Atari Portfolio

Most known pocket PC, Atari Portfolio, is a small PC with non-backlit LCD and keyboard. Its logic and software was designed in UK by DIP Research, but licensed to Atari and manufactured under Atari Portfolio brand. DIP bought some of these computers and branded them as DIP PC (photo). The mechanics and circuit board have been made in Japan. To re-sell the portable, DIP Systems has been created, later known as Pico Direct. The DIP Research finally has been acquired by Phoenix Technologies (thanks to David for this info!) and Pico Direct closed.
DIP DOS operating system was more or less compatible with MS-DOS 2.11 and less, but some compatible with MS-DOS 3. Portfolio had DIP DOS in ROM, as well as simple PIM application, text editor and spreadsheet. Portfolio was run by Intel 80C88 processor, had BeeCard (edge connector card designed in 1980s to expand MSX computers) memory expansion slot and connector to dock it to the interface. Power was 3 AA cells, rechargeable or not.
LCD is quite poor, but keyboard is good, comparing to HP 200LX it has better keys, but not so good ergonomy. Or maybe I just got used to 200LX? The keys are a bit risen on the side closer to display, so it's comfortable when typing and have a feedback.

Manufacturer Atari / DIP Research

Origin UK, USA (Atari), made in Japan
Year of unit 1989
Year of introduction 1989
Type Palmtop, PC
CPU Intel 80C88, 4.9512MHz
RAM 128kB
Floppy Disk None
Hard Disk None, 32kB RAM disk
Other media BeeCard (up to 2MB)
Graphics and display: Monochrome, non-backlit LCD, 40x8 text mode, 260x64 graphics mode.
Sound: PC Speaker
Keyboard: 63-key membrane, plastic keys.
OS: DIP-DOS in ROM (~MS-DOS 2.x compatible), Productivity software in ROM

Power supply:

1 - Ground
2 - +6V DC

Or just 3 AA batteries.
I/O:  - Docking station connector allowing to add serial or parallel port.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Possible upgrades:  - RAM disk expansion
 - Some peripherals
Additional peripherals:   

 

Without memory card you have about 32kB of RAM disk. Without interface you won't be able to transfer files to/from Portfolio as it has no connectors except docking and memory expansion. There were ISA cards for reading Portfolio cards in a normal PC, but they're rare.

An interesting easter egg is present. Open any non-menu help screen and press Alt-[. It will show a window with developer names (see image on the right).

 

Portfolio emulator
Connecting IDE HDD to Portfolio - not tested - strange, disk is used in 2MB partitions, with parallel port speed.
Portfolio schematics (poor quality)
Portfolio Expansions schematics (serial, parallel interfaces, memory expansions) drawn by M. Geisler
Portfolio FAQ (1992)


Contents: Transferring files Pinouts Links

Transferring files using interface

I don't have this interface! Info from the Internet:

Portfolio parallel interface manual

DOS File Transfer Program

Alternative menu-driven DOS program

To transfer files FT or FTMenu program should be used in PURE DOS with parallel cable connected between Portfolio and PC.   

Transfolio - Alternative to above mentioned method

Both not tested!.

 

Up

 

 

Pinouts

Memory card expansion
1 - A16
2 - A15
3 - VBB (+ of battery)
4 - A12
5 - A7
6 - A6
7 - A5
8 - A4
9 - A3
10 - A2
11 - A1
12 - A0
13 - D0
14 - D1
15 - D2
16 - GND
17 - D3
18 - D4
19 - D5
20 - D6
21 - D7
22 - CE
23 - A10
24 - OE
25 - A11
26 - A9
27 - A8
28 - A13
29 - A14
30 - WE
31 - +5V
32 - CDET - Card presence detection

Docking station

1 - ABUF
3 - REDY
5 - BCOM
7 - NMD1
9 - DTR
11 - PDET
13 - CCLK
15 - HLDA
17 - IACK
19 - IOM
21 - A18
23 - A16
25 - A14
27 - A12
29 - A10
31 - A8
33 - HLDI
35 - GND
37 - OA7
39 - OA5
41 - OA3
43 - OA1
45 - AD0
47 - AD2
49 - AD4
51 - AD6
53 - EINT
55 - VEXT
57 - BATD
59 - 5VS		 2 - 5VS
4 - VCC
6 - NCC1
8 - WAKE
10 - DEN
12 - IINT
14 - MRST
16 - HLDO
18 - CDET
20 - A19
22 - A17
24 - A15
26 - A13
28 - A11
30 - A9
32 - VRAM
34 - ALE
36 - NMIO
38 - OA6
40 - OA4
42 - OA2
44 - OA0
46 - AD1
48 - AD3
50 - AD5
52 - AD7
54 - NRDI
56 - EACK
58 - NWRI
60 - BBUF

Up

 

 

Links

http://ftp.pigwa.net/stuff/mirror/www.umich.edu/%257Earchive/atari/Portfolio/index.html - Programs!
http://www.pofo.website.pl/ - Polish Portfolio site with some software and description
http://web.archive.org/web/20140403101022/http://www.atari-portfolio.co.uk/ - Portfolio English pages
http://portfolio.wz.cz/ - I recommend seeing this page. it's in Czech, but many things can be understood from pictures. There's a DIY memory card shown with schematic and photos (see Hardware -> Pamet'ove Karty) as schematics of interfaces.
http://portfolio.wz.cz/download.php?nameaddr=/HARDWARE/PHOTO - Portfolio's internals.
http://web.archive.org/web/20130225104435/http://gem.win.co.nz/mb/pofo/ - Portfolio internal RAM upgrade