The use of the letter ‘Psi’ in PsiXpda is an obvious reference to the Psion range of PDAs that many of us still love to this day, but this product is very different. The main specifications are below and I can certainly appreciate the Psion-esqe setup going on here. Will it be enough to tempt historic Psion users? Possibly. Thanks to Jah for the link.
Ships with Windows XP Home edition, providing a full computing experience in a small and dynamic package for you business and entertainment needs.
Intel Atom technology provides a common platform to build on, with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage using solid state circuitry
800×480 Touchscreen with built in trackpad and mouse buttons in the screen’s bezel
64 key backlit keyboard
MicroUSB slot for extra storage and back-up.
Full USB port for peripherals, expansion and alternative operating system installations
More information about the design process is at this blog.
Also supports various flavours of 3G and introductory price of ukp 500
One more point, I have a M1 Mbook, similar to the PSIXPDA but no 3G, and the main issue is that there are very few apps to make use of the small screen. The key benefit of Psion was the hardware & software integration.
Just realised who is making this device. Will hopefully get a review done soon:)
Sorry peeps, just wrote some news about it, but hey?! Whats the big fuss about it? Umid and Viliv are already there and have a better battery runtime.
Where is the connection between this thing and the Psion?
Is it the lack of the clamshell versus slider on the PsiXpda?
Is it the normal WinXP OS?
Is it the bad runtime of around 4 hours? [calculating 9 Watt on 19 Volts on the 1,85 Ah battery]
HTC, Nokia even HP have used slider keyboards on their devices in conjunction with Windows Mobile or Maemo. Nobody ever concluded there was some Psionesque-ness about them. And this service technician has done it with the same hardware? I doubt it.
Though, the price tag certainly appeals to me.
One of the great things about the Psion 5 series was its unique keyboard. There isn’t anything like it around now. The keys felt very similar to those on a real full sized keyboard. It was amazing!
@Keith
yeah, the battery of the M1 is very good, probably 4 hours in normal use. The PSIXPDA with a lower speed (but more RAM) CPU is rated at about 2.5/3hrs.
@jah:
Pardon me??! 2,5 – 3 hours? You are kidding me, right? The Sony netbook (the really small and light one) is about 150% more expensive, but delivers a whopping resolution and standard netbook specs – also with this bad runtime. Does it sell? Nobody is going to buy a crippled smartphone or a low spec netbook this size anymore.
If they had been selling this two years ago everything would be fine. Now this device looks outdated and far too underpowered for anything really useful.
It’s a shame, this could have been a very good device..
I have been using Psions since 1992, and own two Series 5s. The PsiXpda bears no resemblance to any of the Psion handheld computers because it is a rebadged Asian TABLET UMPC!! What attracted us hard-core Psion fans was the clamshell form factor, allowing you to put the device in your pocket, or drop it, and still protect its wonderful though monochromatic screen.
I have been using the UMID M1 mbook since Dynamism began supplying it, with Win XP, the same screen size as the PsiXPDA, a stylus but no mouse (which doesn’t matter for us Psion users), a 16GB SSD, a webcam, microphone, microSD card holder, WiFi and Blue tooth and a 5-hour battery. The entire well-working package costs 450 US Dollars. Even with 3G, the short battery life of the PsiXpda renders it useless. It is simply an attempted exploitation of Psion UK loyalty and I, for one, won’t (ever) buy it!.