Fast and fully featured (Psion Series 5mx Pro)

Member Name: Stalin

Product:	Psion Series 5mx Pro
Date:	23/06/01 (215 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast and easy to navigate, Good suite of applications, Easy to swap documents with a PC

Disadvantages: Stiff keyboard, Suspect construction in places

I must say that when I decided that I needed a mobile computing device, the idea of using a PDA never crossed my mind. I always thought of them as mere organisers, unable to cope with real documents. The Psion 5mx has proved me wrong.

The first thing to note is the speed of the units. Apps load near instantly and there is no boot-time. The OS helps in this respect as well. It is an uncluttered interface that gives you quick access to what you need. You can be typing a document within seconds.

The programs included are basic versions of the standard office tools (word-processor, spreadsheet etc). They provide the functionality needed to get most documents done, although I sometimes find that I need to do a little extra editing on my desktop machine. The included PsiLink software does a good job of converting your documents into MS Office format, and this too is a quick and easy process.

There is a good deal of freeware and shareware software available to download too. For example, I have found a very functional graphing package that I use frequently. It integrates seamlessly into the Psion environment.

The unit itself is compact and light enough for easy transportation, although it is a little too long to be put in a pocket. The included pen used to operate the touch-sensitive screen is held in a rather flimsy mechanism, and mine no longer holds it firmly. Otherwise, build quality is good.

The screen, whilst colourless, is very clear and readable, and the optional backlight is fantastic, although it does drain the battery rather fast. You don't really need this light on though, unless you are using the unit in near pitch dark.

I have to say that the biggest disappointment for me is the keyboard. Whilst the keys are reasonably large, they are too stiff, and require a very definite press. For quick typers, you will find that you will miss out letters frequently. My typing speed is severely diminished due to the
keyboard.

This really is a true alternate to a laptop computer, if all you are after is composing documents. It isn't that pretty, but it certainly gets the job done!

Summary: