Acorn Pocket Book
 | |
| Acorn Pocket Book AHB03 (photo: Chris Whytehead, CC BY-SA 3.0) | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Psion, for Acorn Computers |
| Type | Palmtop computer (rebadged Psion Series 3) |
| Released | 1992 |
| Intro price | £249.95 including VAT (£212.72 ex VAT) |
| CPU | NEC V30H (3.84 MHz in Acorn's brochure) |
| Memory | 256 KB RAM; 384 KB ROM |
| Storage | Two Solid State Disk (SSD) slots |
| Display | 240 × 80 monochrome LCD |
| Sound | — |
| Power | 2 × AA alkaline cells; lithium backup cell |
| Dimensions | 165 × 85 × 22 mm |
| Weight | 265 g |
| OS / Firmware | — |
| Successor | Acorn Pocket Book II |
| Model no. | AHB03 |
The Acorn Pocket Book is Acorn Computers' version of the Psion Series 3 palmtop, launched in 1992 for schools. The hardware is Psion's; Acorn changed the logos and the built-in applications, and sold its own links for transferring files to Acorn, PC and Macintosh computers. It runs Series 3 software.[1][2] Acorn's launch announcement priced it at £249.95 including VAT.[3]
Because the Pocket Book is a Series 3, the wiki's Psion pages cover its care and repair: Psion Series 3 General Maintenance, Psion Series 3 Troubleshooting Guide and Psion Series 3 Hinge Repair.
Differences from the Psion Series 3
[edit | edit source]The built-in applications on the Pocket Book are Cards (a database), Write, Abacus, Time, Calc and Spell, with two programmable keys, Key1 and Key2, on the application button row.[1] Abacus is a cut-down version of Psion's spreadsheet with the financial calculations removed, for educational use.[1] A Schedule diary and a Plotter graphing program were sold separately, and Acorn's launch announcement mentions adding a diary program on a solid state disc.[1][3] Chris Whytehead describes the built-in applications and the Acorn logos as the main differences from the Psion machine, and Psion and Acorn SSDs are interchangeable.[1]
Acorn's brochure gives the processor as an NEC V30H at 3.84 MHz, the same figure the wiki's Series 3 page gives. Chris Whytehead's specification table says 4.7 MHz.[2][1]
Accessories
[edit | edit source]| Code | Product |
|---|---|
| AHA20 | 128K RAM SSD |
| AHA21, AHA22 | 256K and 512K Flash SSDs |
| AHA30 | A-Link (to an Acorn 32-bit computer) |
| AHA31 | Printer adaptor (parallel) |
| AHA35 | Mains adaptor |
| AHA36 | PC Link |
| AHA37 | M Link (Apple Macintosh) |
| AHA41 | OPL Editor |
| AHA42 | Schedule (diary and timetable) |
| AHA44 | Plotter |
RAM SSDs keep their contents with their own lithium cell when out of the machine; Flash SSDs need no battery but can only be reused by reformatting, which erases them.[1] The printer adaptor works with the Pocket Book, the Pocket Book II and the Psion Series 3.[1]
A-Link
[edit | edit source]The A-Link is a two-part cable, a 9-pin serial lead for the Acorn computer and an interface with a 6-pin plug for the Pocket Book, with PocketFS software that shows the Pocket Book's files as a directory on the RISC OS desktop and converts common file types.[4][1]
- PocketFS needs RISC OS 3.1 or later. An A3000 needs Acorn's serial port upgrade first.[4]
- Switch the Acorn computer off before connecting or disconnecting the cable at that end. The Pocket Book can stay on.[4]
- On the Pocket Book, turn on Remote Link and set it to 9600 baud.[4]
- The link stops working while either SSD door is open.[4]
- The A-Link draws its power from the Pocket Book and may switch off suddenly if the batteries are low. Acorn recommends the AHA35 mains adaptor while using it.[4]
Power and batteries
[edit | edit source]Two AA alkaline cells give about 80 hours of use, and a lithium cell keeps the memory while they are changed.[2] For battery care and the backup cell, see Psion Series 3 General Maintenance; for leaked cells, see Battery Explosion, Capacitor or Corrosion Damage.
Documentation
[edit | edit source]- File:Acorn Pocket Book brochure (APP475).pdf: Acorn's 1992 brochure with the specification.
- File:Acorn Pocket Book A-Link 2 Guide.pdf: the A-Link and PocketFS guide.
- Psion's own Series 3 documentation is listed on the Psion Series 3 page.
Gallery
[edit | edit source]-
Closed (photo: Chris Whytehead, CC BY-SA 3.0) -
Two Pocket Books (photo: Snowmanradio, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Psion Series 3
- Psion Series 3 General Maintenance
- Psion Series 3 Troubleshooting Guide
- Psion Series 3 Hinge Repair
- Acorn Pocket Book II
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Whytehead, Chris. "Pocket Book" and "Acorn Pocket Book", Chris's Acorns, The Centre for Computing History (retrieved 2026-10-02). OEM version of the Psion 3 launched in 1992, with different built-in applications and Acorn logos; product codes AHB03 and the accessories; Abacus a cut-down version of Psion's Sheet with the financial functions removed; his AHB03 (serial 73-AHB03-1017117) with photographs and specification (NEC V30 at 4.7 MHz, 384K ROM, 256K RAM, 165 × 85 × 22 mm, 265 g, 240 × 80 pixels, two AA cells and a lithium backup cell, two SSD slots).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Acorn Computers, Acorn Pocket Book, brochure APP 475, first edition, August 1992. Hosted on this wiki: File:Acorn Pocket Book brochure (APP475).pdf. NEC V30H at 3.84 MHz, 256K RAM, 384K ROM, 58-key keyboard with 8 touch-sensitive application keys, two AA cells for about 80 hours and a lithium backup cell, 1.54 Mbit/s serial port, A-Link and parallel link options.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Acorn Computers, announcement "Acorn Launches Pocket Book", 1992, posted to comp.sys.acorn.announce. Text via Chris's Acorns. Word processor, database, spreadsheet, calculator and alarm; optional Archimedes link; 1.54 Mbit/s serial port; about 80 hours from two AA cells; £249.95 including VAT.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Acorn Computers, Acorn Pocket Book A-Link 2 Guide. Hosted on this wiki: File:Acorn Pocket Book A-Link 2 Guide.pdf. Requirements (RISC OS 3.1 or later); packing list; connecting the cable; Remote Link at 9600 baud; SSD doors; powering the A-Link from the Pocket Book and the AHA35 mains adaptor.