- RE: security

- MC 218 repair

- Why would Psion bother ...?

- 'downgrade' to 5mx

Date: 28 Dec 2008 18:01:55 +0000
From: Alan R Morris <address truncated>
Subject: RE: security

From: Vlad A <address truncated>

# Alan said:
# > But surprise to these 'in-the-know' folk was that their # pet, Firefox is > actually worse than IE.
#
# > I saw it again on clicking on Vlad's posting after yours. #
# My link was:
#
# > http://solutions.internet.com/3851_holidaySmartphones-ssomail#
#  for another comment on pda-s and minicomputers.
#
# Don't understand what you mean...

I clicked on your link which took me to:-

http://member.internet.com/index.php
  to logon.  As I'm not a member, I didn't but replaced 'member' with 'www' and removed 'index.php' to get:-

http://www.internet.com/
On the home page was a link, but it's now gone and their search is useless.  The details are here:-

http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2304&tag=nl.e539
However, I saw a new link to this:-

http://blog.enterpriseitplanet.com/green/blog/2008/12/psion-dont-dare-call-them-netbooks.html

"Psion Teklogix is sending website owners cease and desist letters warning them to stop using the term netbook to describe the compact notebooks that are taking the IT world by fire."

So back on topic.

Alan

Date: 28 Dec 2008 22:24:20 +0000
From: Bob <address truncated>
Subject: MC 218 repair

I still have a MC218 that was a great machine.  Some time back it stopped working.  I tried all the smaller things to get it to work.  No display or anything else.  I just get the click when it comes on.  Not sure if it's the screen cables that need repair.  I still have my 5mx and not sure its worth trying to get it repaired.  Any suggestions on repair here in the states???? And, would it be worth it????  I used to know of one on the east coast but it's been so long I forgot where it was---they might not even be in business any more.
Maybe there really is nothing different to warrant getting it fixed still having a 5mx.
Any suggestions please???

Also, I remember years ago when the stylus wouldn't stay in there was a small fix to pry part of the case apart and it would reset the spring, but I don't have those instructions any more either---does anyone remember that fix please???

The old Psions have a lot of nostalgia with them.

Thanks,
Bobbyr

Date: 28 Dec 2008 23:24:21 +0000
From: Chris Cooper
Subject: Why would Psion bother ...?

From a site called  jkOnTheRun ( http://jkontherun.com/2008/12/23/netbook-enthusiast-web-sites-getting-c-d-using-term-netbook/) :

>>

Netbook enthusiast web sites getting C & D using term “netbook”

This is very preliminary but we are hearing that some netbook enthusiast sites are getting “cease & desist” letters from a firm in the UK ordering the sites to stop using the term “netbook”.  The letters claim that the term netbook is trademarked by the firm that produced the Psion netBook in the early 2000’s. ...

>>

Date: 29 Dec 2008 15:56:51 +0000
From: Kit Byatt <address truncated>
Subject: 'downgrade' to 5mx

Although silently, I have continued to follow the discussions on the Digest with interest - hearing reviews of current gadgets by folk who know and value the approach of the 5mx hardware & software!  It's also strangely reassuring to see new names appear (and I still love Keith's appended thoughts for the day!), as well as familiar names occurring from time to time.

When I upgraded from a Nokia 9500 to an e90 just over a year ago, I was (as ever) looking forward to the ultimate palmtop machine - a colour screen keyboard PDA with wireless networking, diary, MS-compatible document editing & reading, email, camera, navigational software, FM radio, etc.  Nearly all the specs in those wish lists we compiled from time to time years ago.  Not surprisingly, after my initial excitement at dabbling with the various apps, my hopes did not materialize!  Don't get me wrong, the e90 is an amazing machine, but the two key deficits for me were:

1) inability to open & edit more than one [word processor or spreadsheet] document at a time, whether with either the bundled or commercial software)
I use many small spreadsheets to keep track of a variety of work- & home-related activities & data (e.g. keeping tabs on how many days of leave I have taken).  I keep half a dozen open at any one time, switching between them rapidly as needed.

