On Sunn, 6 Dec 2009, Chris Handley wrote:
> This is being pitched as a Psion successor, but I don't know what they were > smoking when they chose Windows XP (!!!) as the OS. Half of the joy of Psions > was that they were instant-on, which XP will never be. So it will be no use
> as a PDA! (despite being called a PsiXpda)
Totally agree - software is what makes a platform great.
> Oh dear, it just gets worse. Another joy of Psions was their looong battery > life. 1.5 hours is essentially useless (except as a toy), and why I
> splashed-out on a Panasonic laptop with a battery life of 6-8 hours (Psion
> 7-like).
Windows XP wasn't really designed for a PDA...
> I really think they should have used an ARM processor (huge battery life), and > picked a version of Linux (Nokia's Maemo looks good). As it stands, I think
> I'd rather buy a Pandora than a PsiXpda...
Maemo or Android would probably run pretty well on this (I have a vague
interest in perhaps looking into how to do that since Im working a lot
with Android these days as a developer).
Incidently, a friend of mine has the Nokia N900 (Maemo) and is loving it.
Aj.
New Psion? Just when I was ready to go for the new Sharp Zaurus offering (once the cost goes down).
Now I'm thinking in keeping my three 5mx working (one currently is down with the cable disease).
Now I'm thinking about the terrific form factor of the Psion 5mx.
Now I'm thinking of hanging in, perhaps sending my dead 5mx to POS for repair, get over my fear of PayPal (POS doesn't accept USA VISA).
I can live with the drastically reduced battery time - I tend to use my eee machine plugged in except for those few occasions I'm away from mains.
The one thing that is like the elephant in the living room - everyone knows it's there but no-one is talking about it, is the b---
- screen cable.
Do they have it right this time? I'll be one very unhappy dude if I spring for the new Psion and have to replace the cable in a years time.
jim - port townsend, wa, usa
Viva Psion (even with its warts) !!!
I phoned the PsiXpda people (phone number on the web site). I was told I could have it with either XP Pro (the web site says XP Home) *or* Linux. It's also a 3G phone. GBP 499.99 inc VAT and you can make an appointment to see one at their Croydon (SE London) offices. I was told it comes with all the stuff the S5 had - Agenda, Address book, etc. etc. and it will sync to a PC. The blog on the web site says the company was founded by the man who ran POS, the Psion repair organisation. Not a bad reference if I remember correctly.
Hmmm.
For a phone/PDA it's a bit large (I certainly don't have any clothes with pockets that size and I refuse to carry a "man bag"); for a computer it's a bit small.
Hmmmm.
Harold Fuchs
London, England