Customer Reviews

Psion Revo Palmtop Computer

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With one exception I found the Psion Revo almost perfect for me. For several years I had searched for an alternative to a Palm with a keyboard, PC sync (MS Outlook) and an affordable price.My Psion Revo does it all for me - except for the lack of backlit display. It set up easily and quickly with excellent documentation, syncs quickly and perfectly with my PC and MS Outlook and comes with it's own version of a decent word processor, spread sheet, contacts, agenda, e-mail, phone dialer, calculator, and more. A modem is also available for an additional cost. It looks good and even feels good in my hand and is small enough to fit in my pocket - though I don't trust any expensive piece of equipment in a pocket. This rates five stars if only it had a back lit display-but we can't have it all, can we. I do not work for or own stock in the Psion company, but I LIKE this product. Hopefully my feelings will be the same two years from now.

I bought the Psion Revo in February 2000, three months ago, after I realized that I don't like any keyboard-less Graffiti-based machines. After trying all kind of pocket devices, I found that Revo is the best choice. I also remember my very good experience with Psion Series 3a during two years in 1996-1998. Here are some of my impressions by Psion Revo.

1. The case design of Revo is very nice. No need for an additional leather case. You can just close the Revo and slip it into your pocket.

2. This is a realization of the pocket handbook -- the 'hands only' writing/browsing, not at a table or a desk. But it is less convenient than with Palm/Cassiopea type of devices.

2. Screen is sharp and clear. It is high contrast but without backlight. So don't use Revo in a deep darkness. The screen is touch-sensitive -- you can use a stick or just a finger to navigate in your Revo.

3. Battery life (there are two AAA type) if long enough to use Revo 2-3 weeks or so without recharging.

4. Speaker is good. But be careful -- Psion warns against keeping Revo close to your ATM cards -- the speaker magnet may harm your magnetic cards.

5. The quality of keyboard is good enough to write a short letter, not a novel. And the keyboard is useful after some getting used to. It is rather small, and I can use it only by two fingers. So don't expect touch type performance.

6. PsiWin synchronization software with Microsoft Outlook at the desktop don't synchronize properly -- it does not copy meeting locations into the Revo.

7. Be careful downloading games onto your Revo. My wife is playing with Revo all over the nights.

8. The EPOC operating system is fast and reliable, better than Windows CE.

9. The 8MB memory is still more than enough. But you have to keep a full collection of Psion software on your PC.

I am a user of the Siemens mobile without infrared, so I can't tell you about Revo's infrared port links.

The Revo is just as easy to use as the Palm for all of the standard electronic organizer functions. You also have the added benefits of a useable keyboard and full spreadsheet, word processor and dbase software. I'm sure, the Psion Revo is a much better choice than Palm.

I found the Psion Revo almost perfect for me. For several years I had searched for an alternative to a Palm with a keyboard, PC sync and an affordable price. I like Revo and recommend the product.

I have used Palm devices for years, but switched to a Revo last year, after reading rave reviews.

The Revo is just as easy to use as the Palm for all of the standard electronic organiser functions, but with the added benefits of : a) a useable keyboard and b) full spreadsheet, word processor and dbase programmes.

To elaborate a little more : - For those who type a lot of e-mails and are thus probably reasonbaly proficient touch typers, the Revo keyboard works very well, obviously more difficult for "hunt and peck" typists, but that's the same with any small keyboard - The battery life is excellent, a factor of the operating system, which has been designed from the ground up for mobile devices, unlike Win CE. - Hot synching and file conversion is very intuitive, particularly like the ability to drag and drop files to and from the Psion and the PC. - The EPOC (Symbian) operating system is fast and (are you listening Microsoft?) RELIABLE ! This is also a 32 bit OS, unlike Palm (16 bit only). - The REVO case is small and light. Not as small as a Palm V, but certainly portable enough for a jacket pocket or even a pair of chinos !

The bottom line is, if your live is run by your electronic organiser (which means MS Outlook for most people) but you also want to be able to take Word files on the road and work out calculations on a spreadsheet, as well as drafting e-mails etc, then the Psion REVO is a much better choice than any Palm device.

I bought the Revo 3 weeks ago, after becoming fed-up with keyboard-less devices. Overall I am pleased with it, and find it quite usefull as a palm/paper calendar replacement. my comments are -

(+) the clamshell case design is nice, no need for an additional leather/vinil case - you can just close the revo and slip it into your pants pocket.

(+) sharp and clear screen, no backlight ...

(+) good loudspeaker (no mike) - baware though, if you plan to carry the revo close to your ATM card - think again. Psion warns against it - the speaker magnet may harm magnetic card strips.

(-) the keyboard quality was a big disappointment when i first got it, they use plastic flexible hinges at the bottom of the keys. gives kind of cheap fealing. overall though, the keyboard is usefull after some getting used to. do not expect touch type performance ...

