Poqet Presents its PenPad

The PoqetPad is a lightweight, long-life, entry into the low-end penpad arena

Poqet Computer, one of the early entries into the palmtop PC arena, will be shipping this month the PoqetPad, the company’s first pen-based offering. The rectangular shaped unit is targeted for field automation applications — data collection, forms completion, signature capture, and the like — and competes most directly with Grid’s GridPad.

The PoqetPad is a 1.2 pound V20HL-based palmtop system. (The V20 is NEC’s version of the 8086 microprocessor with software selectable clock speeds of 7.0 or 3.5 MHz, or 0 MHz for processor shutdown.) The 9.65 by 4.59 by 1.26 inch MS-DOS PoqetPad uses a 4″ (expandable to 5.2″) wireless stylus to write on a reflective supertwist LCD display. The resistive film digitizer tablet provides 200 dots/inch resolution with 125 dot/inch detection. The display itself is an odd-sized 7.25″ diagonal (640×200 pixels) that can be used in landscape or portrait mode.

Long on Battery Life

One of the most impressive aspects of the PoqetPad is a patented power system which, according to Poqet, operates 16 hours or more on two AA-size alkaline batteries. This long battery life is possible in part because the PoqetPad does not use a hard disk for storage, opting instead for two PCMCIA card slots that can store up to 4 Mbytes of information each. (For information on PCMCIA cards, see our November, 1991 issue.) Additionally, the system makes use of 640 Kbytes of system RAM and 1 Mbyte of system ROM.

Software Support

The PoqetPad’s operating system is MS-DOS 3.3 stored in system ROM, along with Poqet’s PenShell operating environment which includes Nestor’s NestorWriter handwriting recognition system, Microsoft mouse emulation for the pen, and a virtual, on-screen keyboard and numeric keypad. Poqet also provides Traveling Software’s PenConnect software (see related story on page 2). Developers can use Grid’s PenRight software to create PoqetPad applications. Announced third-party software for VARs includes both Fastech’s Sales Information System for order entry and Computers-at-Work’s field force automation apps.

Clearly Not Cutting Edge — But A Start

Except for perhaps the advanced power management and the PCMCIA card slots, Poqet’s entry isn’t pushing the cutting-edge envelope. From the 8086-compatible CPU to the CGA/MDA display, the PoqetPad seems pretty standard, especially considering that Grid has had a generally comparable machine out for several years. On the other hand, the PoqetPad is priced at $1,995, about $850 less than the comparably equipped GridPad. And the low weight of 1.2 pounds is another strong point.

In any case, the PoqetPad is a start in the right direction. The aforementioned power management and use of PCMCIA cards, along with the implementation of Nestor’s impressive handwriting recognition system, lays the groundwork for more powerful systems that will surely follow. It’s also important to note that MS-DOS and the Grid tools provide a known development platform for programmers and VARs to start from; this certainly is an advantage over the great unknowns like PenPoint and even PenWindows.

Poqet Computer Corp.
5200 Patrick Henry Dr.
Santa Clara, CA 95054
408-982-9500