| Amstrad InfoPad pic 700 | Casio Z-7000 Tandy Z-PDA AST 2390 | Sharp Newton ExpertPad (MessagePad #1) | Motorola Marco Communicator | Apple Newton MessagePad 100 | Apple Newton MessagePad 110 | Apple Newton MessagePad 120 | Sharp Zaurus K-PDA ZR-5000/FX | Amstrad PenPad PDA 600 | Sony PIC-1000 Magic Link | Motorola Envoy Communicator | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer | Amstrad | Casio/Tandy | Apple/Sharp | Apple/Motorola | Apple | Apple | Apple | Sharp | Eden/Amstrad | Sony | Motorola | |
| OS by | EROS - Eden Group | Geoworks GEOS | Newt-OS by Apple | Newt-OS by Apple | Newt-OS by Apple | Newt-OS by Apple | Newt-OS by Apple | ‘Synergy’ by Sharp | Eden Group | GM Magic Cap V1.0 | GM Magic Cap | |
| Recognition by | Papyrus (tentative) | Palm Computing | ParaGraph/Apple | ParaGraph/Apple | ParaGraph/Apple | ParaGraph/Apple | ParaGraph/Apple | No pen recognition | Texas | Palm Graffiti option | Palm Graffiti option | |
| Palm Graffiti option | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| SDK from | Eden | Geoworks on CD | Apple | Apple | Apple | Apple | Apple | Available mid 95 | Amstrad | General Magic | General Magic | |
| Developers fee | No | No | 1% Royalty | 1% Royalty | 1% Royalty | 1% Royalty | 1% Royalty | N/A | No | No | No | |
| Ink as data | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Deferred Ink | No | Address/Date only | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | |
| Text entry | Recogniser box | Freeform | Freeform | Freeform | Freeform | Freeform | Freeform | N/A | Comb field | Freeform | Freeform | |
| Cursive entry | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | |
| Cursor control | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Keyboard port | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Integrated Keyboard | No | Yes (optional keyb.) | Yes (optional keyb) | |
| Voice recording | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Multilingual | Yes | No (special version) | No (special version) | No (special version) | No (special Version) | No (special versions) | No (special versions) | No (special versions) | Yes | No (special versions) | No (special version) | |
| CPU type | SH7034 (14Mhz) | X86 (7.5Mhz) | ARM610 (20Mhz) | ARM610 (20Mhz) | ARM610 (20Mhz) | ARM610 (20MHz) | ARM610 (20MHz) | 16-bit custom | Z8S180 (14.3Mhz) | Dragon 68349 16Mhz | Dragon 68349 16Mhz | |
| CPU maker | Hitachi Micon | Casio custom | RISC Machines UK | VLSI Technology | RISC Machines UK | RISC Machines UK | RISC Machines UK | Sharp | Zilog | Motorola | Motorola | |
| System RAM | 544Kb (256K user) | 1Mb (384K user) | 640K (172K user) | 1Mb (485 user) | 640K (150K user) | 1Mb (485K user) | 2Mb (1360K user) | 1Mb (750K user) | 1Mb (128K user) | 512K user | 512K user | |
| OS patching | Socketed Mask ROM | Yes (RAM) | Yes (SRAM) | Yes (SRAM) | Yes (SRAM) | Yes (SRAM) | Yes (SRAM) | No | No | Yes (RAM) | Yes (RAM) | |
| RAM backup | Not needed -FLASH | Yes 2xCR2032 | Yes 1xCR2032 | Yes 1xCR2032 | Yes 1xCR2032 | Yes 1xCR2032 | Yes 1xCR2032 | Yes 1xCR2032 | Yes 1xCR2032 | Yes 1xDL123A | Yes 1xCR2032 | |
| System ROM | 512Kb | 4Mb | 4Mb | 5Mb | 4Mb | 4Mb | 4Mb | 1Mb | 64Kb Flash | 4Mb | 4Mb | |
| Display area | 3.4x5.38 | 3.13x4 | 3x6 | 3x6 | 3x6 | 3x6 | 3x6 | 4.0x2.6 | 2.75x3.5 | 4.5 x 3 | 4.5x3 (105dpi) | |
| Display resolution | 480x320 (.22mm) | 320x256 (.3mm) | 336x240 (.3mm) | 320x240 (.3mm) | 336x240 (.3mm) | 320x240 (.3mm) | 320x240 (.3mm) | 320x240 DFSTN | 320x240 | 480x320 (4-g’level) | 480x320 (4-g/level) | |
| Display cover | No | Flip open cover | Yes | 360 Degree hinge | No | Yes, flip open cover | Rmvble flip open cover | Yes | left hinged cover | No | 360 Degree hinge | |
| Softcase supplied | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes + deluxe option | No | |
| Contrast control | Yes (screen icon) | Yes (mechanical) | Yes (screen slider) | Yes (mechanical) | Yes (screen slider) | Yes (mechanical) | Yes (mechanical) | Yes (screen slider) | Yes (screen icon) | Yes (mechanical) | Yes (mechanical) | |
| LCD producer | Hitachi | Casio | Sharp | ? | Sharp | Epson | ? | Sharp | Kyocera | ? | Seiko-Epson | |
| Backlit display | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| External display | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Battery type | 3x AA alkaline | 3x AA alkaline | 4x AAA alkaline | custom NiCad pack | 4x AAA alkaline | 4x AA alkaline | 4x AA alkaline | 2xAA alkaline | 3x AA alkaline | 6 x AAA alkaline | custom NiCad pack | |
