DOS Palmtop: Rugged Poqet PC Classic Details and specs

Rugged Poqet PC Classic (Poqet PC)

About this machine:

You like your Poqet PC? But you want it to be heavier? Made from solid aluminium? Well in the early 1990s there was a company called "Rugged Digital Systems Inc". You could bring them (or send in) your Poqet PC, pay 3000 USD for the service and get back the rugged version. Since the normal selling price of the poqet was already high (Around 2000 USD when it came out), you would have needed to be very rich and in love with your poqet and not mind the extra weight. I could imagine that some government institutions like military or police would have done that, but at that price tag it's safe to claim that very few private people had used this service. On a side note: With that rugged option changing cards and stuff becomes a bit more difficult.

Specs:

CPU: 80C88 @ 7 MHz
Graphics: Monochrome CGA, 80 x 25 character MDA text mode, CGA 2 color monochrome graphics mode
Display: 640 x 200 monochrome DSTN , 4 grey scales, 4.8 inch
Memory (RAM): 512 KB
ROM (Software): 768 KB
I/O ports: 2 x Type I PCMCIA slots, Proprietary expansion connector port (Serial, parallel, Floppy drive etc can be connected through this)
Sound: PC Speaker - Piezo
Operating System: MS-DOS 3.3
Software: Poqet Tools, Poqet Link
Size: Unknown, but a bit bulkier than original model
Powered by: 2 AA batteries or AC adaptor (optional accessory), CR2032 Lithium button cell as memory backup
Weight: Unknown, but estimated to be around 1Kg?
Special features: RAM can be configured as additional RAMDISK space for saving user files.
Released: August 1989
Originally retailed for:: 3000 USD (Plus whatever your un-rugged Poqet PC would have costed you, so more like 5000 USD)
Clone of: Not a clone.
Similar models: Poqet PC, Poqet PC Plus

Pros:
- Outstanding battery life
- Fully CGA compliant, so most CGA based DOS appz and games work
- Large keyboard
- Pretty durable

Cons:
- Performs rather slow
- Low RAM, even less if you use a RAMdisk
- Not much useful software on ROM
- PCMCIA Type 1 slot only accepts obscure SRAM memory cards and a few rare modems

Collector Value:
10 of 10

Usage Value:
3 of 10

Verdict:
Honestly - it looks pretty durable. I guess it really is. If you ever planned to drop your Poqet on concrete on a daily base give it a usability score of 10. Otherwise it is bulkier, heavier and more inconvenient to use.

Extras (Manual, downloads, etc)

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