The FAQ for comp.sys.psion
1. INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION
I will describe the more advanced 3a here. Refer to the hardware
section to see what you lose on the Series 3.
The Psion Series 3 and 3a are palmtop computers. Though packaged as
personal organisers, they are fully general, programmable, powerful
computers. The quality of the built-in applications, coupled with the
power saving hardware make Series 3's excellent personal organisers.
The sophisticated operating system, the hardware, the built-in
programming language, and the options to program in C and assembler
make them excellent general-purpose computers, with the major benefits
of compactness and battery endurance.
Optional link facilities can connect the Series 3 to desktop machines,
allowing data backup and access to the resources of the larger machine
from the Series 3. Modems, fax modems, printers and other peripherals
may also be connected via industry-standard serial and parallel
interfaces.
The built-in applications include a database manager, a sophisticated
word processor, time manager, world date/time and dialling codes
database, calculator and spreadsheet. The latest models (1Mb and 2Mb
RAM models) also include the spell checker/thesaurus and a patience
game (solitaire card game). Many other applications are available
commercially and from shareware outlets. More details in the last
part of this FAQ.
The built-in OPL programming system provides a structured BASIC-like
programming language with access to all the features of the machine.
This includes the ability to program polished Windows/Icons/Menus
interfaces like those found in the built-in applications.
The sound interface can record and playback digital sound. DTMF
dialling tones can be created which allow the Series 3a to dial
numbers directly through a telephone.
This question is really a personal matter. I would definitively
suggest getting a Series3a (and not 3) because of the greater screen
resolution. As for which memory model, this depends entirely of your
needs and what you plan on doing with your Psion. In general, the
more memory the better (and keep in mind also that the 1/2Mb models
offer the spell checker/thesaurus and solitaire game which you might
need). If you're reading this, you probably have access to Psion
free/shareware also. You will see that these programs will quickly
fill up your memory ;-) so I would suggest to get the biggest model
(2Mb). If on the other hand, money is tight and you don't plan on
using much more than the Agenda and the built-in apps, then I think a
512k is big enough for you. As you can see, there is no simple
solution to this answer!
1.3.1 WorkAbout
This is the latest Psion machine. Very comparable to a Psion
Series 3a, it is more robust and has an A-Z keyboard. One nice point:
a back lit screen is present. Targeted at the vertical market, thus
not so well know to the big public.
1.3.2 Acorn Pocket Book
Re-badged Series 3a, aimed at education-related markets. Contains all
the 3a applications, though named differently, plus a spell checker,
thesaraus and a graph plotting application in a 2MB ROM (versus 1MB
for Series 3a). Password protection capability is removed. Costs
about &163;20 more than a 3a.
1.3.3 Series 3
The immediate predecessor to the Psion Series 3a is the Series 3. It
is the same machine in size and concept, but is more limited in many
respects. See the hardware comparison table in section 2a for a list
of differences.
1.3.4 Organiser II series:
CM - available in 16K only, 16x2 screen, limited software
XP - available in 16K or 32K, 16x2 screen, limited software (database,
OPL)
LZ - available in 32K or 64K (LZ64), 20x4 screen, introduced notepad
(basic text processor), dialing codes database, on-screen clock)
See section 2.1 for the Psion Series 3 and 3a hardware specifications.
Make: Apple
Model: Newton MessagePad 120
- Processor
- Model: ARM 610
- Speed: 20 Mhz
- Bit size: 32-bit
- Display
- Type: Monochrome, reflective LCD
- Pixel Screen size: 320 x 240
- Memory
- Size: 1MB RAM (385K user data & 639K system) or
2MB RAM (1,361K user data & 687K system)
- Expansion slots
- Type: Type II PC-Card (PCMCIA 2.0)
- Number: 1
