Convergent Technologies
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Convergent Technologies of Santa Clara, California introduced the Worslate the same time as the Tandy Model 100. Although it was about the same size of the Model 100, the Workslate was primarily a spreadsheet machine. No other software could be loaded except some application which was adaptations of the basic spreadsheet program.
The Workslate used a CMOS version of the old 6800 processor and 16B KB of RAM. RAM size couldn't be extended and allowed a limited 720 cells spreadsheet to be filled. The keyboard with circular rubber-keys was hard-to-use for text entry. However, with its phone book, memo pad, and financial calculator, the Workslate was designed for those who only wanted a business tool and didn't want to learn about computers.
Also built-in were a tape drive able to record and play data's or voice annotations, a 300-baud modem and a printer port.
The Workslate was first launched in the American Express Christmas catalog, and was sold as a high-tech novelty product. But no one was interested in buying a limited spreadsheet machine for $895. Convergent Technology planned to sell 200,000 units within a year, but only 5,000 systems were sold in the U.S.A plus some hundreds in Europe. The product was discontinued in July 1984, and the company lost about $15 million.
If you notice the keyboard has a "DoIt" key. The President of the fledgling company Allen Michaels used to roam the halls of the company at night and spray paint "DoIT" everywhere, hence the key name.
The Workslate used a CMOS version of the old 6800 processor and 16B KB of RAM. RAM size couldn't be extended and allowed a limited 720 cells spreadsheet to be filled. The keyboard with circular rubber-keys was hard-to-use for text entry. However, with its phone book, memo pad, and financial calculator, the Workslate was designed for those who only wanted a business tool and didn't want to learn about computers.
Also built-in were a tape drive able to record and play data's or voice annotations, a 300-baud modem and a printer port.
The Workslate was first launched in the American Express Christmas catalog, and was sold as a high-tech novelty product. But no one was interested in buying a limited spreadsheet machine for $895. Convergent Technology planned to sell 200,000 units within a year, but only 5,000 systems were sold in the U.S.A plus some hundreds in Europe. The product was discontinued in July 1984, and the company lost about $15 million.
If you notice the keyboard has a "DoIt" key. The President of the fledgling company Allen Michaels used to roam the halls of the company at night and spray paint "DoIT" everywhere, hence the key name.
| NAME | Workslate |
| MANUFACTURER | Convergent Technologies |
| TYPE | Portable |
| ORIGIN | U.S.A. |
| YEAR | December 1982 |
| END OF PRODUCTION | July 1984 |
| BUILT IN LANGUAGE | None |
| KEYBOARD | 61 rubber keys with numeric keypad and 5 function keys |
| CPU | Hitachi 6303 (CMOS version of the Motorola 6800) |
| SPEED | 1.228 MHz. |
| RAM | 16 KB |
| ROM | 64 KB |
| TEXT MODES | 46 chars x 16 lines. LCD display |
| GRAPHIC MODES | Unknown |
| COLOrsc | Monochrome |
| SOUND | Unknown |
| SIZE / WEIGHT | 28 (W) x 21.5 (D) x 2.5 (H) cm. / 1.5 Kg. |
| I/O PORTS | Telephone jack, Printer |
| BUILT IN MEDIA | Micro-cassette drive |
| POWER SUPPLY | 4 x AA size batteries or AC adaptor |
| PERIPHERALS | Printer, universal peripheral adapter |
| PRICE | $1795 - Pen-type printer/plotter: $399 |
