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Markdown

---
title: Atari PORTFOLIO
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Pocket
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1989'
cpus:
- Intel 80C88
params:
name: PORTFOLIO
company: /companies/atari
company_name: Atari
specs:
- label: NAME
value: PORTFOLIO
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Atari
- label: TYPE
value: Pocket
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: '1989'
- label: END OF PRODUCTION
value: Unknown
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: None
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Calculator-type keyboard, 63 keys
- label: CPU
value: Intel 80C88
- label: SPEED
value: 4.9512 Mhz
- label: RAM
value: 128 kb (up to 640 kb)
- label: ROM
value: 256 kb
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 40 x 8 (Supertwist LCD display)
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: 260 x 64 dots
- label: COLORS
value: Monochrome
- label: SOUND
value: Beeper
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: 7.8 x 4 .1 x 1.2 inches / 15.87 ounces with batteries
- label: I/O PORTS
value: 60 pin expansion bus, RAM Card port
- label: OS
value: DIP-DOS (compatible with MS DOS 2.11)
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: 3 AA alkaline batteries or optional AC adaptor
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: 32 KB and 128 KB RAM or ROM memory cards
- label: PRICE
value: Unknown
tabs:
- photos
- hardware
- links
photos:
- title: ATARI PORTFOLIO
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: null
hardware:
- title: 64 KB RAMCARD
subtitle: ''
text: 'Several cards were available: 64 KB, 128 KB and 256 KB.'
image: null
- title: 128 KB RAMCARD
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: null
- title: MEMORY EXPANDER +
subtitle: ''
text: |-
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**
image: null
- title: HPC-301 RAMCARD READER
subtitle: ''
text: 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.
image: null
- title: PARALLEL INTERFACE
subtitle: ''
text: Allowed the Portfolio to be connected to any Parallel Centronics compatible printer
image: null
- title: SERIAL RS232 INTERFACE
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: null
- title: MODEM INTERFACE
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Provides the Portfolio with a modem capability using an acoustic coupler.
Thanks to **P. Bakker**
image: null
links:
- title: 1990 Newspaper article about the portfolio
url: http://www.nysscpa.org/cpajournal/old/08572662.htm
text: ''
- title: Atari Portfolio as a Linux terminal !
url: http://www.online-center.com/prog/apt_main.htm
text: ''
- title: Atari Portfolio FAQ
url: http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/portfolio.txt
text: Portfolio Frequently Asked Questions BJ Gleason
- title: Atari Portfolio Software Service
url: http://www.gabistapler.de/pofosoft/index.htm
text: Downloads for the Portfolio
- title: Die ultimative Seite für den ATARI Portfolio Handheld
url: http://www.palmzip.de/
text: Some useful info here including software download
- title: Mario's Atari Portfolio WWW Page
url: http://gem.win.co.nz/mario/pofo/
text: ''
- title: The Atari PortFolio WebSite
url: http://www.atari-portfolio.co.uk/
text: Portfolio info with download section
- title: www.pofowiki.de
url: http://www.pofowiki.de
text: Wiki dedicated to the Atari Portfolio (in german)
comments:
- author: x86vet (UK)
date: Saturday 16th October 2021
text: '"The story behind the creation of the Atari Portfolio" on Amazon may be of interest to some members of this forum.'
- author: Paul Finch (United Kingdom)
date: Wednesday 11th November 2020
text: |-
I own and run the only U.K Portfolio Club and have loads of new and secondhand hardware / software for this brilliant pocket p.c.\
I even have an original Atari testboard for this great machine, loads of magazines, books, etc.\
Just contact me,\
Paul
- author: Russ Campbell (Canada)
date: Sunday 1st March 2020
text: I have two Atari Portfolio PCs , have just updated Paul Jolly''s files from his site, they will be made available on my BBS, callable with an Atari Portfolio, and a modem as I have a modem and a land line as well as HTML and Telnet.
- author: Daneel (Italy)
date: Wednesday 23rd April 2014
text: |-
In the early 90s I bought an Atari PC Folio for about 500,000 Italian lire, about 250 €.\
I used a lot of its built-in spreadsheet.\
A beautiful piece.\
It s part of my collection, but do not turn it on for many more years.
- author: Fawad
date: Monday 12th December 2011
text: i have one but i don''t have any idea on how to use it, its a very interesting piece
- author: Rolfio (the Netherlands)
date: Sunday 11th December 2011
text: I have 2 atari portflio''s and i like them always. very nice computer.
- author: Mnem (Canada)
date: Friday 16th December 2005
text: I used to have one of these. Picked it up at a pawn shop for $50 CDN in the early 90's. Good little machine although I was never able to get full use of it since I didn't have a cable to connect it to my home computer. Unfortunatly it got stolen a couple of years back when a landlord of mine decided to do a little raiding at my appartment.
- author: Andrew (UK)
date: Wednesday 11th September 2002
text: Amazing computer then and now. I love these.
oc_id: 356
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230601001742/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=356
date: '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](/museum/ibm-pc-model-5150/) 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.