- Dimensions
- Size (W x D x H): 10.16 x 20.32 x 2.9 cm (4.0" x 8.0" x 1.2")
- Weight: 480 grams (16 ounces)
- Power Requirements
- Batteries: 4 x AA (main) & 1 x CR2032 (backup)
- Battery Life (Approx): Up to 22 hours
- Provision for AC Adaptor: Yes
- Input/Output Ports
- Serial (max speed): Yes, RS-422 8-pin DIN (230,000 bps)
- Parallel: No
- Infrared: Yes, (38,400 bps)
- Other: Optional FAX modem
- Keyboard: Yes, Popup virtual keyboard (QWERTY, Numeric, & Phone pad)
- Included Applications:
- Newton Intelligence (Handwriting Recognition, Object Oriented
Database Programming language and Communications services)
- Calendar (like Agenda)
- NewtonMail (email client)
- To-Do Lists (like Agenda)
- Rolodex-like Address Book (like Data)
- Digital Ink ScratchPad
- Calculator (like Calc)
- World Time Clock (like World)
- Dictionary (13,000 words)
- Notion List Manager (like Data)
Make: Casio
Model: Z-7000 (AKA: Zoomer, Tandy Z-PDA, AST GRiDPad 2390)
- Processor
- Model: NEC V20
- Speed: 7.7Mhz
- Bit size: 16-bit
- Display
- Type: Monochrome reflective, touchscreen
- Pixel Screen size: 320 x 256
- Memory
- Size: 1 Mb (384K user data & 640K system)
- Expansion slots
- Type: Type II PC-Card (PCMCIA 2.0)
- Number: 1
- Dimensions
- Size (W x D x H): 10.76 x 17.62 x 2.6 cm (4.2" x 6.8" x 1")
- Weight: 430 grams (15.2 ounces)
- Power Requirements
- Batteries: 3 x AA (main) & 2 x CR2032 (backup)
- Battery Life (Approx): Up to 90 hours
- Provision for AC Adaptor: Yes
- Input/Output Ports
- Serial (max speed): Yes, 10-pin, (19,200 bps)
- Parallel: No
- Infrared: Yes, (9600, Casio)
- Other: Round telescoping pen
- Keyboard: Yes, Virtual Pop-up software QWERTY, A-Z or International
- Included Applications:
- Date Book (like Agenda)
- Address Book (like Data)
- Note Book (Digital Ink Scratchpad & Document Manager with
outliner)
- Pocket Quicken (Financial Organiser)
- America Online (Access software for the service provider of
the same name)
- Calculator (like Calc)
- Forms Calculator
- World Clock (like World)
- Language Translator (26 languages & up 1000 words per
language)
- Games (Solitaire, Pyramid Solitaire & UKI)
- File Manager
- Consumer Information
- U.S. Information
- World Information
Make: Hewlett Packard
Model: 200LX
- Processor
- Model: Intel 80C186
- Speed: 7.91 MHz
- Bit size: 16-bit
- Display
- Type: CGA-compatible FTN liquid crystal
- Pixel Screen size: 640 x 200
- Memory
- Size: 1 or 2MB of RAM
- Expansion slots
- Type: Type II PC-Card (PCMCIA 2.0)
- Number: 1
- Dimensions
- Size (W x D x H): 16 x 8.64 x 2.54 cm (6.3" x 3.4" x 1")
- Weight: 312 grams (11 ounces)
- Power Requirements
- Batteries: 2xAA (main) & 1xCR2032 (backup)
- Battery Life (Approx): ?
- Provision for AC Adaptor: Yes
- Input/Output Ports
- Serial (max speed): Yes, 9-wire (115K?)
- Parallel: No
- Infrared: Yes
- Other: No
- Keyboard: Yes, QWERTY
- Included Applications:
- Pocket Quicken (Financial Organiser)
- cc:Mail (E-mail client)
- Data Communications (VT-100, ANSI & TTY emulation)
- Lotus 1-2-3 r.2.4 (like Sheet)
- Laplink (like Remote Link) for file transfers
- Appointment Book (like Agenda)
- Phone Book (like Data)
- HP financial calculator (like Calc)
- Memo editor with outliner (like Word)
- Notetaker (like Notepad)
- Database (like Data)
- Filer (like File Manager)
- Worldtime & Stopwatch (like World)
- System Macros
- Application Manager
- Setup Utility
- See also the following WWW site for a more complete comparaison of
Psion3a-HP200lx with over 170 articles:
<URL:http://www.primate.wisc.edu/homepage/d.dubois/psion/index.html>
Make: Hewlett Packard
Model: OmniGo 100 Organizer Plus
- Processor
- Model: Intel 80C186 compatible
- Speed: 16 Mhz
- Bit size: 16-bit
- Display
- Type: FSTN LCD with Touchscreen
- Pixel Screen size: 240 x 240
- Memory
- Size: 1MB RAM
- Expansion slots
- Type: Type II PC-Card (PCMCIA 1.0: SRAM memory cards no Flash
or Modems)
- Number: 1
- Dimensions
- Size (W x D x H): 15.3 x 9.5 x 2.6 cm (6" x 3.7" x 1")
- Weight: 329 grams (11.6 ounces)
- Power Requirements
- Batteries: 2 x AA (main) & 1 x CR2032 (backup)
- Battery Life (Approx): ?
- Provision for AC Adaptor: No
- Input/Output Ports
- Serial (max speed): Yes, 10-wire, (?)
