PDA history review
1999. Psion MX5
![Array](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/4101477686_f17a4bd323.jpg "Got it two years ago today - my dad bought it for me before he died.
Psion is a british palm-top computer (so much more than just a pda and a fairly high learn-to-master curve). The EPOC OS used from the model 5 onward was eventually bought and became the Symbian OS. I have continuously used a Psion for about 13 years now. There are so many applications that I have found no equal to on any other device, plus of course, it has years of data on it.
Instead of a bill-fold, I have a nice leather case (i call it a clutch or usually just "my wallet", others call it a "man purse") that contains all my usual wallet stuff and my Psion. The laptop-style keyboard is very comfortable and folds into the unit very cleverly and a stylus inserts into the side. It has a 16-greyscale touch screen, runs on 2 AA batts (30 hours-ish), and takes CompactFlash cards with 32mb onboard.
The Psion line stopped around 2000 or so (with a product called the NetBook - needless to say, Psion has tried a lawsuit or two as the name is increasingly used for other products) and the 5 models were produced in the mid- to late 90s, I guess. There were the 5, 5mx, and 5mx Pro. And, there was a very very small batch of colored ones released (the rest were all grey) and I managed to get one in great condition from Ebay. I think I got it for around $400. Well worth it as I have over a decade of emails, notes, thoughts, and other data I have migrated from one Psion to my next, starting with a 3a in '96 or so.
This will almost certainly be my last Psion - I do use it less and less and have managed to export quite a bit of data from it over the last couple of years. Neither my phone nor my PSP have a z-code interpreter of any kind, for instance. Also, the agenda is unmatched (name something you wish yours does - this does it), same for the database app I use heavily - and those are both native! - and it even has a fantastic grocery shopping program that I still use today. And that's just my recently used ones.
I could go on and on but, the short version is, this was the best unit they ever made - the models afterward went a direction I didn't care for - and it is the last tech anything my dad imparted to me - a way of life that started with my first computer he bought me when I was 10 (i am 36 at this writing). I have no memories of throwing footballs or him teaching me to work on a car - we debugged programs together when I was growing up.
So, anyway, for my purposes, it is still irreplaceable.
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2004. Fujitsu Siemens Pocket Loox 720
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What I find cool with current?
- good data connectivity
- light and good battery
- installed GPS is working good
- GMAIL push email service
- CRM system synchronisation
- RSS news reading
- ROM hacking/upgrading
- 5 MB pixel camera with geotagging
- phone calls recording
