website/content/museum/atari-portfolio.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Atari PORTFOLIO	Computers	Pocket	U.S.A.	1989	Intel 80C88	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos hardware links oc_id source PORTFOLIO /media/museum/photos/atari_portfolio_1.jpg /companies/atari Atari label value NAME PORTFOLIO label value MANUFACTURER Atari label value TYPE Pocket label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 1989 label value END OF PRODUCTION Unknown label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Calculator-type keyboard, 63 keys label value CPU Intel 80C88 label value SPEED 4.9512 Mhz label value RAM 128 kb (up to 640 kb) label value ROM 256 kb label value TEXT MODES 40 x 8 (Supertwist LCD display) label value GRAPHIC MODES 260 x 64 dots label value COLORS Monochrome label value SOUND Beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT 7.8 x 4 .1 x 1.2 inches / 15.87 ounces with batteries label value I/O PORTS 60 pin expansion bus, RAM Card port label value OS DIP-DOS (compatible with MS DOS 2.11) label value POWER SUPPLY 3 AA alkaline batteries or optional AC adaptor label value PERIPHERALS 32 KB and 128 KB RAM or ROM memory cards label value PRICE Unknown photos hardware links 360 title subtitle text image ATARI PORTFOLIO /media/museum/photos/atari_portfolio_2.jpg title subtitle text image 64 KB RAMCARD Several cards were available: 64 KB, 128 KB and 256 KB. /media/museum/hardware/atari_portfolio_64kramcard.jpg title subtitle text image 128 KB RAMCARD /media/museum/hardware/atari_portfolio_128kramcard.jpg title subtitle text image MEMORY EXPANDER + This Adds 256 KB to the main memory and adds an extra memory card slot.\ A second one could be added (as it features an expansion bus, also for a parallel or serial interface) thus increasing the Portfolio's memory to 640 KB. Thanks to **P. Bakker** /media/museum/hardware/atari_portfolio_256kramexp.jpg title subtitle text image HPC-301 RAMCARD READER This card reader was developped by Atari for desktop PC. It was connected to an ISA card and allowed PC to use the Portfolio Memory cards. /media/museum/hardware/atari_portfolio_ramcardreader_1.jpg title subtitle text image PARALLEL INTERFACE Allowed the Portfolio to be connected to any Parallel Centronics compatible printer /media/museum/hardware/atari_portfolio_parallelinterf_1.jpg title subtitle text image SERIAL RS232 INTERFACE /media/museum/hardware/atari_portfolio_serialinterf_1.jpg title subtitle text image MODEM INTERFACE Provides the Portfolio with a modem capability using an acoustic coupler. Thanks to **P. Bakker** /media/museum/hardware/atari_portfolio_modem_s1.jpg title url text 1990 Newspaper article about the portfolio http://www.nysscpa.org/cpajournal/old/08572662.htm title url text Atari Portfolio as a Linux terminal ! http://www.online-center.com/prog/apt_main.htm title url text Atari Portfolio FAQ http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/portfolio.txt Portfolio Frequently Asked Questions BJ Gleason title url text Atari Portfolio Software Service http://www.gabistapler.de/pofosoft/index.htm Downloads for the Portfolio title url text Die ultimative Seite für den ATARI Portfolio Handheld http://www.palmzip.de/ Some useful info here including software download title url text Mario's Atari Portfolio WWW Page http://gem.win.co.nz/mario/pofo/ title url text The Atari PortFolio WebSite http://www.atari-portfolio.co.uk/ Portfolio info with download section title url text www.pofowiki.de http://www.pofowiki.de Wiki dedicated to the Atari Portfolio (in german) 356 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230601001742/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=356 2023-06-01

The Portfolio was one of the first, if not the first MSDOS compatible pocket computer. It was fully compatible with the IBM PC standard, although it was difficult to use software because of its very small screen.

Its card drive can accept :
- optional 32K, 64K or 128K memory (RAM) cards,
- 64K or 128K programmable (PROM) cards,
- 128K masked ROM cards,
- and 512K Flash Memory cards.

It had several built-in programs :
- Worksheet: Lotus 1-2-3 File-compatible spreadsheet,
- Text editor with basic word processing funtions,
- Calculator with five memories, four number formats and editable "tape" of calculations,
- Address book with virtually unlimited name and address storage and automatic phone dialing,
- Personal calendar/appointment book with programmable alarms,
- File transfer to upload and download files from compatible PC using optional Smart Parallel Interface,
- Clipboard to move or copy data within a file or between files or programs,
- and an operating system similar to MS-DOS 2.11

A lot of interfaces were developped for this computer including MIDI I/O.

Fun fact: This computer appeared in Terminator 2. It was used by young John Connor to break into an ATM bank machine.

---

Malcolm Ramage specifies:
While you have the machine down as originating from the US, the machine was developed by the UK firm known as DIPP, who developed the machine, but did not have the finance or ability to distribute it. As a result, Atari took on the distribution and manufacture of the device, while DIPP provided the groundwork for the new portable Atari's, STylus (ST Pad) and the ST Book.