- Parallel: No
- Infrared: No
- Other: Yes, Pen
- Keyboard: Yes, QWERTY (5 function keys)
- Included Applications:
- Appointment book (like Agenda)
- Phonebook (like Data)
- Notepad (like Word)
- Database (like Data)
- Worldtime and stopwatch (like World)
- Jotter (Digital Ink Scratchpad)
- Geoworks Book Reader
- Financial Tools
- Spreadsheet (like Sheet)
- Emulated HP 12C financial calculator (like Calc)
- Graffiti handwriting system (handwriting recognition)
- Transfer (like Remote Link)
- Setup Utility (like Install)
- Solitaire
Make: Motorola
Model: Envoy Communicator
- Processor
- Model: Motorola Dragon 68349
- Speed: 16 Mhz
- Bit size: 32-bit
- Display
- Type: Reflective FSTN Touch Screen
- Pixel Screen size: 480 x 320
- Memory
- Size: 1 MB
- Expansion slots
- Type: Type II PC-Card (PCMCIA 2.0) slots
- Number: 2
- Dimensions
- Size (W x D x H): 14.8 x 19.2 x 2.9 cm (5.8" x 7.6" x 1.2")
- Weight: 770 grams (1.7 pounds)
- Power Requirements
- Batteries: Rechargeable Ni-Cad (main) & 1 x CR2032 (backup)
- Battery Life (Approx): 8 hours
- Provision for AC Adaptor: Yes, combined with Charger
- Input/Output Ports
- Serial (max speed): Yes, 14-pin MagicBus (38,400 bps)
- Parallel: Yes, MagicBus
- Infrared: Yes, FSK compliant
- Other: 2 round full length pens, 4800 bps send/receive radio
packet modem, 9600 bps FAX send modem & 2400 bps data
modem
- Keyboard: Optional, QWERTY
- Included Applications:
- Date Book (like Agenda)
- World Time Clock (like World)
- Address Book (like Data)
- Notebook (like Agenda To-Do List)
- Calculator (like Calc)
- America Online (connection software for the service provider
of the same name)
- AT&T PersonaLink (connection software for the service provider
of the same name)
- SmartWallet
Make: Sharp
Model: ZR-5000 & ZR-5000FX AKA: Zaurus K-PDA
- Processor
- Model: Sharp Proprietary
- Speed: ?
- Bit size: 16-bit
- Display
- Type: DFSTN LCD, Touch screen (finger or stylus)
- Pixel Screen size: 320 x 240
- Memory
- Size: 1MB RAM (750k user data & 250K system)
- Expansion slots
- Type: Type II PC-Card (PCMCIA 2.0)
- Number: 1
- Dimensions
- Size (W x D x H): 17.0 x 10.0 x 2.54 cm (6.7" x 3.9" x 1.0")
- Weight: 385 grams (13.6 ounces approx.)
- Power Requirements
- Batteries: 2 x AA (main) & 1 x CR-2032 (backup)
- Battery Life (Approx): Up to 60 hours (~2 months)
- Provision for AC Adaptor: Yes
- Input/Output Ports
- Serial (max speed): Yes, 15-pin proprietary, (19,200 bps)
- Parallel: No
- Infrared: Yes, (IrDA & ASK Compliant)
- Other: Round pen & FAX modem with ZR-5000FX
- Keyboard: Yes, QWERTY configuration
- Included Applications:
- Activities (like Agenda)
- Contacts (like Data) limited to 3 files
- Data Files (also like Data) limited to 3 files
- Notes (Digital Ink Scratchpad)
- Documents (like Word) with Spell Checker
- Outline (like Outline mode in Word)
- Home & World Clocks (like Time & World)
- Calculator (like Calc)
- Filer (Manages Printing, Faxing, Email & File transfers)
- Messaging (E-mail client)
- FAX/Sending (FAX client)
- Terminal Mode (ASCII & VT-100 emulation)
Prices for 2Mb Psion are quoted for each when known, but you should
contact vendors for latest prices, as they change quite a bit,
and I don't track those changes here very often.
Numbers marked "[US/CA only]" means that the number can only be called
from the USA or Canada (sometimes both, sometimes only one). If no
other number is specified, the person or company presumably does not
want to deal with customers from elsewhere.
Usually, you will get the best deal from a UK vendor (but keep in mind
that you will also get a UK version!)
Please note that these addresses have not been verified, so check
before you intend to buy from one of them!
- UK Standard list price (Psion 3a/2Mb: £399)
- Various shops in Tottenham Court Road, London UK. (Psion 3a/2Mb: £329 ???)
- Byson Computers [UK]
- Fax: +44 1635 874 022
- Email: ian@byson.demon.co.uk
- <URL:http://www.hiway.co.uk/%7Ebyson/>
- Clove Technology [UK]
- +44 1202 302 796
- <URL:http://intertrader.com/computers/clove/>
- Computers Direct [US/CA Only] (Psion 3a/2Mb: $ ???)
