Atari ST Pad

The Atari ST Pad, also promoted as the STylus, was a pen-operated tablet computer based on compact ST hardware. Its pressure-sensitive 640x400 monochrome display replaced the normal keyboard and mouse, while an external keyboard could be connected when conventional input was required.

First shown at CeBIT in March 1991, the prototype used TOS 2.08, 1MB of RAM and removable JEIDA memory cards instead of a floppy drive. Atari planned a 1992 launch but cancelled the project, leaving it as an early example of a full-size pen computer.

Notable Features

• Pressure-sensitive pen input on a 640x400 monochrome screen.
• Used removable JEIDA memory cards and omitted the keyboard, mouse and floppy drive.
• Supported an optional external keyboard and docking-style expansion.

Historical Significance

• Presented at CeBIT 1991 as the ST Pad and later promoted under the STylus name.
• Anticipated later pen computers but was cancelled before its planned 1992 release.

Collector’s Notes

• Only prototype machines and development material survive.
• ST Pad, ST-PAD and STylus all refer to the same Atari project.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Atari ST Pad
Manufacturer	Atari
Launched	Friday, March 1, 1991
Discontinued	Cancelled
Launch Price	Proposed about US$1,500
Country	United States
CPU	Motorola MC68000 at 8 MHz
Units Sold
I/O	ACSI/floppy, parallel, serial, keyboard and compact MIDI connections
Expansion	120-pin docking connector
Sound	Three-channel PSG
Storage	JEIDA removable memory cards up to 4MB; no internal floppy
Input	Pen input; optional external keyboard
Display	640x400 monochrome pressure-sensitive LCD
Operating System	TOS 2.08
ROM	512KB
RAM	1MB
CPU Speed	8 MHz