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 forum_thread photos hardware 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 871 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 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.