website/content/museum/convergent-technologies-workslate.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Convergent Technologies Workslate	Computers	Portable	U.S.A.	1982	Hitachi 6303	name image company company_name specs tabs photos hardware comments oc_id source Workslate /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_system_s2.jpg /companies/convergent-technologies Convergent Technologies label value NAME Workslate label value MANUFACTURER Convergent Technologies label value TYPE Portable label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR December 1982 label value END OF PRODUCTION July 1984 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD 61 rubber keys with numeric keypad and 5 function keys label value CPU Hitachi 6303 (CMOS version of the Motorola 6800) label value SPEED 1.228 MHz. label value RAM 16 KB label value ROM 64 KB label value TEXT MODES 46 chars x 16 lines. LCD display label value GRAPHIC MODES Unknown label value COLORS Monochrome label value SOUND Unknown label value SIZE / WEIGHT 28 (W) x 21.5 (D) x 2.5 (H) cm. / 1.5 Kg. label value I/O PORTS Telephone jack, Printer label value BUILT IN MEDIA Micro-cassette drive label value POWER SUPPLY 4 x AA size batteries or AC adaptor label value PERIPHERALS Printer, universal peripheral adapter label value PRICE $1795 - Pen-type printer/plotter: $399 photos hardware title subtitle text image LARGE VIEW Thanks to **John Demian** /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_system_s4.jpg title subtitle text image RUNNING /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_system_s3.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD 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. /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_keyboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_keyboard_s2.jpg title subtitle text image CONNECTORS **(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 /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_connectors_s1.jpg title subtitle text image MAIN BOARD /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_mainboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image DISPLAY BOARD Although the board was made by Convergent, all the chips and the LCD display came from Oki in Japan. /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_displaycard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image MANUALS The Workslate came with Three manuals and a cassette 'teach me now' holding several spreadsheet examples. /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_manuals_s1.jpg title subtitle text image CONVERGENT TASKWARES 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. /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_manuals_s2.jpg title subtitle text image ACCESSORIES Complete system with 40-column printer, universal interface and bag.\ Were these accessories ever sold? /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_peripherals_1.jpg title subtitle text image CONVERGENT LABEL Thanks to **John Demian** /media/museum/photos/convergent_workslate_label_s1.jpg title subtitle text image WC-100 Universal connection interface Thanks to **John Demian** /media/museum/hardware/convergent_workslate_connexpansion_s1.jpg title subtitle text image WP-100 40 column printer Thanks to **John Demian** /media/museum/hardware/convergent_workslate_printer_s1.jpg author date text Sharon (USA) Monday 16th January 2023 I actually worked at Convergent manufacturing facility in Santa Clara as a quality inspector, this product was such a jewel before its time! I have 2 complete functional units, printers, all in original cases, user manuals etc. author date text Tami Whelan (California ) Friday 6th April 2018 OMG I used to be the only technician at a company called PBDS in Dublin Ca that used to fix the workslates!! Was well before its time! author date text Gerald Hawkins (California - United States) Wednesday 27th June 2012 I worked at Convergent Technologies from 1980 until 1991. The Workslate was notable as an early user of surface-mount technology. It was Convergent''s first use of SMT. The Workslate is also notable because before its introduction, Convergent could do (almost) no wrong. Everything we made sold like crazy. After the failure of the Workslate and the almost simultaneous failure of a customized Unix workstation for AT$T, it seemed we couldn''t do much of anything right. The company was sold to Unisys in 1988 and most of what remained of it was disappearing by the time I left in 1991. Despite all that, the Workslate was a remarkable first step into tablet computing. If it had offered BASIC programming and had a word processor, it may have succeeded. (It is hard to imagine, but in 1985 people really, really wanted BASIC$ and the inclusion of a word processor was considered too premium at that time.) author date text Ken Wood (USA) Friday 6th June 2008 I was a Convergent OEM in the early 1980's. I have a complete WorkSlate system including the Parallel port adapter and battery pack (needs new batts) I even have the classy leather poutch.\ I bought it new for $1200 and I was an OEM. Convergent really screwed up on the marketing of this product. Some genius talked Convergent into marketing this totally new product through American Express instead of their OEMs. How dumb was that? If they had gone to the OEMs they would have sold a ton. 