DOS Palmtop: Okii Mura Palmtop Details and specs

Okii Mura Palmtop

About this machine:

From the name you'd expect a Japanese machine. From the keyboard and software another American Tidalwave clone you'd think. Both is wrong. The Okii Mura palmtop was actually a Mexican product. Well at least from that sticker, as we all know it came from Taiwan like all the other Tidalwave palmtops. Pretty much nothing is known about that company. Some mysterious Mr. Garcia has registered "Okii Mura" and the logo as a trademark in Mexico and the United States, apparently having addresses in both countries. These palmtops seem to have been sold mainly in Argentina as they still appear there from time to time. Some also appeared in Uruguay and from the sticker on the machine you'd think it would make sense to sell them in Mexico. The sad part being that all these countries are Spanish speaking and they have to cope with a US keyboard and English DOS and MS-Works. Well i guess Tidalwave never offered Spanish versions of their hardware and seeing that these machines are quite rare i guess the volume of sale from Okii Mura would not have justified making a custom keyboard and software. The palmtop was the only product of this company it seems. If you look at the adress of the company in Mexico via google maps you only find an abandoned building. I doubt this palmtop was a big success. On a side note: I'd translate "okii mura" from Japanese as "big village".

Specs:

CPU: NEC V30 @ 7.15 MHz
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): 1 MB
ROM (Software): 1.5 MB
I/O ports: RS232 Serial (proprietary cable was included accessory), PCMCIA 1.0 Type I slot, Parallel port (proprietary cable included)
Sound: PC Speaker - Piezo
Operating System: MS-DOS 5.0
Software: MS Works 2.0, RacePen PIM (File manager, scheduler, phone book, etc), Microsoft QBasic
Size: Length 11.5 cm, Width 24.5 cm, Height 2.5 cm (4.5 inches x 9.7 inches x 1 inch)
Powered by: 2 AA batteries - rechargable or non-rechargable or AC adaptor (optional accessory), CR2032 Lithium button cell as memory backup
Weight: 590 gram (21 ounces) including 2 standard AA and CR2032 batteries
Special features: None
Released: June 1992
Originally retailed for:: 595 USD (Raw guess based on other Tidalwave clones)
Clone of: Tidalwave PS-1000
Similar models: Tidalwave PS-1000, Highscreen Handy Organizer and all other clones

Pros:
- Fully CGA compliant, so most CGA based DOS appz and games work
- Excellent keyboard

Cons:
- No support for flash cards
- Not really the smallest Palmtop ever
- Power management is rather average
- No way to boot a different OS and no way to bypass loading the drivers for cards and keyboard

Collector Value:
8 of 10

Usage Value:
7 of 10

Verdict:
One of the rarest TidalWave clones. Hey at least it's an American version. Otherwise pretty much like all other TidalWave clones.

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