DOS Palmtop: Peacock Palmtop PC Details and specs

Peacock Palmtop PC

About this machine:

The peacock palmtop PC is another German Tidalwave clone like so many others. As usual you get a localized Keyboard and German localized Software. Peacock was actually at one time the 7th largest computer distributor in the world. Today few people probably remember this German company that started as a small computer shop in Paderborn/Germany. In 1996 the company started losing much money, reportedly to "bad logistics" and "products that didn't sell". So maybe this palmtop was the beginning of the end. As it is quite rare today in Germany i assume it didn't sell too well. Technically and optically nothing special - just another one of the countless rebranded Tidalwave clones.

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: 1992
Originally retailed for:: Unknown (A raw guess is around 600 Deutschmark)
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:
6 of 10

Usage Value:
7 of 10

Verdict:
If you are not living in Germany this one is quite hard to get hold of, but you won't miss much unless you always wanted a German keyboard.

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