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. Mine still works but boy is it slow. author date text Robbie Fields (Phuket, Thailand) Sunday 20th May 2012 The Workslate was my second computing device, the first being a Tomy (toy) computer which allowed rudimentary Basic programming and little else. I bought it cheap in 1984 and used it extensively for a couple of years until I replaced it with another orphan, the Pied Piper, which was light years ahead on account of its 1.2 mB built in floppy drive and the ability to add an external one. As opposed to the so called portable Osborne, the Workslate was a marvel for its time, comparable to a netbook (my preferred device for the past 4 years) in terms of portability and also sufficient functionality. I used my WorkSlate as a remote terminal for EaasySabre, the Library of Congress and as a smart terminal for Western Union''s foray into document delivery which was a sensation at the time, years before FedEx also failed with a similar gambit. Instead of buying a crappy and expensive dot matrix printer, I used to send everything over the 300 baud modem and Western Union would print out contracts on laser printers that almost nobody else had at the time and mail to specified recipients. Yes, you could save a contract or 2 to the microcassette drive! author date text Stephen Heinrichs (Dixon, CA USA) Friday 9th March 2012 I first heard of the Workslate when it was on the cover of Mexhanics Illustrated. The following year, I purchased two of them for the company that I worked for. The outside representatives could use them to do calculations while at a customer''s location. No other portable computer existed that would allow this. I created several master spreadsheets that utilized the upgraded 50k memory. Due to the limited memory, I learned how to created a compact, efficient spreadsheet! As supurvisor, I kept one at my office and the other one was used by my only rep that i could trust with a computer at the time! Those two units, especially the one I used, were used up until 1992 to run the speacilaized spreadsheets I had created and maintained each year with updated information. When my position with the company was eliminated in 1992, the spreadsheets were recreated in Excel on a desktop computer and the Workslates left the cmpany with me. I supsequently sold one of them to a person in NY whose unit had died and he wanted to replace it for the speacialized application that he used his for. I still have the other one and the portatble printer that was made for it. It was a "spreadsheet in a box" and worked well for that application. And, yes, it had character! Thanks for the memories! author date text Pioneer1962 (Minnesota, USA) Tuesday 12th June 2007 Someone asked about determining the polarity of the NiCd battery for the Convergent Technologies Workslate. The NiCd battery I have is a WK-101 4.8 V 500mAh. It measures 4 1/16" X 1 1/4". As you view the battery there are a series of arrows on one side with the label "This side up". When oriented this way on a flat surface and the arrows pointing North (or away from you) the polarity markings are on the end toward you with "+" on the right and "-" on the left. There are no other polarity markings. The battery is made up of four 1.2 V cells connected in series. The end oppposite the end with the markings is open and and the cell ends are exposed with the "-" end of a cell on the right and the "+" end of another cell on the left. The AC adapter is supposed to charge the NiCd battery when the battery is installed in the Workslate. Hope this helps. __________________\ Computer Graphics Pioneer 1962 author date text don baxter (US) Saturday 23rd February 2019 We have a Workslate also brand new and a micro printer brand new would like to sell both if anyone is interested.email me. author date text Barb (USA) Monday 27th June 2016 I have one I purchased way back then, printer and all. It''s still one of the coolest computers ever made. It was very ahead of it''s time. One of the reason (IMO) that it failed was a lack of IBM PC compatibility. That was the direction everything was going, aside from MAC of course. Another cool computer of the time was the GRID. Good times... author date text Jeffrey (USA) Tuesday 3rd May 2016 those of you growing up in the 80''s and watched the TV Show Airwolf with Jan-Michael Vincent and Ernest Borgnine, the show used this as a keyboard prop that Ernest used to type on when sitting in the back. In an episode of season 1 or two they do a quick 2 second shot of him typing and you''ll see it. author date text Stephen (USA) Monday 22nd September 2014 Has anyone mentioned the problem with entering phone numbers with a "1" prefix? I suppose that was caused by the way of memory allocation. This problem may well have been the fatal flaw that caused the demise of this elegant device. author date text J D Jimenez (California, USA) Saturday 31st August 2013 We have a WorkSlate WK-100 and would like to find a new home for it, but don''t know value...It is still packed in original box...Can anyone give me a little information as to its approx. worth.. It does not have the Elect connect cord or back up battery, but tested with 4 AA batteries and it works...It has 1 WorkSlate micro cassette...It comes with Owner''s Manual, Reference Guide booklet, $ Exercise Workbook... Thanks for any information... author date text Lorne Pine Thursday 15th August 2013 I have one for sale on Ebay as of Aug 15, 2013. author date text Philippe Elie (Paris / France) Saturday 3rd August 2013 Hi Jason, thanks for your post. I am interested for your Workslate, I