The Golden Age of HP Palmtop PCs

Between 1991 and 2002, Hewlett-Packard manufactured a line of portable, palmtop computers that set new standards for what was possible for pocket-sized machines. Through successive generations, the machines allowed users to perform many desktop computing functions on the go—something that we take completely for granted today.

In fact, in the age of the iPhones and Android, most of us have probably forgotten (or are completely unaware) of just how innovative these gadgets were at the time.

HP's Golden Age of palmtops began with the 95LX, which was the first pocket PC to run a full version of Microsoft MS-DOS. Successive machines added Windows CE, color displays, integrated sound recorders and modems, and more, almost always staying on the cutting edge of portable computing.

Eventually, handheld PDAs that used styluses for input, then smartphones, crowded handheld PCs out of the marketplace, and the final HP palmtop shipped in 2002. But what an amazing world it was when these mighty mites reigned. In honor of these tiny forgotten wonders, I've pulled together a collection of HP palmtops that represent a good variety of the firm's portable offerings over the years.

The list is by no means comprehensive, of course, so feel free to share your favorite HP palmtops (and memories of using them) in the comments.