DOS Palmtop: Cal-Comp Super Mini PC Details and specs

Cal-Comp Super Mini

About this machine:

At Comdex 1992 Cal-Comp showed their "own" palmtop which might have been just a slightly modified Memorex clone. The notable difference to the "standard" "Super Mini" is that the fn-key was labeled with the cal-comp logo and some additional symbols over the F-keys. Also the BIOS shows Cal-comp Inc and calls it the "Cal-comp pocket" like at comdex. At comdex it was announced as the "Cal-Comp Pocket PC01". The pictured device has a label "Evaluation sample", so it is unknown if this was ever produced.

Specs:

CPU: 80C88-8 (CMOS) @ 4.77Mhz(default) or 7.16Mhz (Turbo mode)
Graphics: Monochrome CGA, 80 x 25 character text mode, CGA 2 color monochrome graphics mode
Display: 640 x 200 monochrome Supertwist LCD , 4 grey scales, 7.2 inch
Memory (RAM): 640 KB
ROM (Software): 640 KB
I/O ports: RS232 Serial, PCMCIA 1.0 Type I slot, Parallel port, 20 Pin Mini D-Sub Connector (Floppy)
Sound: PC Speaker - Piezo
Operating System: DR-DOS 5.0
Software: Just some VERY basic PIM software.
Size: Length 11.0 cm, Width 27.3 cm, Height 2.9 cm
Powered by: 4 AA batteries - rechargable or non-rechargable or AC adaptor (optional accessory), CR2025 Lithium button cell as memory backup
Weight: 580 gram (21 ounces) without batteries
Special features: Full sized parallel and serial ports. Can use full 640 KB as RAM or 512 KB + 128 KB RAM Disk
Released: Maybe never?
Originally retailed for:: Unknown
Clone of: Memorex Commuter Computer.
Similar models: ASI Pocket Computer, Super Mini Pocket Personal Computer

Pros:
- Full size serial and parallel port
- Fully CGA compliant, so most CGA based DOS appz and games work
- Excellent keyboard

Cons:
- PCMCIA Type I won't let you access any flash cards
- Not really the smallest Palmtop ever
- Power management is rather average
- Slow performance
- Small Memory
- Only one PCMCIA slot

Collector Value:
10 of 10

Usage Value:
7 of 10

Verdict:
Slow and big if compared to the HP 200LX. If you don't care about speed and definitely want full size ports you can give it a usability value of 10/10. I have never seen it in the wild besides this "evaluation sample" which belongs to a US collector.

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