Acorn Pocket Book II
 | |
| Acorn Pocket Book II AHB07, the 1 MB model (photo: Chris Whytehead, CC BY-SA 3.0) | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Psion, for Acorn Computers |
| Type | Palmtop computer (rebadged Psion Series 3a) |
| Released | September 1994 |
| CPU | NEC V30H at 7.68 MHz |
| Memory | 256 KB, 512 KB or 1 MB RAM |
| Storage | Two Solid State Disk (SSD) slots |
| Display | 480 × 160 monochrome LCD, up to 80 × 25 characters |
| Sound | Loudspeaker and microphone; DTMF dialling, digital recording and playback |
| ROM | 2 MB (Acorn); 1 MB (Chris's Acorns) |
| Power | 2 × AA alkaline cells; lithium backup cell; optional AHA35 mains adaptor |
| Dimensions | 165 × 85 × 22 mm |
| Weight | 275 g including batteries |
| OS / Firmware | — |
| Predecessor | Acorn Pocket Book |
| Model no. | AHB05 (256K), AHB06 (512K), AHB07 (1 MB) |
The Acorn Pocket Book II is Acorn Computers' version of the Psion Series 3a, announced in September 1994 as the successor to the Acorn Pocket Book. It has the Series 3a's 7.68 MHz NEC V30H, its 480 × 160 screen, twice the area of the Pocket Book's, and its sound recording, with Acorn's own set of built-in applications for schools.[1][2]
The hardware is the Series 3a's, so the wiki's Psion pages cover its care and repair: Psion Series 3a General Maintenance, Psion Series 3a Troubleshooting Guide, Psion Series 3a Hinge Repair and the hosted Psion Series 3a Service Manual, whose spares lists include Pocket Book II main boards with 256 KB, 512 KB and 1 MB.[3]
Differences from the Psion Series 3a
[edit | edit source]From the outside, the only difference Chris Whytehead found between his Psion 3a and his Pocket Book II is the logos. Open, the Pocket Book II has an Acorn key in place of the Psion key and different application names, with minor differences in the applications themselves.[2]
The built-in applications are Cards (database), Write (word processor with spelling checker), Schedule (diary), Abacus (a Lotus 1-2-3 compatible spreadsheet), Spell, Time, Plotter (graph plotting), World, Calc (scientific calculator), Record (sound recorder) and an OPL editor.[1] Schedule and Plotter were the additions over the first Pocket Book.[1]
Model and specification conflicts
[edit | edit source]Acorn's September 1994 announcement gives 256K or 512K of RAM and 2 MB of ROM.[1] Chris Whytehead lists three models, including a 1 MB AHB07, and gives his AHB07's ROM as 1 MB.[2] His page dates the Pocket Book II both to 1994 and to February 1995, while Acorn's announcement and its brochure APP744 are dated September 1994.[2][1][4] The thickness is 22 mm in Acorn's announcement and 23 mm in Chris Whytehead's table.[1][2]
Connections
[edit | edit source]The serial interface runs at 1.536 Mbit/s and accepts the A-Link (AHA30) to an Acorn 32-bit computer, the Parallel Link (AHA31) for printers, and the PC Link (AHA36) or M Link (AHA37) for PC compatibles and Macintoshes.[1] The A-Link needs RISC OS 3.10 or later. Its cable, Remote Link settings and power notes are on the Acorn Pocket Book page.[1]
Power and batteries
[edit | edit source]Two AA alkaline cells give about 80 hours of continuous use, or two to four months of typical use, and a lithium cell protects the memory while they are changed. RAM SSDs carry their own lithium cell; Flash SSDs need none.[1] On Chris Whytehead's machine the backup cell sits under the white label beside the SSD slots.[2] For battery care and the backup cell, see Psion Series 3a General Maintenance; for leaked cells, see Battery Explosion, Capacitor or Corrosion Damage.
Documentation
[edit | edit source]- File:Acorn Pocket Book II brochure (APP744).pdf: Acorn's September 1994 brochure.
- Psion Series 3a Service Manual and Psion Series 3a User Guide, for the same hardware.
- File:Acorn Pocket Book A-Link 2 Guide.pdf: the A-Link and PocketFS guide.
Gallery
[edit | edit source]-
Closed (photo: Chris Whytehead, CC BY-SA 3.0) -
Underside with the SSD covers open; the backup cell is under the white label (photo: Chris Whytehead, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Psion Series 3a
- Psion Series 3a General Maintenance
- Psion Series 3a Troubleshooting Guide
- Psion Series 3a Hinge Repair
- Acorn Pocket Book
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Acorn Computers, Pocket Book II announcement, September 1994. Text via Chris's Acorns. Built-in applications; screen twice the Pocket Book's area; specification (size, weight, screen, 2 MB ROM, 256K or 512K RAM, NEC V30H at 7.68 MHz, sound, power, 58-key keyboard, 0 to 50 °C, 1.536 Mbit/s serial interface, A-Link, Parallel Link, PC Link and M Link options); A-Link needs RISC OS 3.10 or later.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Whytehead, Chris. "Acorn Pocket Book II" and "Psion 3a", Chris's Acorns, The Centre for Computing History (retrieved 2026-10-02). Rebadged Psion 3a following the Pocket Book "in February 1995"; models AHB05 (256K), AHB06 (512K) and AHB07 (1 MB); his AHB07 (serial 73-AHB07-4230225) with photographs and specification (NEC V30H at 7.68 MHz, 1 MB ROM, 165 × 85 × 23 mm, 275 g, 480 × 160 pixels); lithium backup cell under the label beside the SSD slots; comparison with a Psion 3a.
- ↑ Psion PLC, Series 3a Service Manual, version 1.0, June 1996, part no. 6103-0114-01. Hosted on this wiki: Psion Series 3a Service Manual. Spares kits (pp. 7 and 8), including Pocket Book II main boards.
- ↑ Acorn Computers, Pocket Book II, brochure APP744, first edition, September 1994. Hosted on this wiki: File:Acorn Pocket Book II brochure (APP744).pdf.