actually found one a couple of months ago but the display has died and I could not manage to fix it. Can you please me email me if you are willing to sell it so we agree on a price ? thanks and kind regards, Philippe author date text Jason (USA) Tuesday 23rd July 2013 Ey I got one too printer and all I have no idea how much its worth but I know its very rare my dad worked for convergent back in the day but has passed so I dont know much more about author date text Philippe Elie (Paris / France) Tuesday 4th June 2013 Hi Doug, sorry for the late reply. I am interested by your Workslate and its accessories. Can you please email me with the price you ask for it ? Thanks, Philippe author date text Doug Alter (United States) Monday 8th April 2013 I have a Workslate with a printer and their soft covers, power supply, Reference guide, Owner''s manual, Exercise workbook, Sales Reporter , Teach me now $ Teach me later softwear programs, 11 micro cassettes and 4 rolls of Micro Printer paper . All this is new like condition $ packaging. I would be happy to part with this piece of computer history. author date text Philippe Elie (Paris, France) Sunday 31st March 2013 I''m looking for a Convergent Technologies Workslate. If you have one you are willing to sell, let me know, thanks. author date text Marc Bessler (USA) Wednesday 20th June 2012 I have one of these I am looking to pass along to a good home. It is complete with the printer, hard case, cables, two packs of un-opened color ink styluses, and 9 tapes with programs, one or two even in the original shrink-wrap. It is basically in mint condition - although I have not had time to power it up. Also have a branded binder with the user manual for something called TransSlate which apparently is a method to tie the WorkSlate to an IBM server. I am not looking for any money other than the true cost of shipping. If interested, let me know! author date text Bruce Haugland (US) Tuesday 4th October 2011 I used to work with CTOS machines. I remember that Convergent had shortened the name on the DoIt Key to Do by then. author date text kknds (San Francisco, CA) Friday 11th June 2010 How great to get this info! So, I have one but am looking to sell ... anyone have ideas on how to do that or just eBay? Thanks author date text Keith Scheuring (USA (Arizona)) Sunday 6th June 2010 I got one off of eBay a number of years ago. It was pretty cool but the memory was very limiting. I tried it as an answering machine. I regret getting rid of it now. author date text Name (A land mass. earth) Saturday 14th February 2009 I gotta put that on my wish list author date text Name (Aland, CountryWorld) Saturday 14th February 2009 I is so cool, I want one. author date text Bob Schmitt (USA) Thursday 10th July 2008 The tape in the cassette would work as an answering machine, if I remember correctly. I had one. Check the manual for this function. author date text Roger Sperberg (Montclair, NJ) Sunday 29th January 2006 Back in 1982 or '83 I had a Sord IS-11, which had a 25x80 screen and a decent word-processing app. But when I got one of the remaindered Workslates -- was that '84? whenever the prices fell -- I sold the Sord to get the Workslate. The keyboard was pretty funky, and the word-processing made no sense whatsoever, which was not the best thing for a freelance writer, as I was at the time. But it had an aesthetic that I remember to this day. Actually though, I realized a little bit ago, after being reminded of this machine, that it had so many limitations in its vision that I've also lived many a year without thinking about it. Some of it -- the green and yellow labels popping off the black, the marketing by cool factor -- was timeless. But competency and utility from more mundane solutions is a good idea too. author date text Bob Schmitt (USA) Saturday 12th November 2005 I first saw a Workslate when I was living in Hawaii - too expensive for me then. I later bought one from DAK (or similar "surplus outlet" store, probably for about $100. It was my second computer, after a Timex 1000. I really liked the 1-2-3 metaphor which helped me with contract pricing negotiations. I started lugging my original Compaq to those sessions and didn't use the Workslate, giving to a friend still in Hawaii. Wish I had kept it! I'll look for the original ad or receipts, which I probably still have. author date text Jeffrey Kotte (USA) Wednesday 25th May 2005 I just received one of these from Wisconsin. I am also looking for the cable to connect the printer. I aquired this for a donation to a museum. author date text Ken Clements (Los Gatos CA) Friday 29th April 2005 I have one of these and am looking for the cable for the RS232 interface, as well as any "Inside the Workslate" documentation. author date text David Vaughn (USA) Saturday 24th July 2004 I acquired 4 of these devices while I was handling the MCI account for my company to utilize a then nacent MCImail application. It worked wonderfully, for those times, as a communication device to document correspondance. It was, if you will, the first PC like device acquired by my company. 891 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230608224140/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=891 2023-06-08

Convergent Technologies of Santa Clara, California introduced the Worslate the same time as the Tandy Model 100. 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

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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.