Pen-Based Computing History Museum
Under Construction
2026 / SUMMER EXHIBITION
GCFeatured Exhibition

GO Corporation
and the Vision of
Pen-Based Computing

GO Corporation's PenPoint, released in 1991, was the first operating system designed from the ground up for pen input rather than keyboard — pioneering gesture commands, embedded handwriting recognition, and a notebook metaphor that would echo through every stylus and touch system that followed.

GO Corporation and the Vision of Pen-Based Computing
Now on view
Permanent collection
Artifacts
Approx. 30,000
Catalogued
143
Timeline span
1987 — 2007
Recorded events
1111 milestones

Exhibitions
now on view.

One Special Exhibition Drawn directly from the museum's collection of artifacts, magazines, and primary documents.
GC Featured Exhibition
Under Construction GO Corporation and the Vision of Pen-Based Computing

GO Corporation and the Vision of Pen-Based Computing

GO Corporation's PenPoint, released in 1991, was the first operating system designed from the ground up for pen input rather than keyboard — pioneering gesture commands, embedded handwriting recognition, and a notebook metaphor that would echo through every stylus and touch system that followed.

Explore →

Featured artifacts.

From the collection 18 recently catalogued objects, drawn from 143 in the permanent collection.
View all artifacts
GO Corporation 1993
GO Corporation - Catalog of Products and Services (Letter)

GO Corporation – Catalog of Products and Services (Letter)

GO Corporation
Eidetic, Inc. 1994
Eidetic, Inc. Notion: The Newton List Manager User Manual

Notion: The Newton List Manager User Manual

Eidetic, Inc. · Apple
Metrowerks, Inc. 1996
Metrowerks CodeWarrior Tools for Pilot Package (Front)

Metrowerks CodeWarrior for Pilot (Package)

Metrowerks, Inc. · Case
General Magic, Inc. 1996
General Magic Visitor's Badge (John Jerney, 10/25/96)

General Magic Visitor’s Badge (John Jerney, 10/25/1996)

General Magic, Inc. · General Magic
ParaGraph International, Inc. 1997
ParaGraph International, Inc. CalliGrapher 5.0 for Windows CE Disk (Front)

ParaGraph International, Inc. – CalliGrapher 5.0 for Windows CE (Disk)

ParaGraph International, Inc. · Disk
GO Corporation 1992
GO Corporation - GO Fax Brochure (Front Cover)

GO Corporation – GO Fax Brochure

GO Corporation · Brochure
Apple Computer, Inc. 1994
Apple eWorld (Stickers)

Apple eWorld (Stickers)

Apple Computer, Inc. · Apple
Texas Microsystems, Inc. 1995
Texas Micro – The Soldier’s Computer (Brochure)

Texas Micro – The Soldier’s Computer (Brochure)

Texas Microsystems, Inc. · Brochure
Horizon House Publications, Inc. 1994
Microwave Journal – January 1994 (Cover)

Microwave Journal – January 1994

Horizon House Publications, Inc. · In Collection
Apple Computer, Inc. 1994
Apple Newton MessagePad – Getting Through the Day … (Brochure) – 1

Apple Newton MessagePad Getting Through the Day … (Brochure)

Apple Computer, Inc. · Apple
Avail Technology, Inc. 1994
Avail Technology – Free TapWorks Software Coupon (Front)

Avail Technology Free TapWorks Software (Coupon)

Avail Technology, Inc. · Avail Technologies
Peterborough, Inc. 1987
Portable 100 Magazine – September 1987 (Cover)

Portable 100 – September 1987

Peterborough, Inc. · In Collection
Mobile Insights, Inc. 1995
Mobile Insights ’95 Conference (Side 1)

Mobile Insights ’95 Conference (Brochure)

Mobile Insights, Inc. · Brochure
MicroDesign Resources 1995
Microprocessor Report – February 16,1995 (Cover)

Microprocessor Report – February 16, 1995

MicroDesign Resources · In Collection
Pen Computing Magazine 1997
Pen Computing Magazine – December 1997 (Cover)

Pen Computing Magazine – December 1997

Pen Computing Magazine · In Collection
Pen Computing Magazine 2000
Pen Computing Magazine – November 2000 (Cover)

Pen Computing Magazine – November 2000

Pen Computing Magazine · In Collection
Pen Computing Magazine 1999
Pen Computing Magazine – Fall 1999 Buyer’s Guide (Cover)

Pen Computing Magazine Fall 1999 Buyers Guide

Pen Computing Magazine · In Collection
Pen Computing Magazine 1998
Pen Computing Magazine – April 1998 (Cover)

Pen Computing Magazine – April 1998

Pen Computing Magazine · In Collection

A chronology.

1987 — 2007 Selected from the museum's 1111 catalogued timeline events.
View full timeline
1993Organization
Apple Computer Inc. Reports Record Revenue and Unit Shipments for Fourth Fiscal Quarter
Apple's Newton technology off to a strong start, with unit shipments of the Newton MessagePad exceeding 50,000 units.
1994Hardware
Apple’s Newton Technology Picks Up Even More Awards
International acclaim for Newton technology continues to grow as the groundbreaking personal digital assistant (PDA) platform from Apple Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS: AAPL),…
1995Software
Lexicus Announces Free No-Vowel Demo of Lexicus QuickPrint
Lexicus announces that a free demo version of Lexicus QuickPrint is available on the Internet. The free demo includes consonants only; vowels…
1997Organization
Option International launches UK office
Option International designs, manufactures, and markets mobile data communications solutions for users of portable computers and Personal Digital Assistants.
2001Organization
Xilinx, Handspring, And Portable Design Magazine Announce Winner Of The “Cool Module” Design Contest
The winning "Cool Trak" design measures statistics for bicycle enthusiasts.
2003Organization
J.D. Edwards Information Technology Leadership Award for Collaborative Innovation Given to Jeff Hawkins, Founder of Palm Computing
Industry veteran recognized for leading role in facilitating the sharing of ideas, information, goods and services through technology.
2007Hardware
Apple Reinvents the Phone With iPhone
Apple introduces iPhone, combining three products-a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with…

The collection.

Browse 143 artifacts Indexed by category from the collection.
    HW

    Hardware

    7 items →
    YI

    Young Ideas

    3 items →
    FS

    First Pen Systems

    1 item →
    JS

    John Wiley & Sons

    3 items →
    BO

    Book

    8 items →
    OU

    Olivetti Office USA

    1 item →
    IB

    IBM

    1 item →
    SW

    Software

    17 items →
    TD

    Technical Document

    14 items →
    RM

    Regis McKenna

    1 item →
    CO

    Compiler

    1 item →
    UD

    User Documentation

    11 items →
    ZO

    Zoomer

    2 items →
    NB

    Nicholas Baran

    7 items →

    Pen-Based Computing,
    the newsletter.

    Eight volumes · Sixty five issues The original newsletter — every issue digitized in full (soon).
    Pen-Based Computing – June 20, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 3

    Volume 1 · Issue 03 Pen-Based Computing – June 20, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 3

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – January 22, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 1

    Volume 1 · Issue 01 Pen-Based Computing – January 22, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 1

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – May, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 2

    Volume 1 · Issue 02 Pen-Based Computing – May, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 2

    16 pp
    04 · Donate

    Donate an
    artifact.

    The museum collects hardware, software, manuals, photographs, marketing collateral, oral histories, and ephemera related to the early history of stylus-based computing.

    Learn how to donate →
    05 · Subscribe Coming Soon

    PBCHM
    Monthly.

    Learn about new acquisitions, recovered manuals, oral histories, and unearthed discoveries.

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