I own a Psion Series 5 8 MB for more than three years now, but I also have a Psion Siena 1 MB, and a Psion Revo 8 MB. It is a long time for using a computer, somewhat bad things really come out and good things start to shine.
I will write about the good and bad sides of the S5, and give you recommendations what to use a S5 for and what not. My review also applies to the Psion Series 5mx and the Ericsson MC218, the differences are listed in the end.
The thing is that you heared and read all the reviews recommending it, you hear all the good rumors about it, you also pay the high price that suggests an excellent product. So why I don't recommend it?
The good side: software and hardware.
The Epoc OS is stable and efficient. You can freeze it, but it is not an easy task. Many apps can be run at a time, with many documents open, just switch from one to the other, no performance drops.
There are some shortcomings in the user interface, but you can use Macro5 or Extrabars to Ctrl+Space task cycling and a better Extras Bar (similar to Start Menu in windows) with lots of additional functions.
The built in apps are very well done and useful, you really benefit Psion's ten year experience in PDAs. Win CE is out of the competition, Palm is good, but half the functionality and speed by my opinion.
The touchtype keyboard and the big VGA screen, coupled with the CF slot and RS232 port are so good, they should have been recommended to all other PDAs of this class
The down side: built quality
The built quality definitely could be better for such a high price.
1. Screen is hardly readable, needs backlight even in good lighting conditions compared to other handhelds.
2. The rubber paint peels after a month (not covered by guaranty).
3. The keyboard-screen hinges broke after 6 months (they will fix it).
4. The case broke near the microphones after couple of months.
5. The worst of all: the screen's cable broke after a year, so not covered by guaranty. To fix it, they have to change the whole screen, costs 155 USD. This cable problem happened to me twice, with the new cable as well.
These 5 problems are for EVERY machine, some kind of bad design. Best is to avoid all second hands, especially for the cable's problem.
What the S5 is for:
The whole machine is somewhat bigger than to carry it in your pocket or on your belt. It is not really a handheld - it is more a small computer on the move and on the table, somewhat table held. I carry it in my bag anyway.
You can enjoy your small tool to write your e-mails (fast CF is needed to store the messages) on the train, airplane, coach, ... Useful to make notes in a library, to start to write small letters with Word. Manage your expenses with Sheet (or ABP5). It was very handy for me during my laboratory works to perform calculations, show graphs real-time. Will never delete any contact from your database as Data can maintain a huge number of titles. (My Data file with 500 contacts is about 100 k).
Some 3rd party applications that you should consider to buy:
Route Planner and Street Planner with road and street maps (maps sizes are 0.5-5 MB) to navigate. Dic or other dictionary applications will give you the best electronic dictionary ever. Really useful for translations or for reading. It is a much better feel to use than CD-Roms. I really like to have it next to my books, under my hands. Tomeraider is an excellent large database handler. It will enable you to read and search ex. the Oxford Dictionary or the Bible (very fast!). It's also a great gaming machine, not to mention the ZX Spectrum emulator... :-)
What it isn't for:
I you want something small, that you can pop out from your pocket, like a Palm, it won't be your choice. It's just too heavy and bulky for that.
However, a Palm and a S5 in tandem is a great choice, I have many friends doing it.
Differences between the Psion Series 5 and the Psion Series 5mx:
Silver finish, slightly better screen, faster CPU (100 % faster), 16 MB memory (instead of 8 MB). No peeling rubber paint. New Epoc OS (it became 20% faster, not like new a Windows!), some bugs corrected and few added functionality in applications. It was intended to replace the Psion Series 5, it is sold for the same amount.
Differences between the Psion Series 5mx and the Ericsson MC218:
Like 5mx, but: different application icons, Ericsson applications added, black paint and a DI27 infrared modem for some Ericsson mobile phones. No Psion worldwide support. Somewhat lower price.
As you can see, this is a great machine, but with this build quality will last only for a year with average usage. If I pay 700 USD for a handheld, I want to use it not for 12 month only. This is very sad from Psion, other machines were of good build quality. I can't recommend to buy a computer for 700 USD what will last only for a year, or even less.
This is my experience after 3 years of usage. You have seen that the software and hardware are really good, and the machine can open new levels of functionality as you get more to know it.
I wish Psion will realize soon that if they ask so much money for a product, they should make it to last for a longer time and will improve on this side for their next handheld.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Update (Jan 07 '05):
My best bet for electronic English-English dictionaries is the Collins CoBuild, which runs wonderfully on a Psion S5, plus, you get the full keyboard to enter words. Read my review here: 'The' English-English ESL Dictionary.
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