Pen-Based Computing History Museum
Under Construction
2026 / SUMMER EXHIBITION
GCFeatured Exhibition

GO Corporation
and the Vision of
Pen-Based Computing

GO Corporation's PenPoint, released in 1991, was the first operating system designed from the ground up for pen input rather than keyboard — pioneering gesture commands, embedded handwriting recognition, and a notebook metaphor that would echo through every stylus and touch system that followed.

GO Corporation and the Vision of Pen-Based Computing
Now on view
Permanent collection
Artifacts
Approx. 30,000
Catalogued
144
Timeline span
1987 — 2007
Recorded events
1286 milestones

Exhibitions
now on view.

One Special Exhibition Drawn directly from the museum's collection of artifacts, magazines, and primary documents.
GC Featured Exhibition
Under Construction GO Corporation and the Vision of Pen-Based Computing

GO Corporation and the Vision of Pen-Based Computing

GO Corporation's PenPoint, released in 1991, was the first operating system designed from the ground up for pen input rather than keyboard — pioneering gesture commands, embedded handwriting recognition, and a notebook metaphor that would echo through every stylus and touch system that followed.

Explore →

Featured artifacts.

From the collection 18 recently catalogued objects, drawn from 144 in the permanent collection.
View all artifacts
Worldwide PenPoint Developers Organization 1993
WPDO Meeting Improvement Questionnaire (February 11, 1993)

WPDO Meeting Improvement Questionnaire (February 11, 1993)

Worldwide PenPoint Developers Organization · Document
GO Corporation 1993
GO Corporation - Catalog of Products and Services (Letter)

GO Corporation – Catalog of Products and Services (Letter)

GO Corporation
Eidetic, Inc. 1994
Eidetic, Inc. Notion: The Newton List Manager User Manual

Notion: The Newton List Manager User Manual

Eidetic, Inc. · Apple
Metrowerks, Inc. 1996
Metrowerks CodeWarrior Tools for Pilot Package (Front)

Metrowerks CodeWarrior for Pilot (Package)

Metrowerks, Inc. · Case
General Magic, Inc. 1996
General Magic Visitor's Badge (John Jerney, 10/25/96)

General Magic Visitor’s Badge (John Jerney, 10/25/1996)

General Magic, Inc. · General Magic
ParaGraph International, Inc. 1997
ParaGraph International, Inc. CalliGrapher 5.0 for Windows CE Disk (Front)

ParaGraph International, Inc. – CalliGrapher 5.0 for Windows CE (Disk)

ParaGraph International, Inc. · Disk
GO Corporation 1992
GO Corporation - GO Fax Brochure (Front Cover)

GO Corporation – GO Fax Brochure

GO Corporation · Brochure
Apple Computer, Inc. 1994
Apple eWorld (Stickers)

Apple eWorld (Stickers)

Apple Computer, Inc. · Apple
Texas Microsystems, Inc. 1995
Texas Micro – The Soldier’s Computer (Brochure)

Texas Micro – The Soldier’s Computer (Brochure)

Texas Microsystems, Inc. · Brochure
Horizon House Publications, Inc. 1994
Microwave Journal – January 1994 (Cover)

Microwave Journal – January 1994

Horizon House Publications, Inc. · In Collection
Apple Computer, Inc. 1994
Apple Newton MessagePad – Getting Through the Day … (Brochure) – 1

Apple Newton MessagePad Getting Through the Day … (Brochure)

Apple Computer, Inc. · Apple
Avail Technology, Inc. 1994
Avail Technology – Free TapWorks Software Coupon (Front)

Avail Technology Free TapWorks Software (Coupon)

Avail Technology, Inc. · Avail Technologies
Peterborough, Inc. 1987
Portable 100 Magazine – September 1987 (Cover)

Portable 100 – September 1987

Peterborough, Inc. · In Collection
Mobile Insights, Inc. 1995
Mobile Insights ’95 Conference (Side 1)

Mobile Insights ’95 Conference (Brochure)

Mobile Insights, Inc. · Brochure
MicroDesign Resources 1995
Microprocessor Report – February 16,1995 (Cover)

Microprocessor Report – February 16, 1995

MicroDesign Resources · In Collection
Pen Computing Magazine 1997
Pen Computing Magazine – December 1997 (Cover)

Pen Computing Magazine – December 1997

Pen Computing Magazine · In Collection
Pen Computing Magazine 2000
Pen Computing Magazine – November 2000 (Cover)

Pen Computing Magazine – November 2000

Pen Computing Magazine · In Collection
Pen Computing Magazine 1999
Pen Computing Magazine – Fall 1999 Buyer’s Guide (Cover)

Pen Computing Magazine Fall 1999 Buyers Guide

Pen Computing Magazine · In Collection

A chronology.

1987 — 2007 Selected from the museum's 1286 catalogued timeline events.
View full timeline
1994Service
America Online Expands Offering for Palmtops; Partners with General Magic to Provide Customized Online Service
America Online, Inc. announces that it will provide a customized edition of its service for the Magic Cap communications platform and General…
1995Communications
Apple Outlines Plethora of Newton Wireless Communications Solutions at MessagePad 120 Launch
Apple Computer outlines the various Apple and third party solutions available for the Apple MessagePad with Newton Intelligence.
1998Software
Phoenix Technologies Announces Enhancements to Popular PhoenixBIOS 4.0 System Software
Release 6.1 allows OEMs to add functionality while reducing development costs and speeding time to market.
1999Software
3Com Delivers New Palm MacPac Software Version 2 to Macintosh Users
The product includes the Palm Desktop software 2.1, with all-new personal information manager (PIM) software based on the award-winning Claris Organizer software.
2000Communications
3Com, Extended Systems to Provide Complete Bluetooth Solution for Windows Operating Systems
3Com and Extended Systems provides immediate compatibility and high-quality communications between personal computers enabled by 3Com's Bluetooth offerings and Palm handhelds.
2003Software
DataViz Announces PDA Playground for Palm OS Handhelds
PDA Playground turns any Palm OS PDA into an instant playground for children ages 3-7.
2007Hardware
Apple Reinvents the Phone With iPhone
Apple introduces iPhone, combining three products-a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with…

The collection.

Browse 144 artifacts Indexed by category from the collection.
    BR

    Brochure

    7 items →
    TA

    Tablet

    2 items →
    EM

    Ex Machina

    2 items →
    RO

    Royal

    1 item →
    LE

    Letter

    2 items →
    OR

    Oracle

    2 items →
    NE

    Newton

    14 items →
    FS

    First Pen Systems

    1 item →
    AT

    AT&T

    1 item →
    VB

    Visitor's Badge

    1 item →
    CA

    Catalog

    2 items →
    GC

    GO Corporation

    27 items →
    CO

    3Com

    4 items →
    PE

    PenWell

    1 item →

    Pen-Based Computing,
    the newsletter.

    Eight volumes · Sixty five issues The original newsletter — every issue digitized in full (soon).
    Pen-Based Computing – November, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 5

    Volume 1 · Issue 05 Pen-Based Computing – November, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 5

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – May, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 2

    Volume 1 · Issue 02 Pen-Based Computing – May, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 2

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – January 22, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 1

    Volume 1 · Issue 01 Pen-Based Computing – January 22, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 1

    16 pp
    04 · Donate

    Donate an
    artifact.

    The museum collects hardware, software, manuals, photographs, marketing collateral, oral histories, and ephemera related to the early history of stylus-based computing.

    Learn how to donate →
    05 · Subscribe Coming Soon

    PBCHM
    Monthly.

    Learn about new acquisitions, recovered manuals, oral histories, and unearthed discoveries.

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