Psion Series 5MX Palmtop Computer

Other products by Psion

Product Details

Product Manual [2.99mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.5 x 0.9 inches ; 12.5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00000JX3C
• Item model number: 5MX
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,470 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Psion's been around the handheld industry as long as the rest of the big manufacturers, and they're not changing their large-scale design for anybody. While the latest Psion, the 5mx, looks similar to the Psion 5 (which is in turn similar to other previous iterations), it integrates various internal changes that make it a more powerful machine.

The Psion's large format aims at users who need more power than a Palm-sized palmtop and more portability than a notebook PC. While you won't be using the 5mx in hand that often--it's a bit too bulky and weighs three-quarters of a pound--its well-designed case sits flat on a table or even your leg. And it stays steady while you're typing or tapping on the screen with the comfortable pencil-length stylus. It's also one of the few handhelds anymore to ship with a keyboard, and a very usable one at that.

The Psion can connect to the Internet wirelessly via its IrDA (infrared) port when using specific models of wireless phones or pagers--or via the optional Psion 56 Kbps travel modem. In our tests, PC synchronization worked seamlessly, with speedy transfer even using the serial port interface cable.

Armed with 16 MB of memory/storage (compared to the 8 MB of the Psion Series 5 before it), the 5mx opens applications quickly and multitasks smoothly. It was also refreshing to be able to actually type in our handheld's word processor and e-mail programs, even if we had to hunt and peck for a while before we got used to the smaller keys.

Although the 640 x 240 screen lacks color, text and images displayed crisply in gray scale, and a unique zoom feature allows you to increase the size of the text you're working with to see it more clearly. If you're a Palm lover, you'll be disappointed by the 5mx's heft and bulk. But if you're a user looking to get more out of your handheld PC, this Psion offers near-laptop capabilities. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Very usable keyboard
• Well-designed case
• Zoom feature

Cons:

• No PC Card slot
• Grayscale screen
• Bulky

Product Description

The Psion Series 5mx is the out-of-the-box mobile computing solution for busy executives and professionals like you. Delivering remarkable speed, connectivity and functionality, the Psion Series 5mx is a leader in palm computing.While the Psion Series 5mx is independently powerful, it also connects seamlessly to your desktop PC creating expansive opportunities for PC synchronization and file sharing. From top to bottom, inside and out, the Psion Series 5mx is your powerhouse to working freely on the go. The fast processor delivers speedy communications so you stay on top of business even when you are traveling. High screen resolution allows you to view full-page width documents, e-mails, and Web pages without horizontal scrolling! All of these features and more in a tiny easy-to-carry device! Infrared technology incorporated into the device lets you send files wirelessly to an infrared printer, or to other 5mx device. High-specification infrared software even allows the beaming of business cards and agenda entries. There is even a digital voice recorder offering 60 minutes of voice recording time so you can record reminders and notes to yourself. The recorder even works when the unit is closed!

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Psion 5mx: can't function without it!, July 26, 2000

By	Kim Taylor Swanson (Newport Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Having used the 5mx for nearly a year now, and the Psion 3a for several years prior, the 5mx has become indispensable. All contacts and schedule/agenda keep my life in order, but hey, any Palm platform can do this. Where the Psion really excells is in its ability to become a near desktop (or laptop) equivalent in your pocket, and therefore be with you all the time. As a physician, I use it for all office notes, and with a slick program called ChartNotes, can convert notes to letters, etc. While this program will only appeal to a select audience, it points out the versatility of the platform, with literally hundreds of programs and applications available, most either free or for a modest sum, easily obtainable on the web, directly downloadable, for whatever the user's interest or occupation is. The ability of the accompanying PsiWin to seamlessly synchronize with MS Outlook, both for schedules, contacts, and emails, as well as allow rapid direct printing or faxing, and rapid transfer and conversion of Word, spreadsheet, and data base files makes the 5mx an extension of the desktop. Indeed, this redefines the concept of "personal computer", as for me, in order to be truly personal, it needs to be where I am, always available, all the time. This is much more than just an "organizer" or PDA. I find myself doing at least 50% of my "computing time" at my Psion. The 56K travel modem also allows me to retrieve emails, and fax off documents. The small (monochrome) screen makes web browsing sub-optimal, which is about all I end up using my desk top PC for now. The EPOC platform never crashes, even when running multiple files and programs simutaneously. I only wish Windows was as robust!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Add-Ons, July 19, 2000

By	Fredrik Adilz (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

I've had my 5mx for a year now and I love it. The native applications are great, the OS is very stable, the batteries last, and the keyboard is the best I've seen. etc, etc.

However, I thought it would be more interesting to highlight some of the non-standard things you can do:

o For truly mobile email, I use an Ericsson sh888 which connects via an infra-red link. Works in Europe and Far East. For the US you would need a different phone (triband?).

o Routplanner gives you mobile maps and route planning. Add on a GPS (I use an old Garmin GPSII+) and the map follows your position - this is a superb package which really works well in the car. I attach the GPS to the dashboard with velcro and the 5mx connects with a cable. Now that the GPS signal is no longer degraded, the accuracy is good enough for street level navigation.

o You can swap compact flash cards with a suitable digital camera - and send them as attachments to an email. I use a Kodak DC240. Great for postcards.

o The Opera web-browser is just out and will get you onto your hotmail account and other sites that require SSL security. I personnally only use the web on the move when I need to retrieve specific pages, because portable phones are still too slow for true browsing. You could of course get the infrared modem which gives you 50k when connected to a landline.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very useful and flexible, February 14, 2001

By	Mark Henderson (Sammamish, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm a long time Palm user. After two days with the 5mx, I'm a convert.

The bad news about the 5mx: It is larger than a Palm III, Palm V, Visor, etc. The screen contrast isn't great.

The good news:

1. It has a keyboard. I find input of text much faster and easier than the Palm even though I am fairly experienced with Graffiti.

2. It has 16MB of RAM and is expandable with off the shelf CompactFlash cards. One of the first things I did was purchase a 48MB CompactFlash card.

3. You can program in perl, java, or python on the 5mx.

4. There is a lot of freeware/shareware available. Not as much as for the Palm, but still I find that software is available to duplicate almost all the functions that I used on the Palm.

5. The 5mx can multitask.

6. The built-in Email client can use POP/IMAP/SMTP to fetch and deliver mail to an ISPs mail server.

7. The screen is big enough that web browsing on the 5mx is actually fairly practical.

8. The 5mx runs nethack ;-)