| Batteries included | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1 x NiCad pack | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 800maH NiCad pack | |
| Battery life | up to 40 Hours | up to 90 Hours | up to 14 Hours | up to 8 hours | up to 14 Hours | up to 22 Hours | up to 22 Hours | up to 60 Hours | up to 40 Hours | 5Hrs Alk, 12Hrs L-Ion | 8 Hours | |
| Battery gauge | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Battery alarm | No (message) | No (message) | No (message) | No (Message) | No (Message) | No (message) | No (message) | Yes | Yes (beep) | Yes (message) | Yes (message) | |
| Ni-Cad option | No | No | Yes+fast charger | As standard | Yes+fast charger | Dock and charge | Yes+dock and charge | No | No | Lithium-Ion option | As standard | |
| AC adapter | Yes (optional) | Optional | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Optional | No | Yes (12V input) | combined charger | |
| Manual supplied | Yes | Yes (VHS@Tandy) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes+VHS video | Yes+VHS video | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Size | 1.0x4.4x7.5 | 1x4.2x6.8 | 1x5x7 | 1.4x5.8x7.5 | 1x5x7 | 1.25x4x8 | 1.25x4x8 | 1.0 x 3.9 x 6.7 | 1x4x6 | 1 x 5.2 x 7.5 | 7.5x5.7x1.2 | |
| Weight | 14 Ounces | 16 Ounces | 15 Ounces | 1.8 Pounds | 16 Ounces | 19.6 Ounces | 19.6 Ounces | 13.6 Ounces | 14 Ounces | 1.2 Pounds | 1.68 Pounds | |
| Pens supplied | 3 oval full length | 1 round telescoping | 2 flat full length | 1 metal triangular | 2 x flat full length | 1 round telescoping | 1 round telescoping | 1 round | 3 flat full length | 1 full length | 2 x round full length | |
| I/R Data Tx/Rx | IrDA compliant | 9600 Baud (Casio) | 9,600 (Sharp ASK) | 38.4Kbps @ 1 meter | 9600 (Sharp ASK) | 38.4Kbps @ 1 meter | 38.4Kbps @ 1 meter | ASK & IrDA compliant | No | 38.4Kbps (Sony ) | 38.4Kbps @ 3 meters | |
| I/R controller | No | Yes Tx. 21ft | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Sony A/V only | No | |
| Wireless two-way | No | No | No | ARDIS @ 4800/ | No | No | No | No | No | No | ARDIS @ 4800bps | |
| RS-232C | Yes (9 pin) | Yes (10pin) | RS-422 (8pin DIN) | RS-422 (8pin DIN) | RS-422 (8-pin DIN) | RS-422 (8pin DIN) | RS-422 (8pin DIN) | PC-Link (15pin) | Yes (6pin) | 14-pin MagicBus | 14 pin MagicBus | |
| RS-232C speed | 115,200 | 19,200 | 230K/Sec. | 230K/Sec | 230K/Sec | 230K/Sec | 230K/Sec | 19,200 | 9600 | 38,400 Bps | 38,400 Bps | |
| Parallel port | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | MagicBus | MagicBus | |
| Floppy drive | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| PC CARD slot | 1x2.01 | 1x2.0 (50mA max) | 1x2.0 (HOT) | 1x2.0 (HOT) | 1x2.0 (HOT) | 1x2.0 (HOT) | 1x2.0 (HOT) | 1x2.0 (5.0mm) | 1x1.0 | 1 x 2.0 (TTL-SRAM) | 2x2.0 (TTL-SRAM) | |
| Max card size | 4Mb (max approved) | 20Mb (SunDisk) | 4Mb (max approved) | 4Mb (max approved) | 4Mb (max approved) | 4Mb (max approved) | 4Mb (max approved) | 16MB Flash | 2Mb | 4Mb (max approved) | 2 x 4Mb (max app.) | |
| DTMF dialler | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Email apps. | No | Yes | No | Yes (NetStrategy) | No | No | No | EasyLink+CIS clients | No | Yes (advanced) | Yes (advanced) | |
| Fax/Modem | No | No (external option) | No (external option) | No (external option) | No (external option) | No (external option) | Yes (external) | No (external option) | No | Yes 9600/2400 | Yes 9600/2400 | |
| Fax receive | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Integral Pager | Yes (Alphanumeric) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| PC link s/w | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Free via coupon | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | |
| MAC link s/w | No | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | Free via coupon | No | Yes (option) | Yes (option) | |
| Audio generator | Yes | Yes (+DAC) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (MIDI) | Yes (MIDI) | |
| Volume control | No | Yes (mechanical) | Yes (screen slider) | Yes (screen slider) | Yes (screen slider) | Yes (screen slider) | Yes (screen slider) | No | No | Yes (screen slider) | Yes (screen slider) | |
| Audio input | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | internal microphone | internal microphone | |
