DOS Palmtop: Bestar PS-1000 Details and specs
Bestar PS-1000
About this machine:
This Tidalwave PS-1000 clone is actually a quite boring one sometimes found in Germany. They even kept the PS-1000 model name - how original!
Bestar was the supplier for cheap electronics which was favored by German department store chain "Hertie".
So if you are german and remember the name it could also be from cheap radios, cameras, fans and other electric household items.
The company behind Bestar was the Optimus Waren Vertriebs GmbH from Frankfurt.
The only thing they did is order huge quantities of cheap stuff from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan and demand a branding.
They disappeared in the 1990s, probably not long after Hertie was bought out by Karstadt Department stores in 1993.
My guess is that Karstadt didn't have a use for yet another cheap importer and prefered their own ones.
Specs:
CPU: NEC V30 @ 7.15 MHz
Graphics: Monochrome CGA, 80 x 25 character text mode, CGA 2 color monochrome graphics mode
Display: 640 x 200 monochrome Supertwist LCD , 4 grey scales, 7.2 inch
Memory (RAM): 1 MB
ROM (Software): 1.5 MB
I/O ports: RS232 Serial (proprietary cable was included accessory), PCMCIA 1.0 Type I slot, Parallel port (proprietary cable included)
Sound: PC Speaker - Piezo
Operating System: MS-DOS 5.0
Software: MS Works 2.0, RacePen PIM (File manager, scheduler, phone book, etc), Microsoft QBasic
Size: Length 11.5 cm, Width 24.5 cm, Height 2.5 cm (4.5 inches x 9.7 inches x 1 inch)
Powered by: 2 AA batteries - rechargable or non-rechargable or AC adaptor (optional accessory), CR2032 Lithium button cell as memory backup
Weight: 590 gram (21 ounces) including 2 standard AA and CR2032 batteries
Special features: None
Released: 1992
Originally retailed for:: 599 Deutschmark
Clone of: Tidalwave PS-1000
Similar models: Tidalwave PS-1000, ZEOS Pocket PC and all other clones
Pros:
- Fully CGA compliant, so most CGA based DOS appz and games work
- Excellent keyboard
- Can use Flash cards with special driver (Draws much power in standby though)
- Can boot other OS with special "Volume Label" (See Tips and Tricks)
- Can bypass loading default drivers with secret Key Combo (Hold ALT + SHIFT during boot)
Cons:
- Not really the smallest Palmtop ever
- Power management is rather average
Collector Value:
5 of 10
Usage Value:
7 of 10
Verdict:
If you are not living in Germany then this one is quite hard to get hold of, but you won't miss much unless you always wanted a German keyboard and software.
See our Special Page "Tips and tricks and Drivers" for more:
Tidalwave Tools and tricks
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