Psion Series 7 > Reviews (7)

I have owned a Psion 7 for a little over two years and have yet to see a PDA which comes close. It cost me £150 english pounds second hand and is still impressive. All I got with it was the PC Link cable and a power supply. The keyboard is superb, and this little puter is the perfect hybrid of PC and PDA.

I have used it for various tasks from writting dissertations, creating stock control spreadsheets to developing HTML, JavaScript and writting and compiling Java programs. I belive C++ can be used also but I have yet to explore this fully. Best of all I havnt had to buy the software, its all free.

The following links should provide all you need to start coding:
http://www.foxpop.ndirect.co.uk/Java/jav​a_01.htm
http://www.wirelessdevnet.com/channels/pda/training/epocjava3.html
http://www.wirelessdevnet.com/channels/j​ava/

The accessability of these development tools has brought the introduction of a vast number of new software packages for the Psion both free and pay for. Developing code will eat memory, I would recommend at east 32mb, 16 will require you deleting old files when you have finished them. Most programmers like to be able to cut & paste old code and develop there own reusable objects, this requires more and more space to store them.

Java has little restrictions on a Psion as long as you remember the limited spec of the machine. Javascript however can only be checked using the Opera browser until you dock. While great in ensuring backward compatibility this isnt useful for modern apps. Old school programmers who plan there code before writing it should not be too troubled by this though.

The infra-red port allows the psion to print to most printers with IR. I have used several HP Lasers all with excellent results, and with jealous gasps from laptop owners. There are not ONLY three fonts as many have stated, infact you can download fonts direct from your PC the only restriction is the Psions 16mb standard memory. Although many fonts will not show true on the screen, once you convert them to Word format they show just fine.

You worried you wont be able to read that important Word e-mail attachment? Dont the Psion can read word and Excel files, you just cant edit them without converting them. It will even produce pretty Pie and Bar charts. Outlook allows you to syncronise your PC and Psion Agenda's, but the Psion's agenda manager is much more user friendly (in my opinion).

I wont even discuss battery life as it isnt an issue, you can go a whole working day without a recharge. Add the fact that there is no boot up or shut down just on and off which is instant meeans you'll be playing you 3D shot-em-up, long after the laptop users on your train have fallen into bordem.

You could get a sinclair spectrum emulator also alllowing you to play old games, although I havnt checked if it is still available.

In conclusion the Psion 7 is amazing, it is SUPER easy to use. The touch screen will have you poking your PC monitor, and cursing the clumsy mouse. The world map will enable you to find the time by typing a city name or simply taping the map. It cant do the same as a PC but it does many things more effectively and intuitively. It is designed to take a 3 foot drop onto concrete and is small enough to fit into a LARGE handbag (if your that way inclined). Finally Xword (which is included) will help you destroy all but the toughest crossword.