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
144
Timeline span
1987 — 2007
Recorded events
1402 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 144 in the permanent collection.
View all artifacts
Worldwide PenPoint Developers Organization 1993
WPDO Meeting Improvement Questionnaire (February 11, 1993)

WPDO Meeting Improvement Questionnaire (February 11, 1993)

Worldwide PenPoint Developers Organization · Document
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

A chronology.

1987 — 2007 Selected from the museum's 1402 catalogued timeline events.
View full timeline
1992Software
Poqet Computer Announces Availability of padBase Development Environment for PoqetPad
Poqet Computer Corp. announces that it plans to resell padBase Version 3, a complete pen-based application development toolkit from R2Z Inc., for…
1994Organization
Notable and CompuServe Team Up to Offer Out-of-the-Box Functionality
Notable Technologies Inc. and CompuServe Inc. Tuesday announce a bundling agreement to include a CompuServe introductory membership with Mobile Access - Personal.
1996Hardware
Digital’s StrongARM Microprocessor to Power Apple’s New MessagePad 2000, Newton Platform
The StrongARM SA-110 delivers up to 10 times the performance of competitively priced, low-power microprocessors, enabling advanced features such as handwriting recognition…
2000Communications
3Com Reiterates Commitment to Mobile Connectivity With New Product Family, New Leadership and New Facility
3Com Corporation reiterates its commitment to the mobile computing industry by expanding its line of PC Cards.
2001Communications
Active Link Communications Names Former Fujitsu CEO Lou Panetta as Vice President Marketing
Mobility Concepts announces the appointment of former Fujitsu executive Lou Panetta as vice president marketing. He will also serve as a member…
2002Software
Metrowerks Provides Advanced Java Tools for PDAs; CodeWarrior Wireless Studio, PDA Edition, Includes on-Device Debugging Support
Mobile Java application developers are empowered to create professional applications for PDAs with Metrowerks' CodeWarrior Wireless Studio 7, PDA Edition.
2003Organization
Handspring Founder Jeff Hawkins Elected to National Academy of Engineering
Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded an engineer.

The collection.

Browse 144 artifacts Indexed by category from the collection.
    ME

    MessagePad

    3 items →
    NE

    Newsletter

    11 items →
    DR

    Draft

    1 item →
    TC

    Thaddeus Computing

    2 items →
    BO

    Book

    8 items →
    UD

    User Documentation

    11 items →
    ZO

    Zoomer

    2 items →
    PI

    ParaGraph International

    2 items →
    OU

    Olivetti Office USA

    1 item →
    RE

    Rolodex Electronics

    1 item →
    LE

    Letter

    2 items →
    CO

    Coupon

    1 item →
    VB

    Visitor's Badge

    1 item →
    GS

    Gaia Software

    2 items →

    Pen-Based Computing,
    the newsletter.

    Eight volumes · Sixty five issues The original newsletter — every issue digitized in full (soon).
    Pen-Based Computing – May, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 2

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

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – August, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 4

    Volume 1 · Issue 04 Pen-Based Computing – August, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 4

    16 pp
    Pen-Based Computing – November, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 5

    Volume 1 · Issue 05 Pen-Based Computing – November, 1991 – Volume 1, Number 5

    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.

    Powered by
    ►
    Necessary cookies enable essential site features like secure log-ins and consent preference adjustments. They do not store personal data.
    None
    ►
    Functional cookies support features like content sharing on social media, collecting feedback, and enabling third-party tools.
    None
    ►
    Analytical cookies track visitor interactions, providing insights on metrics like visitor count, bounce rate, and traffic sources.
    None
    ►
    Advertisement cookies deliver personalized ads based on your previous visits and analyze the effectiveness of ad campaigns.
    None
    Powered by