GRiD to Demonstrate 386SL-Based Pen Computer at COMDEX

Oct. 14, 1991 — GRiD Systems Corp. Monday announced that it will demonstrate the GRiDPADSL, a pen computer based on an Intel 80386SL microprocessor, at Fall COMDEX ’91.

The GRiDPADSL, a ”personal productivity” tablet computer, is designed to operate the three major pen computer software environments, GO’s PenPoint, Microsoft’s Windows for Pen Computing and PenRight!, GRiD’s platform for application specific software.

Personal productivity tablets are pen computers configured to run both off-the-shelf applications including database management, spread sheets and personal information managers and application specific software used by field engineers, insurance adjusters and other mobile professionals. The GRiDPADSL’s flexibility will allow it to run combination applications that include both general purpose and ”mission-specific” applications.

Along with a 20MHz Intel 80386SL microprocessor, the computer has up to 20MB of RAM, 16KB of RAM cache and a 60MB hard disk drive to provide the processing power, performance and storage requirements needed to run microprocessor and storage-intensive platforms such as Windows for Pen Computing and PenPoint. Many applications are ideally served by a GRiDPADSL operating PenRight!. The GRiDPADSL weighs under five pounds including an internal modem, ports and a backlit display.

The GRiDPADSL will be demonstrated by GRiD at the COMDEX trade show (Booth No. 2490, South Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center) in Las Vegas, Oct. 21-25. It will begin shipping in the second quarter of 1992.

GRiD President D. Bruce Walter said: ”By demonstrating the GRiDPADSL well in advance of its shipping date, we are giving customers exploring pen computing and making purchase plans an early look at one of the newest cornerstones of GRiD’s pen computing strategy. There will be a number of companies introducing pen computers in the coming months, but our total pen solutions, from hardware, software, training and support, are the most extensive in the industry.”

Pradeep Singh, Windows for Pens group product manager at Microsoft, said: ”GRiD is a pioneer in the field of pen computing. With the 386SL pad and their commitment to Microsoft Windows for Pen Computing, GRiD is demonstrating its innovation in designing machines to enhance personal productivity.”

GO Chairman S. Jerrold Kaplan said: ”GRiD has made great strides as a leader in the pen computing market. We are pleased to be working together to provide this powerful platform in conjunction with PenPoint as an effective practical business tool for mobile professionals.”

Walter pointed out that vertical markets are still GRiD’s primary focus and the company’s commitment to that sector ”will continue as strongly as before. Our GRiDPADHD and GRiDPADRC computers are perfect for vertical, forms-based applications and the rapidly growing electronic clipboard market.”

The GRiDPADSL also will operate GRiD’s latest software release, PenRight! 3.0, a powerful MS-DOS software platform that recognizes upper and lower case characters and is designed specifically for vertical market applications.

The first three GRiDPAD models introduced by the company are aimed at vertical markets where users require day-long battery life and perform very specific tasks such as data collection, inspections, order-entry and inventory management. Their work is supported by custom software that replicates paper forms on the GRiDPAD’s screen.

The market for the GRiDPADSL includes individuals who require general purpose applications such as database management and spreadsheets rather than custom-made data collection applications.  They are less concerned with battery life and price and more dependent upon processing speed and storage capacity.

The GRiDPADSL is also aimed at individuals who have avoided computers because they did not want to learn how to type, yet have to edit long documents and track numerical data in spread sheets while on the road and away from their support staff.

The GRiDPADSL comes standard with a 20MHz 80386SL microprocessor, 4MB RAM, 16KB of RAM cache, a 60MB hard disk drive, a backlit VGA-compatible display and one PCMCIA memory card slot. Options include a 2400-baud modem and a 2MB RAM storage card.

GRiD has not set final pricing for the GRiDPADSL. It will be favorably positioned in the $5,000-$7,000 range quoted by analysts for personal productivity tablets.

GRiD designs, manufactures, markets and services laptop, pen-based, desktop and multimedia computers, pen-based software development tools, electronic mail and networking systems. GRiD, with an extensive direct sales and support organization, demonstrates products at 45 GRiD Systems Centers and sells products through value-added resellers (VARs) and federal systems integrators.

GRiD is located at 47211 Lakeview Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538. GRiD also has offices in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Spain, Sweden, France, Belgium and Denmark.

GRiD is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tandy Corp., Forth Worth, TX.  Tandy is a leading manufacturer and distributor of consumer electronics and computers. A New York Stock Exchange company, Tandy has sales in excess of $4.5 billion annually.

Notes to Editors: GRiDPAD and PenRight! are registered trademarks of GRiD Systems Corp. PenPoint is a trademark of GO Corp. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. Windows for Pen Computing is a trademark of Microsoft Corp.

CONTACT:
GRiD Systems
Mike McGuire or Bob Goligoski, 510/656-4700