"The big screen, a first with the EVO, and the high-speed connectivity was groundbreaking, and has led to a number of like configured phones."
Ya, awesome.
Memory lane: Most important mobile gadgets I have owned
by James Kendrick | February 6, 2012 5:28am PST | Image 1 of 10
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HP 100LX -- 1993
The HP was the first handheld device running a full version of DOS. HP had a full line of accessories that could turn the 100LX into a complete computer. This was one of the first handheld devices that was a full programmable computer. It is still available on eBay.
James Kendrick of ZDNet Mobile News takes a trip down memory lane to showcase the most important mobile gadgets he has owned.
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Could have included the manufactured year or the year when you used them too.
Newton but no iPhone 2g? the one device that truly changed mobile...
@Hasam1991 As the title states these are devices I have owned.
@JamesKendrick Obviously not an early adopter!!
What a great machine. Ran every DOS program that my desktop machine did. Lotus 123 and HP 12c built in. Amazed co-workers as I could keep meeting notes or do spreadsheets and have them emailed out before the meeting broke up.
Still have my 100LX, and my analog Startac phone. Can't think of giving them away.
Still have my 100LX, and my analog Startac phone. Can't think of giving them away.
@jameskendrick
imho, you have lead a sheltered life...
What about the Psion 3c, or an earlier Palm (III?) (which I used to surf the web from... both mobilely and from a fixed line) - and had the Kodak Camera attachment for...
imho, you have lead a sheltered life...
What about the Psion 3c, or an earlier Palm (III?) (which I used to surf the web from... both mobilely and from a fixed line) - and had the Kodak Camera attachment for...
Wasn't the Atari Portfolio the first portable DOS computer?
I am reading this article, and typing this reply, on my HP TC1100, which now has a SSD and an ExpressCard memory module. I use it with a field case when traveling, a plug in keyboard at the office. I consider the newer tablets and laptops, but it still keeps doing what I need it to do. Next, upgrade to Win7?
@giantcedar
I have three of these tablets and considered an SSD drive but was limited to 750mb ram. Please tell me about ExpressCard memory. Does it increase system ram? The form of this tablet has served me for years. People still ask what it is when they see the tablet.
Thanks
I have three of these tablets and considered an SSD drive but was limited to 750mb ram. Please tell me about ExpressCard memory. Does it increase system ram? The form of this tablet has served me for years. People still ask what it is when they see the tablet.
Thanks
I still have that Casio E-125. It's work too slow, so I get back to Palm 3c, which still working now. I very curious how long that Palm 3c battery will leak, what technology they use that time ?
Too bad you never owned an Audrey by 3Com. If you look back on the form, features and functionality - it was ahead of its time I guess - kind of like Apple's Newton. That never really caught on and then a few years later USR rolls out the Palm Pilot and everyone goes nuts for it! I view Audrey as an early predecesor to today's tablets - the apple Newton of its day so to speak. Based on the tech available back then (2000-2001), Audrey was pretty slick. Over time, I'm sure the form factor would have improved, features and functionality added and would have naturally evolved into the tablets of today. You can still find some on eBay now and then if you'd like to add it to your list of gadgets you have owned - for nostalgia sake anyway. 
@ejburckle I'm fascinated with vintage internet-able devices. I use an Audrey, and several Windows CE computers to the extent that they can be used online. It's surprising how much can still be accessed once you accept their limitations.
Great trip down memory lane, but I think there is a bit of hyperbole in a couple of the descriptions. While the HP 100LX was possibly the earliest handheld to run a desktop OS, I don't really think it was the first to be a "full programable computer". Someone else has already mentioned the Atari Portfolio, which came out 5 years earlier. Radio Shack also released several "Pocket Computer" models during the early 80s that could be programmed in BASIC and several other companies had very similar devices at the time, including Casio and Sharp which actually manufactured some of the Radio Shack devices and also sold them under their own names.
