Psion 5
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| Manufacturer | Psion PLC |
|---|---|
| Type | PDA |
| Operating system | EPOC32 |
| CPU | CL-PS7110 @ 18–36 MHz |
| Memory | 4–16 MB |
| Display | 5.6", 640 × 240, 16 greyscale LCD |
| Input | Keyboard, Touchscreen, Microphone |
| Connectivity | RS-232, infra-red, CompactFlash |
| Power | 2 AA batteries (10–20h use) |
| Dimensions | 170 × 90 × 23 millimetres |
| Weight | 354 grams (battery included) |
The Psion Series 5 was a Personal digital assistant PDA from Psion. It came in two main variants, the Series 5 (launched in 1997) and the Series 5mx (1999), the latter having a faster processor, clearer screen, and updated software. There was also a rare Series 5mx Pro, which differed only in having the operating system loaded into RAM and hence upgradeable. Ericsson marketed a rebadged version of the Series 5mx called the MC218.
The Psion Series 5 was a major upgrade from the Psion Series 3. A Psion Series 4 does not exist, due to Psion's concern of tetraphobia in their Asian markets. The external appearance of the Psion Series 5 and the Psion Series 5mx are broadly similar, but their mainboards and other internal components were different and not interchangeable. The screens are not interchangeable because of different screen cables.
The Series 5 was the first to feature a unique sliding-clamshell design, whereby the keyboard slides forward as the device opens to counterbalance the display, and brace it such that touchscreen actuation does not topple the device, a feature mentioned in the granted European patent EP 0766166B1. This novel design approach was the work of Martin Riddiford, an industrial designer for Therefore Design. A simplified version of this design was also used in the Psion Revo.
The moving parts and hinges can wear out or break. The most serious common problem arose because of a design fault in the screen cable where tooling holes caused unnecessary stressing due to additional bending of the cable at this point each time the Psion Series 5 was opened or closed and eventually leading to failure of the cable, which caused a serious display malfunction and the appearance of vertical lines on the screen. The screen cable to the Psion Series 5 was more durable than the screen cable of the Psion Series 5mx. There was an after-market cable available for the 5mx which aimed to eliminate this problem (see Psionflexi in the 'External links' below).
At its heart was the 32-bit ARM710-based CL-PS7110 processor running at 18 MHz (Series 5) or 36 MHz (5mx), with 4, 8 or 16MB of RAM. It was powered by two AA batteries, typically giving 10–20 hours of use. The display is a touch-sensitive, backlit half-VGA (640 × 240 pixel) LCD with 16 greyscales. The keyboard, which has a key-pitch of 12.5 mm, is generally considered to be amongst the best for its size, with large-travel keys and touch-type capability. Both RS-232 and infra-red serial connections were provided. The infra-red connection was not compatible with a PC's IrDA port unless a third party utility was installed (PlBeam). A speaker and microphone were also provided, giving dictation as well as music playing ability. External storage was on CompactFlash.
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