The Tandy Pocket Computer PC-3, released in 1983, was a compact, credit-card-sized programmable calculator/computer sold by Radio Shack. Marketed as an affordable ultra-portable BASIC machine, it targeted students, hobbyists, and professionals needing quick calculations or simple programs on the go. Though limited, it represented an early step toward true pocket computing.
The PC-3 was a rebadged version of the Sharp PC-1500, designed and manufactured by Sharp Corporation in Japan. Radio Shack licensed many Sharp pocket computers (PC-1 through PC-8 series), adding Tandy branding and selling them through its extensive U.S. store network. The underlying design came from Sharp's engineering team, with the PC-3 being one of the smallest in the lineup.
Introduced in 1983 at $99.95 (later reduced), the PC-3 was positioned as a cheaper alternative to the more capable PC-2 and a competitor to Casio and Sharp's own programmable calculators. It sold modestly but was overshadowed by larger pocket computers and the emerging home computer boom. Production ended around 1985 as attention shifted to newer models like the PC-4 and TRS-80 Model 100 portable.
The PC-3 used a Sharp LH5801 8-bit microprocessor (CMOS for low power). Key features included:
Weighed just a few ounces, easily fitting in a shirt pocket.
Full Microsoft BASIC in ROM supported floating-point math, loops, subroutines, and PEEK/POKE. Programs could manipulate the display and generate tones. A small library of commercial cassettes and user-written programs emerged for math, finance, games (e.g., simple adventure or dice simulators), and data logging. The CE-150 add-on provided 4-color plotting and thermal printing.
The PC-3 offered true programmability in an ultra-portable form factor years before modern PDAs or smartphones. It appealed to engineers, students, and early adopters wanting a pocket computer rather than just a calculator. While not a commercial blockbuster, it introduced many to BASIC programming and demonstrated the potential of battery-powered portable computing. Today, the PC-3 is a sought-after collectible among vintage pocket computer enthusiasts, with active communities sharing programs and building modern interfaces.