2) no database to touch the Data program.  Commercial ones are complex (trying to be relational) and difficult [for me, anyway!] to set up & use.  I use this software similarly to the spreadsheets mentioned above, for example keeping tabs on the secondhand books I collect, and taking notes at lectures & meetings.

As an aside, the keyboard of the e90 is nearer a thumboard than a proper keyboard, and I find the navigation key much less intuitive than the 5mx keyboard.  Examples of some of the 'bells & whistles' are:
Its bar code reader - sounds great (or at least fascinating) but turns out it only reads the sort of bar codes which I have virtually never encountered in everyday life - i.e. not bar codes made up of bars, but codes made up of tiny squares.
The GPS is great on the face of it, BUT you have to have downloaded the relevant maps (free if you have a wireless Internet connection at home, but slow & expensive to do via the phone, and you pay for any route-finding you do) Also I use its vibrator function for alarms while
I have the sounds off (most of my working day).
The semi-intelligent predictive capitalization of text - I can never remember when it will and when it won't, and unlike some apps, pressing the shift key repeatedly doesn't toggle the shift on and off, so I can't rectify the mistake without printing the letter then erasing it and
doing the whole thing again.  Life was so much easier for me when the keyboard just did what it was told (no shift = lowercase; shift = uppercase).  *I* know that not all full stops or carriage returns mean ends of sentences (and therefore ensuing initial capitalization) but the e90 software doesn't.  It may not be controlled by a random number generator, but to me it sometimes feels like it!  GRRR!!!

For all these reasons, I have kept my e90 as a mobile phone and occasional camera.  I also use it for sending emails and surfing the web when in range of an accessible (i.e. open) wireless access point.  I
have resumed using a 5mx for diary functions and all other data writing, storage, collation and manipulation activities.  It's been amazing just how useful this has proved - old but stable & serviceable technology!  I suppose the other factor is that as I get older, there is less incentive to invest hours of time finding out the arcane ways of doing things with each new bit of kit.  The admittedly massive time I invested in my
Psions in general (and 5mx in particular) means that I can do many of the things I need to do quickly, either as the programs were designed
to, or using either Macro5 and/or Assistant (it's great to have the facility to write small macro scripts although I haven't needed to much recently!).

I'm not saying the e90 is no use, but for *my* needs (storage, manipulation & retrieval of many types of data) the 5mx provides exactly what I need, and works in the way I like to use it.  It's bulky - and
the belt clip I use is becoming less reliable, resulting in the 'ballistic nylon' pouch coming away from the clip when I bend forwards
if I'm not careful.  This has resulted in damage (initially broken stylus latch, now smashed screen...) to my machine, which I am replacing via eBay.

In due course I will probably replace the e90 with a smaller simpler phone/radio/camera and continue to use my Psion for information management - unless the mythical killer PDA comes out in the meantime. 
I grudgingly acknowledge in myself the (inevitable) gradual evolution from gadget nut to boring old fart - I suppose you just can't stand in the way of the 2nd law of thermodynamics... !

I follow the 'alternative PDA' discussions with interest, and appreciate everyone's time in sharing their ideas and experiences.  These have continued to inform my decisions about refining my personal pocket technology armamentarium.

Thanks especially to the ED team for soldiering on and leading us into 2009 (who would have thought it, after the 5mx ceased production nearly
a decade ago?)

Seasonal greetings and best wishes for a good 2009 (credit crunch notwithstanding!)

Kit

PS     technofrustration potential energy duly discharged; rant mode now toggled off; feel MUCH better - many thanks for your patience!!!
PPS  perhaps for the 10th anniversary of the demise of the Psion PDA - 2010 - we should have a reminiscence thread - best & worst personal memories of the Digest?
         any other suggestions for celebrating the milestone?  E.g. discussing improvements for the Wikipedia Psion 5mx [and/or other
models] entry?

---
Kit Byatt

Hereford, UK