| Headphone jack | No | Yes (2.5mm) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Internal games | Yes (Minesweeper) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | |
| System password | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes + unique I/D | Yes + unique I/D | |
| Diary | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Date Book | Date Book | |
| Real time clock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| World clock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Time/date stamp | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Alarm functions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Address book | Yes | Yes | Yes (Rolodex type) | Yes (Rolodex type) | Yes (Rolodex type) | Yes (Rolodex type) | Yes (Rolodex type) | Yes | Yes | Yes (Rolodex type) | Yes (Rolodex type) | |
| INK scratchpad | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (InkWriter optn) | Yes (InkWriter optn) | |
| Graphics apps | No | Yes | Yes (intelligent) | Yes (intelligent) | Yes (intelligent) | Yes (Intelligent) | Yes (Intelligent) | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| To-do list | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Notebook) | Yes (Notebook) | |
| Calculator | Yes | Yes (advanced) | Yes (basic) | Yes (basic) | Yes (basic) | Yes (Basic) | Yes (Basic) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Conversions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| Spreadsheet | No | No | 3rd party option | 3rd party option | 3rd party option | 3rd party option | 3rd party option | Future PenCell option | No | PenCell in ROM | Yes (PenCell option) | |
| Database | No | No | No | No | No | No | Notion List Mgr | Yes | No | No | No | |
| Word Processor | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Aha! InkWriter option | Aha! InkWriter option | |
| Dictionary | No | Yes (60,000 wd) | No | Yes (10,000 wd) | Yes (10,000 wd) | Yes (13,000 wd) | Yes (13,000 wd) | Possible future option | No | Spell Finder in ROM | Option | |
| Spell checker | No | Yes (100,000 wd) | No | No | No | No | No | Possible future option | No | Spell Finder in ROM | Option | |
| Thesaurus | No | Yes (660,000 wd) | No | No | No | No | No | Possible future option | No | No | No | |
| Lang Translator | No | Yes (26 langs) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Form Calculator | No | Yes (19 apps) | Yes (4 apps) | Yes (4 apps) | Yes (4 apps) | Yes (4 apps) | Yes (4 apps) | No | No | No | No | |
| US Travel data | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | StreetLight option | StreetLight option | |
| Term. emulation | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | VT-100/TTY/Xmodem | No | No | No | |
| America Online | No | Yes US model only | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes in ROM | Yes in ROM | |
| Compuserve apps | No | Free client from CIS | Black Labs option | Black Labs option | Black Labs option | Black Labs option | Black Labs option | Access client in ROM | No | Planned (free optn) | Planned (free optn) | |
| Special access | No | AOL Zoomer forum | NewtonMail | NewtonMail | NewtonMail | NewtonMail | NewtonMail | AT&T EasyLink | No | AT&T Personalink | AT&T PersonaLink | |
| ASCII text fax | No | Yes (via AOL) | Yes (send only) | Yes (send only) | Yes (send only) | Yes (send only) | Yes (send only) | Yes (opt. fax mdem) | No | Yes (send only) | Yes (send only) | |
| US Mail gateway | No | Yes (via AOL) | No | RadioMail | No | No | No | AT&T EasyLink | No | AOL + PersonaLink | AOL + PersonaLink | |
| Travel information | No | EAASY (via AOL) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | OAG Flightline optn | OAG Flightline optn | |
| Pocket Quicken | No | Yes in ROM | Planned option | Planned option | Planned option | Planned option | Yes (coupon) | Possible future option | No | Yes + SmartWallet | Yes + SmartWallet | |
| Re-badged | No | Tandy/Grid/AST | Sharp/Siem/Pan | No | Possibly | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Price | OEM possibilities | $399 (street) | $399 to $699 | $900 to $1400 | $499 | $599 | $699 | $749 ($849-modem) | $499 (Scottsdale) | $995 ($895 street) | $1499 ($995 bundle) | |
| Availability | September in the UK | US/UK/AUS | USA/CAN/UK/GER | USA | USA/CAN/UK/GER | USA/CAN/UK/GER | Late January | Feb 95 | UK/US | US market only | US market only |
home pagebrian@grot.com 7/5/95
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