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Psion Series 5mx

(discontinued)

Psion features their patented expanding touch-type keyboard, with tactile feedback similar to notebooks on all models except the Revo. This is the easiest PDA keyboard I've used in a machine of this size. However, they keys are quite stiff, so you really have to hit 'em hard. The comma key is very oddly and awkwardly placed, though most all other keys are QWERTY keyboard standard. All alphabet letters are QWERTY standard.

Psion

The screen is 640 x240 pixels (1/2 VGA), which means you can see across an entire document line as you type. It's got 16 shades of grey, and offers switchable backlighting. It's quite visible in strong daylight (unlike color screen devices), and in decent indoor lighting. If indoor lighting is poor, you'll need that backlight, which has a greenish tint, like the Palm Pilots. Some folks like the screen, others say it's murky compared to the Revo. I would say that it is not as clear as the Palm V or Palm IIIxe screen.

The 5mx model originally solod for US $549 . In August of 2000, Psion reduced the price to $499. It represents a big jump forward in power, making it a very competitive with the new steroid-enhanced WinCE devices. Though you might think the processor speed is slow at 36 MHz, the OS is incredibly efficient, and doesn't require the processing power that WinCE and Pocket PC do. Speaking of efficiency, you'll probably get up to 2 weeks on a set of alkaline AA batteries, with regular use, and evenign use of backlighting- now that is awesome! And it could be indispensible to folks who camp or travel frequently.

The 5mx is web-capable, and includes a mail client and web browser (serious web users will want to purchase the Opera web browser which supports frames and SSL secure connections). You'll need to buy Psion's spiffy 56k IR Travel Modem, a diminutive modem that runs on 2 Alkaline AA batteries and connects to the Psion via the infrared port, or their Gold Card PC Card modem and adapter. The 56k Travel modem is GSM capable for non-US models.

Sorry, the 5mx is not available with a color screen: see the Series 7 and netBook for color.

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Specs:

Size: Size 6.7” x 3.5” x0.9”. Weight: 12.5 ounces

Expansion Slots: 1 Compact Flash Card slot

Display:16 gray scale 640 x 240 pixels - view full page width. Backlit, touch sensitive screen. 100 characters x 26 lines with rich text and multiple zoom levels (magnification). 5.25” x 2.0” active area.

Performance: 32-bit RISC-based ARM710T RISC CPU, running at 36MHz, 16 MB RAM

Software: EPOC 32 bit multitasking OS software. Word processor, thesaurus, spreadsheet, calculator, personal organizer with calendar and contacts.

Ports: Serial RS232, infrared, microphone and speaker built-in.

Audio: Microphone for digital sound recording External buttons for record, stop/play and rewind and silencing alarms Internal speaker.

Modem: Not included. External desktop compatible modem may be used via connection to serial port, PCMCIA adapter available as accessory for using PC Card modems, cellular phone adapter available. Infrared may also be used for email and web browsing with the Series 5 Message Suite software and a suitable GSM dataphone - such as the Ericsson SH888, or an alternative mobile phone combined with the DI127 infrared adaptor.

Battery: 2 AA alkaline batteries (estimated life = 1 month) and AC adapter

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