- New Hampshire 1 800 222 4070
- Dabs Direct [UK] (Psion 3a/2Mb: £299)
- Phone: +44 171 582 4777
- Fax: +44 1942 797 979
- Email: sales@dabs.co.uk
- Jonathon Glaser
- New World Technologies, New York, USA
- 110 Greene St, Suite 1100
- New York, NY 10012, USA
- 1 800 886 4967 [Toll free in USA only] Promises best available deal
- Phone: +1 212 941 4633 [worldwide access]
- Fax: +1 212 274 8527
- Email: Psion@nwt.com OR
72360.3653@compuserve.com
(GidNEW on AOL)
- <URL:http://www.nwt.com/>
- Internet Shopping Network
- <URL:http://www.isn.com/>
- NDS Distributing
- 11875 Dublin Boulevard, Suite D-270
- Dublin, CA 94568
- USA
- Phone: 1 800 425 7725 [US/CA only]
- Phone: +1 510 803 8790
- Fax: +1 510 803 8792
- <URLhttp:// ??? > (unknown but
exists)
- Rovoreed Ltd [UK]
- Phone: +44 1981 250 026
- Marc Tebeka (Might not be working anymore!)
- 2661 Emerson Street,
- Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA
- Fax: +1 415 323 4006 [USA]
- Email: marc.tebeka@spacebbs.com Psion 3a/2Mb: $ ???
Official Psion distributors:
- Argentina
- PSIAR
- Avendia de Mayo 963,
- 3rd Floor
- Buenos Aires
- Phone: +54 1345 4052 / +54 1345 2351
- Fax: +54 1345 3705
- Australia
- Psitech Ltd
- Kangy Angy
- Phone: +61 4362 2014
- Email: psitech@cix.compulink.co.uk
- Canada
- Compulys Data Inc.
- Place Montreal Trust
- 1800, Avenue McGill College, Bureau 2102
- Montreal (Quebec) H3A 3J6
- Phone: 1 800 361 0609 [US/CA only]
- Phone: +1 514 987 7466 [International]
- Fax: +1 514 987 9611
- Finland
- Hand Held Systems
- Torikatu 6-A, 451000
- Kouvola, Finland
- Phone: +35 8513 710 017
- Email: Pekka Aikas - Paikas@cix.compulink.co.uk
- Portugal
- Comp 3 Lda
- Rua Augusto Gil 30 A/B
- 1100 Lisbon
- Phone: +3511 7972 259
- Fax: +3511 7951 928
- Spain
- Paresa SA
- c/ Balmes 113, ppal 1a
- 08008 Barcelona
- Phone: +34 3451 6505
- Fax: +34 3451 6231
- Switzerland
- Excom AG
- Moosacherstrasse 6, Au
- 8820 Wadenswil
- Phone: +41 1 782 21 11
- Fax: +41 1 781 13 61
1.6.1 World Headquarters
- UK Offices:
- Alexander House
- 85 Frampton St
- London NW8 8NQ
- Phone:
- +44-171-262-5580 Main desk
- +44-181-566-6162 Repairs
- +44-171-258-7276 Technical enquiries
- +44-171-258-7368 Sales & customer services
- +44-171-262-5580 Main switchboard
- +44-181-258-7376 Technical support hotline
- +44-171-258-7242 SDK support
- +44-181-566-6162 Repair administration (call only with returns note number)
- Fax: +44-171-258-7340
- Email:
- Psion_corp@cix.compulink.co.uk
- 73733.32@compuserve.com
- UK Service centre:
- 17-19 Bristol Road
- Greenford
- Middlesex UB6 8UP
- +44-181-575-9919
1.6.2 USA
- Psion Incorporated
- Corporate Headquarters
- 150 Baker Avenue
- Concord, MA 01742
- USA
- Phone: 1 800 54 PSION [USA callers only]
- Phone: 1 508 371 0310
- Fax: 1 508 371 9611
- 71511.3401@compuserve.com
- 75300.3133@compuserve.com
- GregPaul@aol.com
- Midwest Office
- 225 West Washington St., Suite 2242
- Chicago, IL 60606
- Phone: 1 312 419 5300
- Fax: 1-312-419-7142
- West Coast Office
- 433 California Street
- Suite 520
- San Francisco, CA 94104
- Phone: 1 415 394 7770
In the USA only, contact 1 800 54 PSION to order parts.
They also have a WWW page at: <URL:http://www.psioninc.com/>
Please note that this is NOT the official Psion WWW site from London.
That one is yet to come.
1.6.3 Germany
Psion GmbH
Saalburgstrasse 157
61350 Bad Homburg
Germany
Phone: +49 6172 9654-0
Fax: +49 6172 9654-40
Hotline: +49 6172 9654-28
Mailbox: +49 6172 37090
(Dacom GmbH is on +49 6172 9654-45, Hotline on -42)
Email: 100067.2124@compuserve.com
Email: Graham-Tappenden@psion.com
<URL:http://emporium.turnpike.net/P/psion-gmbh/>
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