Also, I'm pretty sure that the Internet-connected Palm VII pre-dated the Omnisky modem, although you could probably make a reasonable argument that the Omnisky did provide a more complete experience.
Also, I'm pretty sure that the Internet-connected Palm VII pre-dated the Omnisky modem, although you could probably make a reasonable argument that the Omnisky did provide a more complete experience.
@JeffGr
100LX? pffft! we hardc0re road warriors jumped in with the 95LX way before the 100LX.
100LX? pffft! we hardc0re road warriors jumped in with the 95LX way before the 100LX.
For me the list would include a programmable calculator which could store 10 numbers and 100 opcodes in RAM.
Back in the 70s. 10 years or so before I had a PC.
This was the device that inspired me to become a computer engineer many years later.
Back in the 70s. 10 years or so before I had a PC.
This was the device that inspired me to become a computer engineer many years later.
I would have expected one of these also to be listed here
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Casio_SF-8000_Digital_Diray.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Casio_SF-8000_Digital_Diray.jpg
Loved, loved my HP Jornada 680. Carried it for years.
....and showing American bias. Excludes the entire Psion range (which includes the true Netbook (TM)).
@zdnet@...
do you own 1 of everything ever made?
Thought not.
do you own 1 of everything ever made?
Thought not.
haha you forgot the set of $5.99 kids' walkie talkies that just about everyone had at one time or another, like these.. http://www.bunkerofdoom.com/lit/la713/0323.jpg we wore them things out..
This could have been a good article if you would have added the YEAR of the items ownership/sales.....
Sony was the Apple of the electronics market. They were pricey but had acolytes that would buy whatever they made. That is until Sony didn't make the leap to MP3 players. Their Walkman series would've been a perfect candidate.
Imagine if they had released their U-70 with Windows Mobile instead of XP. The hardware could have been reduced and thus a lower price. In both of these cases Apple got the drop on them and the rest is history. Sony is history.
Imagine if they had released their U-70 with Windows Mobile instead of XP. The hardware could have been reduced and thus a lower price. In both of these cases Apple got the drop on them and the rest is history. Sony is history.
Unfortunately, I can't recall the manufacturer, but I recall seeing (and briefly trying out) a battery operated portable with a touchscreen running Windows 3 in the early 1990s. It had a monochrome screen about 5 inches in size, and a 30meg drive. The thing booted to DOS 6, then ran 'Double Space' so Windows would fit in the remaining drive space. It came with a pen that worked like a two button mouse. The keyboard was virtual. It was great for playing solitaire! Does anyone else remember it??
That's a man who's suffered. And now he's gotta use Android all day. This from someone who had a Sinclair Scientific complete with reverse polish notation.
IMO, THE device that heralded the touchscreen smartphone is the O2 XDA Mini (aka HTC Magician). Waaaaay before any iPhone. Yeh sure, HTC had earlier models of smartphones but they were bulkier, had protruding antenna, and were not as pocketable as the Mini.
Before that, my mobile weapon of choice was the Siemens SL45: first phone to play MP3. I had the firmware modded and was able to use a 1gb MMC in it and I never saw the need for an iPod. The SL45 ran Java apps and it was way ahead of its time and definitely THE smartphone of its time.
Before that, my mobile weapon of choice was the Siemens SL45: first phone to play MP3. I had the firmware modded and was able to use a 1gb MMC in it and I never saw the need for an iPod. The SL45 ran Java apps and it was way ahead of its time and definitely THE smartphone of its time.
Interesting that one of Your articles launched a new segment of PCs, the UMPC, even though they weren't succesful in the end.
It came with my HP Slate 500... I tried it for a bit and found it really clumsy to use and promptly removed it.
I'd like to say I prefer OneNote, but I don't even really like that a lot.
Guess I'm old fashioned. I like Microsoft Journal.
I'd like to say I prefer OneNote, but I don't even really like that a lot.
Guess I'm old fashioned. I like Microsoft Journal.
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