Introduction
I consider that a handheld PC is both more practical and much more affordable than a conventional laptop portable. Since you can put it in your pocket or handbag, you are much less likely to leave it laying around, where it might be stolen. While the machine itself is valuable enough, the personal data in it may be even more so.
The Psion Series 5 was launched on 16 June 1997. After reading the description and initial reviews, I decided to buy one around the end of August. However, it was evidently much in demand, and I had some difficulty in finding a machine for sale. I eventually found a machine with 8 MB of RAM at Norwich Computer Services, yet at a slight saving on the list price of £ 499 including VAT.
Hardware
The machine showed its utility within a few days, when I went by train under the Channel, and on to Munich, which took around 12 hours. The small size of the Series 5 meant that, on the airliner-style seat-back tables, there was still room for a notepad alongside. This would not have been true of a laptop.
Also, the long battery life meant that I could work with it for the whole duration of a 12 hour train journey if I wanted to. Again, this would be impossible with a laptop, which gives say 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours per battery. Indeed, with the Series 5, the first set of batteries lasted some 16 hours, even with some use of the backlight. Subsequently, I have tried various different dry batteries (which cost about 50 p each, £ 1 per pair), getting similar lives. I have also tried rechargeable batteries on occasion. They are potentially cheaper in the long run, but they start with a lower voltage, and also suffer from self-discharge. This means that they should not be left in for too long (eg weeks), even when the machine is not in use.
The industrial design of the Series 5 is really excellent. Indeed, I already have a Psion 3a, badged as an Acorn PocketBook II, and find that the Series 5 has two major advances over anything that has gone before. The first is the outstanding keyboard, which is (by common consent) the best available in a machine this small. Not only is it as large as it can be, but - by sliding forward when the machine is opened - it is very stable when typing. The second is the touch screen, which soon becomes a very natural way to 'drive' the machine - whether with the pen/stylus, the wrong end of a pen, or even your fingernail. Moreover, the keys are light enough, and dished enough, to be worked by the stylus. On the outside, the way that the sound recorder buttons are protected is brilliant !
Psion have made full use of every bit of space, even putting several labels on the underside of the keyboard that is revealed when the machine is open. However, there is still room for a label with your name, telephone number, and email address.
The first design of mains power supplies suffered from a safety problem - so they were all subject to a recall. However, when I eventually received mine (of the modified design), I was most impressed. It is small, light, and - judging from the fact that it never feels even warm - highly efficient. Yet it is also powerful - supplying up to 1 amp at 6 volts.
It turned out that my machine was one of the early batch (allegedly of 4000) that were built up to the end of August with the original ROM. This had a few bugs (eg Sheet =INT(-23) returned 24 instead of 23). However, perhaps prompted by a mention in BBC TV's 'Watchdog' consumer programme, Psion was very generous to such users. After I contacted a hotline number, and confirmed that it was one of the early batch, Psion arranged to collect the machine by courier on a Friday evening, changed the ROM, and returned it on the following Tuesday morning.
The plastic tip of the pen/stylus eventually broke off, despite only normal use. I rang Psion Technical Support, who seemed to know the problem, and promised to send me a new one (free of charge). After chasing them several times, eventually two pens arrived. However, my troubles were not over, since neither the old pen, nor either of the new ones, would latch properly into place, nor eject after 'flicking' the end. Eventually, I read in Archive magazine (December 1997, p 93), that the problem was due to the latch becoming misplaced. The solution - reported as coming from Psion Technical Support - was to slide a thin knife blade in the gap between the 'RS232' label of the serial port, and the bottom of the casing, and you should hear a click as the latch resets.
Standard Software
Docking with another computer is effected by a simple serial cable, which is supplied as standard. File transfer to and from PCs is made easy with PsiWin 2, which is bundled with the Series 5, and runs on a PC under Windows 95. However, rather than have it start up automatically, I have moved the PsiWin Connection Server out of the Programs Startup folder and into the PsiWin folder. PsiWin also handles reasonably well the conversion of data from Microsoft, Lotus, and Corel office applications, and can also synchronise diaries between the Psion and the PC. I have found that data in MS Excel format is best exported as text (Tab Separated Value) format, for import into Data. This is because Excel surrounds only fields containing double quotes with double quotes. PsiWin is also highly effective for backing up and restoring the Psion. Psion also offer PsiMac for use with Apple Macintosh computers (albeit at some £ 80 extra), while IMS offer PsiRisc for Acorn RISC OS machines (at about £ 70).
