Reliable and always ready (Psion Series 5mx Pro)

Member Name: stmatth

Product:	Psion Series 5mx Pro
Date:	19/08/00 (395 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reliability, long battery life, good keyboard, etc...

Disadvantages: Expensive, and you get addicted to it

Many users of PDAs will go on forever telling you how they could never get along without it, and how wonderful it is. That is very understandable. However, these machines are not magic wands that will do everything. Unlike the WindowsCE machines, the Psion does not try to be a mini-PC. Rather, it does those things that you actually need from a pocket sized computer, and it does them very reliably. I have used Psions for almost 4 years now (3a, 5, 5mx), and have never lost any data, the OS never crashed, and programmes never died when I needed them most - quite the opposite to my desktop PC, where crashing programmes are normal experiences.

Don't expect everything from your Psion: I have written shorter texts (e.g. letters) on the train, but if you regularly have to write large texts or use complex programmes while travelling, the Psion cannot replace a proper Laptop. Rather, I have both, because they complement each other: the Laptop for larger tasks, whereas the Psion is ready whenever you need it. No problem to jot down a few good ideas that you have while you wait at the checkout of your supermarket, or at the bus stop.

The inbuilt programmes cover most of your basic needs: An agenda, database and spreadsheet programme, an advanced calculater, etc. By now, I have a large collection of useful spreadsheets for my finances etc., as well as databases, e.g. a database of scientific papers that I need for my work - and the Psion is so small that I can easily use it in front of the library shelves. In addition to the standard programmes, there is wide range of freeware and software programmes, e.g financial programmes, and (useful for me as a scientist) a graph plotting programme, and - of course - games (but don't expect many fast "shoot'em" games, more strategy games).

Many people ask me if the lack of a colour screen is a disadvantage. No, I never thought so - the Psion does everything perfectly in black and white, an
d in reasonable resolution.

However: I had a Psion 5 which developed a screen problem after ca. 2 years. I have been told that it is a common problem, because the screen cable is rather weak. However, the repair at the UK service centre was very fast, and much cheaper than I expected from rumours on the relevant newsgroups. I can't complain!

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