Clove recently set up a new blog to discuss smartphone and mobile industry happenings and one of the posts detailed the smartphones each of the team use. Colin’s section caught my eye for obvious reasons-
“Colin – A Psion user! Yes, say no more he does still use one, and what’s more it looks brand new. There is nothing he doesn’t know about Psions and you want catch him using anything else for his diary and contact database. He does have a very basic Nokia too. Although he knows all about Windows and Symbian etc, we will not see him using one any time soon.”
I envy Colin because I have wasted so much money on smartphones and PDAs over the years doing needless upgrades which were no better than the previous devices, and here he is quite happy with probably the best handheld platform ever produced. Clove are probably happy about my upgrades as well because most have been bought from them! I am convinced that it still competes in many areas today and asked Colin to answer some questions about his Psion usage-
1/ Colin. Obvious question first- why are you still using a Psion? What is it that makes you stick with one even though newer smartphones have more advanced features?
Seasoned Psion users tend to consider the basic organiser programs more flexible and user friendly especially the data and agenda applications and these two represent my main use of my machine.Windows mobile devices are certainly more technically advanced but I do not need to carry PC applications on my handheld , nor do I need Web access on the move for example.
2/ Which Psion do you use, and how many have you owned in the past?
I use a Psion 5MX , but have previously used Psion series 3,3c,3mx and the original series 5.
3/ Do you connect it to a desktop computer and how do you keep your data backed up?
I back up to a PC, but I did learn the hard way like lots of other PDA users when I lost my data having dropped my device and dislodging the batteries.
4/ How far back does your personal data go on your current Psion?
I first began using a Psion when I started working at Clove Technology in 1992 and so my data is fairly historical!
5/ Do you ever see yourself upgrading to a newer smartphone?
It seems inevitable that I will upgrade if for no other reasons that my device will eventually fail or Psiwin will not be compatible with Windows Vista for example.
My thanks go to Colin for answering the questions and to Clove for providing many years of first class service to me as a customer, even back to when I was buying Psion stuff from them. Clove is also responsible for almost all of the review devices supplied to 247 and is always around when help is needed.
Psion 7 and Revo are for me the best in that the Revo is very portable and the Psion 7 has WiFi and GPRS connectivity.
The revo was a fantastic unit in terms of functionality, never beaten IMO. If only it had more connectivity and a backlit screen.
I have been using a Psion since 1995. I never fancied the series 5, it was just a bit too big for a pocket, so I stuck with the Series 3 (apart from a fling with a Revo). I now have an iPhone, but I still use my 3MX as it has all my databases, including contacts, and the Psion Agenda is much better than the iPhone calendar. Is there anyone out there who could write a Psion emualtor for an iPhone?