This time in Memory Lane, we look at the Tapwave Zodiac.  This Palm OS PDA was not only a great organizer, but also a surprisingly good gaming device.  However it succumbed to pressure from bigger competition like the Sony PlayStation Portable and the Nintendo DS, so it did not last long in the marketplace.

The Zodiac had some impressive specs for any Palm OS device at the time.  It had a 480×320 color display, as well as an analog joystick, audio by Yamaha and graphics by ATI for its gaming circuitry.  In addition, Tapwave put 2 SD card slots into the Zodiac, since that was the format the games came on.

Tapwave was actually able to get an impressive lineup of games together for the Zodiac, including big name titles such as Madden NFL 2005, Duke Nukem Mobile, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4.

The Zodiac came in two models: the 32MB Zodiac 1 and the whopping 128MB Zodiac 2.  At launch, they cost $299 and $399, respectively.  The two models were both encased in anodized aluminum, but the Zodiac 1 was slate grey while the Zodiac 2 was charcoal.

The Zodiac rivaled other high-end Palm OS PDAs back in its day, holding its own against the most extravagant of Sony Clies.  It picked up numerous awards and garnered much praise.  However, the world was just not ready for an adult gaming platform, and the Zodiac failed to be a commercial success.

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