The PalmOS powered wristwatch from Fossil

Date:
Sat, 30 Apr 2022 19:40:42 GMT

Description:
Imagine a smartwatch you could load any PalmOS app you wanted onto. We had that... about 20 years ago.

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After I published my list of The Nerdiest Wristwatches of All Time my inbox was flooded with E-Mails reminding me of all of the nerdy watches I should have included.

Oh, boy. So many emails. Turns out, there are some pretty strong opinions out there when it comes to nerdy watches!

Of the nerdy watches that Lunduke obviously should have included one stood
out at me. The Fossil Wrist PDA

This sucker, released back in 2003, was a full PalmOS PDA. Except it was on your wrist.

For a watch from 20 years ago, it had some pretty fun specs!

Full version of PalmOS 4.1.2

66 MHz Dragonball CPU

8 MB of RAM, 4 MB of Flash

160 x 160 monochrome touchscreen (standard PalmOS resolution)

USB port (for charging and syncing)

An Infrared port (that could be used, among other things, as a remote
control)

The battery life wasnt amazing but wasnt terrible, either. When in watch
face mode (meaning it was displaying the time), it had a stated runtime of 1 to 2 days between charges. In standby mode (screen off), it was supposed to last for a week or more.

One of the biggest complaints of the watch was the size and weight. If you look at the pictures, it is a little bulky. But not overwhelmingly so. And the whole thing weighed 5.7 ounces (or about a third of a pound). Enough
that you would definitely notice the weight but not crazy heavy.

But all of that bulk gave the ability to run stock, standard PalmOS applications. Which is incredibly cool. I mean, there are office suites for PalmOS imaging running a spreadsheet program on your wristwatch. Thats just downright nifty.

When new, the Fossil Wrist PDA (also sold under the Abacus brand) cost $250. Nowadays, youre lucky to find one of these (used) for less than $500.

Obviously, thats a pretty heft chunk of change to spend on a used, slightly bulky, monochrome watch.

But, I gotta tell ya, I still find that awfully tempting . Because who doesnt want a video game where you attack operating systems with nuclear weapons ? Get 76% off for 1 year





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Link to news story: https://lunduke.substack.com/p/the-palmos-powered-wristwatch-from


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