(-) synchronization software: maybe it is just me, but i find PsiWin significantly inferior to palm sync. software, especially with MS outlook at your desktop. agenda synchronization does not copy meeting locations into the Revo, and meetings get duplicated after several synchronizations. also if writing e-mails at the revo, they do not synchronize properly to outlook mail.

(-) 'hands only' browsing (i.e. not at a table or a desk) is less convenient than with palm / cassiopea type of devices.

glad to see that amazon.com carries psions now - hope it will help to spread the word, and that we will see more and better quality third party revo software as a result.

As a mobile user, I'm really looking forward to Bluetooth, but the Revo's infra-red port links really well with my Nokia. Sending text messages is a dream with its keyboard, and I've notched up a fair rate. Its keys are small and so probably not suited to people with large fingers, who I recommend should go for Palm V plus keyboard, or the larger Series 5mx.

Beaming Contacts and business cards between it and the Palm works great too, and I much prefer its diary application (called Agenda).

I do miss the Palm's backlight, but Revo's screen is several orders of magnitude easier to read in low-light conditions. (Psion, when are you going to release a backlit version? )

Agenda is probably the best-thought out application, and caters for nearly everything I use Outlook for at work. Synching is a matter of double clicking on an icon on my PC's desktop, the only info that the Psion doesn't let you see is attendees.

As for software, I'm so far planning on buying some of the Berlitz language guides, and have also become addicted to an excellent freeware Asteroids clone...

Anyone who's a Palm user, and isn't sure, I can say that I whole-heartedly recommend this machine if you're fed-up with Graffiti, and want a bit more power in your palmtop!

Pros: The Psion Revo is a great hand held organizer. It is a perfect blend of functionality and design. The screen looks crisp and clear. The calendar program has a great look to it and is so easy to use. For those that demand a little more than just and organizer, it has great applications like word processing and spreadsheets that can seamlessly be used with MS Word and Excel. The small QWERTY keyboard take a while to get used to, but it once you've mastered it, it's defintely a time saver.

Cons: There is no where near the software support that there is for the Palm class of handhelds. If you want a lot of games, then you probably don't want the Revo. Also, Outlook 2000 isn't officially supported with their synchronization tool, PsiWin. While I had previously used Outlook 2000 just fine with it, I'm having problems now. It is a bit disconcerning to not have the most used office suite not supported. So all in all, great product in need of better software support.

great tool - compared it with Palm V but decision was easy - Revo has much more functionality than Palm - what sold me were the extra's available on the Revo like the spreadsheet application (oh so simple to use), wordprocessor and database which are all easy to synchronise with my PC. Agenda is great and a proper scientific calculator is also a nice bonus. Operating system is fast and super stable - always works! Lots of software available on various www sites - including graffiti applications in case you don't know how to type.

Psion is on a winner here - shame that so few people in the USA are even remotely aware of Psion's great line of products.

I've been totally impressed with my Revo since I bought it lastyear. The machine is the perfect size and design to make it usable asa daily organiser. If you have a compatible IR phone you can use theadditional mail and web browsing features, and whilst I find browsing the web slow, it's a breeze to check and reply to my email.

The built in phone application allows you to configure your phone via IR and the Agenda is very nicely designed and easy to use.

I have missed a backlight but surprisingly very few times. Most of the time I find the screen very readable and a major improvement on the older (touch screen) Psion models like the Series 5 and 5mx.

The Revo is a great little machine and deserves to be a success throughout the world.

If you shop like me and like to compare what's out there before buying, the Revo is worth a serious look. I wanted a PDA under or around $300 so I after hours of reading reviews on cnet.com, I bought the Revo, Mako (the Revo's big brother with more memory), Palm M100, Palm IIIxe, Compaq Aero 1550 and Handspring Deluxe. These were similar in capabilities and price. The keyboard was what convinced me to try to Revo but once I got it, the wide screen, Word and Excel-like software, quality sound, and study feel of the Revo won me over from the Palms and Compaq. The resolution is crisp and clear on the wide screen and you'll have a hard time going to a Palm after you see the text on the Revo. I mainly use the spreadsheet, contact and agenda features which all have the Windows-like pull-down menus. I hated grafiti (the handwriting software on Palms) so a keyboard was a blessing. There's a lot of depth and detail to their software so it would be hard for a non-PC user. A Palm maybe better for those users because Palms do seem more user-friendly. However, if you can use a PC, this little machine is like having your desktop in your pocket. It's an affordable and much more convenient alternative to a lap top if you just need the basic wordprocessing, spreasheet and organizer software. The best $300 I've spent in a while.

I bought this product after reading various reviews and not wanting a keyboard-less organizer(Palm). Most reviewers had expressed dismay with the lack of back-lighting for the display and I thought this would be a minor inconvenience. Having used the product for some six months now I can state that it is almost perfect, except for the lack of back-lighting, which has turned out to be its only real deficiency and a real pain in poor lighting conditions. Otherwise an excellent product in all other respects and by far the best PDA I have seen and used.