Pocket Book closedAcorn launched the Pocket Book in 1992 (Pocket Book Launch press release). The Pocket Book is an OEM version of the Psion 3. The main difference was in the built-in applications and, of course, the Acorn logos. The Pocket Book was designed for use in schools and can be linked to Acorn, Mac or Windows computers with special links and software that automatically converts common file formats. The Pocket Book can run Psion Series 3 software so there is a wealth of applications available.
In addition to the normal products, Acorn also produced class packs, usually of 11 items which were sold with a different product code. These class packs are not shown in the product codes below.
The Pocket Book models were:
Here are some pictures of the Pocket Book:
Pocket Book closed
Pocket Book open
Pocket Book bottom
Pocket Book showing SSDs
Pocket Book User Guide
Specification:
| Model | AHB03 |
| Serial No. | 73-AHB03-1017117 |
| Launch date | 1992 |
| CPU | NEC V30 |
| CPU Clock | 4.7MHz |
| ROM | 384K |
| RAM | 256K |
| Power | 2 x AA batteries Lithium cell backup |
| Expansion | 2 x SSD |
| Size | 165 x 85 x 22mm |
| Weight | 265g |
| Screen | 240 x 80 pixels 8 lines of 40 char |
The Pocket Book II followed the Pocket Book in February1995. It iswas a rebadged Psion 3a with an NEC V30 CPU running at twice the speed of the Pocket Book, it also had the larger screen which is twice the size of the Pocket Book. See the Pocket Book II Launch press release
The Pocketbook II models were:
Here are some pictures:
Pocket Book II closed
Pocket Book II open
Pocket Book II batteries
Pocket Book II bottom
Pocket Book II SSDs
Pocket Book II User Guide
And here are similar pictures of my old Psion 3 for comparison:
Psion 3a closed
Psion 3a open
Psion 3a bottom and SSDs
Specification:
| Model | AHB07 |
| Serial no. | 73-AHB07-4230225 |
| Launch date | 1994 |
| CPU | NEC V30H |
| CPU Clock | 7.68MHz |
| ROM | 1MB |
| RAM | 256KB to 1MB |
| Power | 2 x AA batteries Lithium cell backup |
| Expansion | 2 x SSD |
| Size | 165 x 85 x 23mm |
| Weight | 275g |
| Screen | 480 x 160 pixels |
In addition to the Pocket Book Acorn branded peripherals were launched, in most cases based on Psion products, but modified as needed. Here is the Pocket Book Range in September 1994 when the Pocket Book II was launched. The product codes include:
Here are some examples:
The Pocket Book Parallel Printer Adaptor connects the Pocket book to a wide range of standard (in 1992!) printers e.g. Canon BJ-10e, Canon BJ-30 IBM proprinter X24E Epson RX, Epson LJ.
Pocket Book Printer Adaptor
The Pocket Book A-link connects a Pocket Book to an Archimedes and with the PocketFS application running on the Archimedes allows files to be transferred between the 2 computers and converted to an appropriate format.. On the Archimedes, you can open a directory RISC OS display of the Pocket Book files and files can be copied, renamed, deleted etc an in any other directory.
The A-link cable
The Acorn Pocket Book A-Link 2 Guide gives more details of how to set up and use A-Link.
Acorn produced two different types of Solid State Discs(SSD). RAM discs which are normal read/write discs with a backup battery to protect the contents when the SSD is removed from the Pocket Book and Flash discs which are write-once discs which preserved their dat. The Flash SSD can be reformatted, but all data is lost.
Acorn 128K RAM disk
Most Acorn computers have BBC Basic as their built in programming language, Psion computers have OPL (Organiser Programming Language) as their built in programming Language. Psion has developed OPL from the early Psion Organisers and enhanced to support each new model. The Pocket Book can run OPL programs but the OPL Editor is needed to write and translate OPL modules.
OPL Programming Lanaguage
Abacus is the Pocket Book's spreadsheet application. It is a cutdown version of Psion's Sheet application for educational use and has the financial calculations removed.