I use my Series 5 much more than I ever used my PocketBook II, and - thanks to the excellent keyboard - happily use it for data entry. I have created databases of addresses and of my collections of computer hardware, computer software, video tapes, video CDs, and audio records (discs, CDs, and tapes). I am also building a database of my collection of over 1100 books. Then when out shopping, I can quickly check whether or not I already have an item.
Additional Software
I obtained some additional software by downloading it from Web sites (of which there are several devoted to Psions - mostly Series 3/3a/3c and Series 5). I have chosen to install MapperGB, MapperLondon, The Directory, and Converti, which is Shareware (which I have registered), from Steve Litchfield, and Qv5, which is Freeware, from R. Muggleton. When installing EasyFax (see below), I learnt that - in order to have applications appear on the Extras bar - they must be installed in the /Systems/Apps folder, and in a folder named eg APPNAME, containing a file APPNAME.APP. If you later move an app from Drive C to Drive D, you need to remove and replace the Compact Flash briefly, in order for the system to find it correctly (see email from Steve Litchfield).
Of the commercial software, I have chosen Palmtop bv's EnRoute. This is incredibly good value at only £ 50 odd, since it includes (on one CD-ROM) a routing program with map data for the UK at five levels of detail, plus the whole of Western Europe at three levels of detail. (as well as other countries at various levels, which I have not installed). It also supports input from a Global Positioning System (I have a Garmin GPS45) to show you where you are.
The additional software was all installed very smoothly with PsiWin 2.
Expansion
After installing EnRoute, I was reaching the limits of even an 8 MB machine, so I decided to buy a Compact Flash ROM cartridge. I chose one from Simple Technology, rather than Psion, since it was significantly cheaper (size for size), and also offered larger sizes - 16 MB (which I chose) and 32 MB. Compact Flash has all the best features of the two types of storage device used on the earlier Series 3, 3a, and 3c. Thus it has both the non-volatility of the Flash discs, and the re-usability without reformatting of the battery-backed Solid State Discs - as well as being much cheaper per MB. The non-volatility means that important data can be written (directly) to them, and will be retained even if both the main and back-up battery should fail. This transforms the utility of the machine in 'mission-critical' situations.
Unfortunately, I found it was possible to insert the Compact Flash cartridge upside down. It shows as Drive D, but also 'Corrupt'. While it seems to suffer no permanent damage (perhaps because it is impossible to write to in this state), it is then incapable of being withdrawn unaided. However, by sticking a couple of squares of 'male' Velcro onto the visible part of the cartridge, and pressing with the thumbs, the cartridge may be ejected - after which the Velcro may be removed. I later noticed that the cartridge has a small ridge on the outer end, which when inserted the right way up, allows it to be withdrawn easily.
Printing
The Psion Printer Adaptor is the same as that for the Psion Series 3c, and is widely available. The Series 5 ROM contains drivers for several printers, including the compact Citizen PN60, the Hewlett Packard DeskJet 340 and 660c, LaserJet III and IV, and for printing via the PC. I tried the LaserJet III driver with a LaserJet Plus compatible printer, and it worked in graphics mode - but only slowly. I also have Canon BJC 600e and BJC 620 printers, which are not supported directly, but can be switched to emulate an Epson LQ 2550 - for which the Epson LQ 860 driver in the Series 5 ROM is suitable. However, due to the position of the data connector on the Canon BJC 620, and the large body of the Psion Printer Adaptor, the paper feed was prevented from working properly. I overcame this by obtaining (from Videk) a short male-to-female adaptor cable, whereupon the printing worked well, including multi-page documents.
Comms
Early on, Psion put up on their web site EasyFax - a fax send and receive package - for download free of charge. After an initial hiccup, this installed and then worked (although I have only tried it for sending).
Last autumn, just in time for Comdex Fall, Psion fulfilled their promise and put up on their web site Modem Drivers, a Dialler, an Email/Fax package, and a Web Browser for download free of charge. This all installed very easily, and it was also easy to select the modem driver, and the Internet Access Provider. With the help of a Psion Null Modem Adaptor, I connected the machine to my desktop external (USR Sportster Voice 33.6) modem, and was soon surfing the web. The Browser can store bookmarks/favourite sites, which is likely to be particularly valuable when used 'on the move'.
Conclusion
I am very well pleased with my Psion Series 5. It does all that can reasonably be expected of it, and at a very good price.