[Jason Dunn]

http://theregister.co.uk/content/53/33172.html

"Psion Teklogix has dropped the familiar EPOC operating system in favour of Windows CE.NET 4.2 for an updated version of our old mobile computing favourite, the Netbook, once also known as the Psion Series 7. The new release, the Netbook Pro, is at least a significant hardware upgrade. In place of the original 190MHz Intel StrongARM SA-1100 processor, there's a spanking new 400MHz Intel PXA255. The memory's been upped from 32MB to 128MB, too, though its internal expansion capability has been lost. The Netbook's 7.7in 640 x 480 passive matrix display has been replaced with an 800 x 600 TFT model. The sound has been updated from a 12-bit system to the AC'97 codec, backed at long last with microphone and speaker sockets."

The irony of the birthplace of Symbian switching over to a Windows CE .Net-based platform still gives me a good chuckle, but Psion is serious about making vertical-market HPCs it seems. Too bad they're so expensive - I can think of a lot of people who could benefit from a "laptop lite" such as this device.

[Jason Dunn]

http://theregister.co.uk/content/53/33172.html

"Psion Teklogix has dropped the familiar EPOC operating system in favour of Windows CE.NET 4.2 for an updated version of our old mobile computing favourite, the Netbook, once also known as the Psion Series 7. The new release, the Netbook Pro, is at least a significant hardware upgrade. In place of the original 190MHz Intel StrongARM SA-1100 processor, there's a spanking new 400MHz Intel PXA255. The memory's been upped from 32MB to 128MB, too, though its internal expansion capability has been lost. The Netbook's 7.7in 640 x 480 passive matrix display has been replaced with an 800 x 600 TFT model. The sound has been updated from a 12-bit system to the AC'97 codec, backed at long last with microphone and speaker sockets."

The irony of the birthplace of Symbian switching over to a Windows CE .Net-based platform still gives me a good chuckle, but Psion is serious about making vertical-market HPCs it seems. Too bad they're so expensive - I can think of a lot of people who could benefit from a "laptop lite" such as this device.

[guinness]

How do they plan on selling these when you can buy a decent laptop anymore for as little as $700? (Some tradeoffs here and there, but still)

[acronym]

it says exactly how at the bottom of the article. lower tco. compare the support costs of rolling out about 100 laptops to a vertical market using proprietary applications with something as simple as this device.

think of the last couple months of windows patches alone

[Kati Compton]

If it were $500-$700 I would definitely be interested.

[CTSLICK]

With the focus on mobile workforce why no integrated WiFi and bluetooth?

[Paul]

same here, if it were cheaper, I would pick up one of these things.

[sgyee]

About time. I've always loved my NEC Mobilepro 770.

[Chris Spera]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

Too bad they're so expensive - I can think of a lot of people who could benefit from a "laptop lite" such as this device.

Exactly. The HP Jornada 820 was a complete flop. It was also about $999 if memory serves correctly.

However, even at $599, I don't think I'd buy something like this. The major problems with the 820 are still all over this device. It's too big to be a hand held, too small for a laptop and doesn't have any real storage capabilities. Also, without BlueTooth or Wi-Fi, its going to go nowhere fast.

but this is just my two cents. I reviewed the Jornada 820 for the WindowsCE Lair back in 1999. Though I liked the device, I couldn't recommend purchasing one. I still wouldn't recommend this kind of device to anyone but a VP or above who wanted to take some sort of light weight, limited computing device on a business trip so they could work on documents or something.

That isn't a vertical market...that's one or two guys who don't have a Pocket PC or Palm unit...


Christopher Spera

[Janak Parekh]

Originally Posted by Chris Spera

However, even at $599, I don't think I'd buy something like this. The major problems with the 820 are still all over this device. It's too big to be a hand held, too small for a laptop and doesn't have any real storage capabilities. Also, without BlueTooth or Wi-Fi, its going to go nowhere fast.

I agree about the lack of WiFi, but there's a few things this device has that a laptop doesn't: speed and battery life. Being extremely simple means instantaneous turn-on time. Its battery life, if it's like earlier HPC units like the z50, should have 8-10 hours. That's just not something you get with most laptops nowadays. I wouldn't mind having one for notetaking and other small applications, but not at $1,500.

--janak

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by guinness

How do they plan on selling these when you can buy a decent laptop anymore for as little as $700? (Some tradeoffs here and there, but still)

Quite simply, that psion don't care about the domestic market at all....

They're aiming this at big business (e.g. rolling them out to sales teams to do demos....etc).
Psion shot themselves in the foot by whining about declining sales, when their 5mx (a fantastic product, I owned one myself) was overpriced compaired to ppc + palm.
They also refused to make a color screen 5mx that people were crying out for!