website/content/museum/psion-organiser-ii.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
PSION Organiser II	Computers	Pocket	United Kingdom	1986	HD6303X	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos screenshots links oc_id source Organiser II /media/museum/photos/psion_organiser2_system_2.jpg /companies/psion PSION label value NAME Organiser II label value MANUFACTURER PSION label value TYPE Pocket label value ORIGIN United Kingdom label value YEAR 1986 label value END OF PRODUCTION 1989 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE OPL label value KEYBOARD 36-key Alphabetic label value CPU HD6303X label value SPEED 0.92MHz label value RAM CM: 8 KB, XP: 16 KB, LA/LZ: 32 KB, LZ64: 64 KB label value ROM CM/XP/LA: 32 KB, LZ/LZ64: 64 KB label value TEXT MODES CM/XP/LA: 2 lines x 16 chars, LZ/LZ64: 4 lines x 20 chars label value COLORS B/W LCD label value SOUND Buzzer label value SIZE / WEIGHT 142 (D) x 78 (W) x 29 (H) mm / 250g label value I/O PORTS Proprietary label value POWER SUPPLY 9v/.1A battery or mains label value PERIPHERALS Proprietary memory expansions label value PRICE CM: £79.00 - LZ64: £179.00 photos software links 1171 title subtitle text image ORGANIZER II LZ 64 model. /media/museum/photos/psion_organiser2_system_1.jpg title subtitle text image MAIN MENU ON THE MODEL CM/XP/LA Thanks to **Damian Walker** /media/museum/photos/psion_organiser2_menu1.jpg title subtitle text image MAIN MENU ON THE MODEL LZ/LZ64 Thanks to **Damian Walker** /media/museum/photos/psion_organiser2_menu2.jpg title subtitle text image AYO GAME The smaller is the Psion CM/XP/LA screenshot, the larger one is for the LZ/LZ64. Thanks to **Damian Walker** /media/museum/software/psion_organiser2_ayogame.jpg title url text Web site and forum dedicated to the Psion Organiser II CM, XP & LZ http://members.tiscali.at/org2/org2.htm Lots of information, manuals and software 1203 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230323142819/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1203 2023-03-23

In 1986 Psion launched their second pocket computer, the Organiser II. Initially there were two models: the 8K RAM model CM and the 16K model XP. Both had a 32K ROM containing simplistic software, including a card file database, diary and clock. Less simplistic was the OPL programming language, a semi-compiled structured language allowing full use of the machine's features. It was this that principally guaranteed the machine's success. Later, the XP was upgraded to 32K RAM for the U.S. market, and given the model name LA, though the cases still bore the legend "XP".

In 1989, two upgraded models were released, the LZ and LZ64. These featured an enlarged 20x4 display, a choice of 32K or 64K RAM, and a 64K ROM containing more sophisticated diary and card file software, along with a notepad application. The OPL language was upgraded with a few extra statements to take advantage of the machine's capabilities (and to rectify a few omissions from the CM/XP's built-in language).

Expansion was through a proprietary connector in the top of the machine, protected by a sliding door. Bar code readers and a thermal printer were available. Memory expansion was through a pair of expansion slots in the back of the machine. "Rampaks" were simple battery-backed RAM expansions. "Datapaks" were EPROMs which acted as write-once-read-many drives and were formatted with an external formatter device - a simple UV light with timer that erased the EPROMS. "Flashpaks" were EEPROMs, which acted similarly to Datapaks but could be formatted using the Psion itself. Software was supplied on Datapaks, or occasionally PROMs. The model CM could use only Datapaks.

The Organiser II range was used in a wide variety of environments, including retail and industrial environments in which its hardy case was particularly valuable. It was superseded as a PDA in 1991 when Psion brought out the Series 3 range, but continued to be manufactured until the late 1990s. Their robust design may well allow them to continue functioning long after the later Series 3 and 5 range machines are beyond repair.

Thanks to Damian Walker for information and picture.