Psion Series 5
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2008) |
Gemini |
The Psion Series 5 was a
The Psion Series 5 was a major upgrade from the Psion Series 3. A Psion Series 4 does not exist, due to Psion's concern of tetraphobia in their Asian markets.[citation needed] The external appearance of the Psion Series 5 and the Psion Series 5mx are broadly similar, but their mainboards and other internal components were different and not interchangeable. The screens are not interchangeable because of different screen cables.
The Series 5 was the first to feature a unique sliding clamshell design, whereby the keyboard slides forward as the device opens to counterbalance the display, and brace it such that touchscreen actuation does not topple the device, a feature mentioned in the granted European patent EP 0766166B1.[1] This novel design approach was the work of Martin Riddiford, an industrial designer for Therefore Design. A simplified version of this design was also used in the Psion Revo.
The moving parts and hinges can wear out or break. The most serious common problem arose because of a design fault in the screen cable where tooling holes caused needless stresses due to extra bending of the cable at this point each time the Psion Series 5 was opened or closed, and eventually leading to failure of the cable, which caused a serious display malfunction and horizontal lines appearing. The screen cable to the Psion Series 5 was more durable than the screen cable of the Psion Series 5mx. There was an after-market cable available for the 5mx which aimed to eliminate this problem.
At its heart was the
The
An open-source software project, OpenPsion, formerly PsiLinux,[4] supports Linux on the Psion 5mx and other Psion PDAs.
Psion's experience designing for this form factor and attention to detail made these machines a favourite with power users, many of whom kept using them, despite their age and the appearance of Symbian OS for mobile phones and other PDAs with more impressive specifications.
In 2017, a team of original Psion engineers created a
See also
- Psion (company)
- Psion Organiser
- Psion Series 3
- Psion Series 7
- Gemini (PDA)
References
- ^ GB patent EP0766166A1, Riddiford, Martin Philip, "Casing for computing equipment", published 2 April 1997, assigned to Psiop PLC
- ^ "Psion Series 5mx Handheld Computer review". Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
- ^ Mokady, Amy (2 November 1998). "STNC's HitchHiker smartphone solution granted Millennium Product status" (Press release). STNC. Archived from the original on 20 February 1999. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
- ^ "OpenPsion - Linux for Psion Computers". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- ^ https://www.zdnet.com/article/planet-computers-astro-slide-5g-review/
External links
- The Tucows - EPOC software index.
- 3-Lib, Psion freeware and shareware library
- www.openpsion.org - Linux for Psion Handhelds
- Some more Series 5 pictures
- Psion:the last computer A detailed history of Psion around the time of the Series 5
- Unofficial Psion F.A.Q
- Discussion of Psion 5mx with Some Useful Macros, Including a Macro5 Switcher Macro
- Detailed Technical Specifications of Psion Series 5mx