingdom
years:
- '1993'
cpus:
- Zilog Z8S180
params:
  name: PenPad
  image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_penpad_system_1.jpg
  company: /companies/amstrad
  company_name: Amstrad
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: PenPad
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Amstrad
  - label: TYPE
    value: Pocket
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: United Kingdom
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1993'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: None
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Touch-screen
  - label: CPU
    value: Zilog Z8S180 (Z80 compatible)
  - label: SPEED
    value: 14.3MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: 2 x Zilog Z8 for power management and chars. recognition
  - label: RAM
    value: 128 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 32 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: Unknown
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 240 x 320 dots
  - label: COLORS
    value: Monochrome
  - label: SOUND
    value: Beeper
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 6.3 (H) x 4.3 (W) x 1 (D) ins / 0.87lbs
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Serial RS232, PCMCIA Type I cards
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: RAM backup by Lithium battery
  - label: OS
    value: PenPad specific
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: 3 x AA size batteries
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: RAM cards - up to 2 MB
  - label: PRICE
    value: About $430
  tabs:
  - photos
  - docs
  forum_thread: 857
  photos:
  - title: CLOSED
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      stone-looking rubbery case

      In memory of Stan Ellis, former user of this PenPad
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_penpad_closed_1.jpg
  - title: BACK
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** Pen housing\
      **(2)** PCMCIA RAM card housing\
      **(3)** Main battery housing\
      **(4)** RAM backup battery housing
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_penpad_back_1.jpg
  - title: RAM CARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: A dummy plastic card is installed when no expansion card is used.
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_penpad_memcard_1.jpg
  - title: SERIAL PORT
    subtitle: ''
    text: A sliding lid covers the connector when not in use.
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_penpad_serialport_1.jpg
  docs:
  - title: PEN PAD PDA 600 - MANUEL UTILISATEUR (FRENCH MANUAL)
    url: http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_penpad-pda600_user-manual.jpg
    text: |-
      [**PEN PAD PDA 600 - MANUEL UTILISATEUR (FRENCH MANUAL)**](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23)written by Amstrad

       compiled/archived by Charles Da Silva\
       type of document : PDF\
       source : [Amstrad.CPC](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/)
  oc_id: 876
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608090329/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=876
    date: '2023-06-08'
---

The year 1993 saw Amstrad release a handheld computer capable of handwriting recognition just weeks ahead of Apple's much-hyped Newton. However, Amstrad's approach with the **PDA600** was very much more primitive with users only able to input one letter at a time in a box at the bottom of the screen.

The device was based on a Z80 compatible Zilog Z8S180 microprocessor running at 14.3MHz and memory was expandable from 128KB up to 2MB with PCMCIA cards. Batteries life was 40 hours, from three 'AA' size batteries and the device weighed just 400 grams.

Other features included a search function, world time clock with multiple alarms, information transfer capability to and from PCs, metric-imperial conversion and the ability to input drawings.

But despite being less than half the price of Apple's more advanced machine – $430 compared to $920 - the PDA600 bombed, although it does seem to have been popular in Germany, for some reason.

Cliff Lawson, PDA600 project manager, writes on his [web site](http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cliff.lawson/penpad.htm):\
The PDA600 is one of my favourite Amstrad projects which probably has something to do with the fact that I was the Project Manager!\
Unfortunately, The whole PDA concept was a bit of a plot that failed and as we were left with huge stocks of the PDA600 we have recently \[c1996\] sold them all to Tandy (Radio Shack). This does have the huge advantage that you can now buy one for £50 (which is less than half what it cost us to build them!)\
...\
Interesting fact number 37 is that we got about 95% of the way through developing a replacement for the PDA600 called the PIC700 that included a radio pager but it ran hugely over budget and schedule and was eventually shelved ... shame, it was brilliant."

Those that actually spent money on the PDA600 were less enthusiastic.\
Mark Stevenson () says on his [page](http://www.markstevenson.nildram.co.uk/com/comppda600.htm):\
What can I say about the PDA600? This must be in my opinion the worst computer ever! It was supposed to be able to convert handwriting to text to allow quick and easy entries to be made, but it could never read my writing so I was forever going back to correct my mistakes.\
The machine was also short on memory, it came as standard with 128kb. This could be filled with around 20 free form notes without any database entries being made at all.\
The database was completely uncustomisable, being suitable really only for a phone book. It also had a diary function which I don't think was too bad - if you could ever get the entry in with the handwriting recognition.

Thanks to **Alan Sampson** and **Graeme Burton**

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>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.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>