A computer that's not programmable sounds like a contradiction in terms, yet this is precisely the current trend in handheld computing. There is a multitude of handheld devices, pocket PCs, data collection devices and the like that offer no end-user programmability.

8-bit Pocket Computers

While most 8-bit pocket computers were end-user programmable in BASIC, a few models existed with no end-user programmability. Instead, these models typically had cartridge slots where third-party program ROMS could be inserted. Curiously, many of these early machines were used as language translation devices, with optional modules for a variety of languages.

Craig
Yet another once widely known, but long gone manufacturer of calculators, Craig also produced a handheld computer.
- Model Type Display Programming model Programming features Memory Special functions
Craig M-100 M-100 Pocket computer 16 VFD characters N/A N/A N/A Cartridge slots

 

Nixdorf
Before it was swallowed up by the Siemens empire, Nixdorf was a pre-eminent computer corporation in Germany. Their only handheld product, the LK-3000, was a multifunction device with a ROM socket.
- Model Type Display Programming model Programming features Memory Special functions
Nixdorf LK-3000 LK-3000 Pocket computer LED N/A N/A N/A Cartridge slot

 

Quasar
One of the earliest "HHC" (Hand Held Computer) was, in fact, another model that was not end-user programmable.
- Model Type Display Programming model Programming features Memory Special functions
Quasar HHC HHC Pocket computer 16 VFD characters N/A N/A N/A Cartridge slots

 

Sharp
Some of Sharp's pocket computers were similar to their line of BASIC machines, but offerred no end-user programmability.
- Model Type Display Programming model Programming features Memory Special functions
Sharp PC-1270 PC-1270 N/A LCD N/A N/A N/A Cartridge slot

 

Data Collection Devices

An important industrial activity is to collect data "in the field", such as scanning barcodes of items stored in warehouses. Many manufacturers produced data collection devices that ran standard or custom applications, were optionally equipped with a barcode wand, and offered a communication interface for uploading the data that was collected to a central database.

Datalogic
Datalogic is an Italian manufacturer of handheld industrial computer products. The PC-32E, an early Z-80 based model, was a "lucky find" on eBay.
- Model Type Display Programming model Programming features Memory Special functions
Datalogic PC-32E PC-32E Data collection N/A N/A N/A N/A I/O

 

Windows CE

Windows is becoming ubiquitous. In the mid-1990s, Microsoft introduced a new, highly modular version of Windows specifically designed for handheld/pocket computers and embedded systems. It has since become widely used in many pocket and handheld devices, embedded automobile systems, and more. Unlike other versions of Windows, Windows CE is available in source code form and can be heavily customized by OEMs.

Windows CE devices offer no end-user programmability. Programming is accomplished through a cross-compiler running on the PC Windows platform.

Hewlett-Packard
One of the first manufacturers of Windows CE machines, HP remains a preeminent manufacturer in this field.
- Model Type Display Programming model Programming features Memory Special functions
Hewlett-Packard 320LX HP-320LX Handheld PC 640×240 grayscale LCD pixels Windows CE 1.0 Win32 API 4 MB Pen, serial port, PCMCIA, CompactFlash, infrared
Hewlett-Packard Jornada 720 Jornada 720 Handheld PC 640×240 TFT color LCD pixels Windows CE 3.0 Win32 API 32 MB Pen, serial port, PCMCIA, CompactFlash, smartcard, infrared