yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
b274874139
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
104 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
104 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
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title: PSION Organiser II
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Pocket
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origins:
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- United Kingdom
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years:
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- '1986'
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cpus:
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- HD6303X
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params:
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name: Organiser II
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image: /media/museum/photos/psion_organiser2_system_2.jpg
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company: /companies/psion
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company_name: PSION
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Organiser II
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: PSION
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- label: TYPE
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value: Pocket
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: United Kingdom
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1986'
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: '1989'
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: OPL
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: 36-key Alphabetic
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- label: CPU
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value: HD6303X
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- label: SPEED
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value: 0.92MHz
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- label: RAM
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value: 'CM: 8 KB, XP: 16 KB, LA/LZ: 32 KB, LZ64: 64 KB'
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- label: ROM
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value: 'CM/XP/LA: 32 KB, LZ/LZ64: 64 KB'
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 'CM/XP/LA: 2 lines x 16 chars, LZ/LZ64: 4 lines x 20 chars'
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- label: COLORS
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value: B/W LCD
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- label: SOUND
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value: Buzzer
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 142 (D) x 78 (W) x 29 (H) mm / 250g
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: Proprietary
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: 9v/.1A battery or mains
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: Proprietary memory expansions
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- label: PRICE
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value: 'CM: £79.00 - LZ64: £179.00'
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tabs:
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- photos
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- software
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- links
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forum_thread: 1171
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photos:
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- title: ORGANIZER II
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subtitle: ''
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text: LZ 64 model.
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image: /media/museum/photos/psion_organiser2_system_1.jpg
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- title: MAIN MENU ON THE MODEL CM/XP/LA
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to **Damian Walker**
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image: /media/museum/photos/psion_organiser2_menu1.jpg
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- title: MAIN MENU ON THE MODEL LZ/LZ64
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to **Damian Walker**
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image: /media/museum/photos/psion_organiser2_menu2.jpg
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screenshots:
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- title: AYO GAME
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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The smaller is the Psion CM/XP/LA screenshot, the larger one is for the LZ/LZ64.
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Thanks to **Damian Walker**
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image: /media/museum/software/psion_organiser2_ayogame.jpg
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links:
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- title: Web site and forum dedicated to the Psion Organiser II CM, XP & LZ
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url: http://members.tiscali.at/org2/org2.htm
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text: Lots of information, manuals and software
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oc_id: 1203
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230323142819/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1203
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date: '2023-03-23'
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---
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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".
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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).
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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.
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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.
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Thanks to **Damian Walker** for information and picture.
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