Psion Series 5MX 16MB

Everyone raved about their Palms - I jumped on the wagon - it was horse-drawn and there were no seats.

However, the idea of a proper mini laptop that fits in your pocket... now that sounded interesting. I got one...

...and it works!
I sinc up my agenda and e-mail (something that was never possible with my Palm due to the number of e-mails I have) and my contacts and everything works!

And it makes sense! There's logic in there. Whoever invented this EPOC OS or whatever it's called - you're wonderful. If you don't know how to do something on a 5mx you simply ask "what would be the easiest way for this thing to happen?" and 9 times out of 10 - that's the way you do it. Intuitive!

A proper keyboard! No, I mean, a PROPER keyboard. No plugging one thing into another, or doing a delicate balancing act on a train, or using that poxy 3wpm "hund writlmg recognation". With this - you unfold - you type - you fold up - and you go.

Imagine that on a short train journey? Bliss!

Then, just when you thought it couldn't get any better - 2 double AA batteries - 32 hours life!! Show me an Ipaq or palm that can do that? Serious traveler? This is THE palmtop for you. I've even stopped carting my laptop around Europe.

And it's cute - it even has a window that tells you the draw in milli amps from the battery. Ahhhhh...!

I'm overwhelmed. I'm so impressed I've written a review - and that's never happened before.

Oh, and for those who say "Colour?" Colour schmulour! Kills batteries - and unless your main goal is games or mobile internet - who cares.. (use the internet at work like everyone else!)

I'm on a slightly less popular bandwagon now - but this one's worth being on - and look! Leather seats! ;)


I've Come Back To 5!   May 26, 2001
28 out of 28 found this review helpful

I bought my 5mx last September, and it's been really great. Then, when I finished my post-grad and became a suit-wearing commuter I switched to an HP Pocket PC.(Size, colour screen, more inbuilt applications). About the most expensive mistake I made this year: If you need to make quick accurate notes after a meeting, get a Psion 5mx. (If I'd written this using a Pocket PC, it'd have taken 3x as long and would come out as "...is uou uaad to muck quack nota astter a maafing..." OK, you get my point.) I don't care if my handwriting's bad when I'm on the move. The PDA should adapt to the user, not the other way round. So I'm back with my 5mx, and nothing out there beats it. My Pocket PC had lots of fun applications- the media player in particular, but it still can't cut it next to the 5mx for practicality, massive-banana-factor-user-friendliness and smart design. If you're on the move alot, there's a place for a 5mx AND a laptop. Especially if your work involves WRITING ANYTHING. My only concern about Psion, is that most computer companies are developing new stuff all the time. I haven't seen Psion come up with much new...


Psion 5MX Still the best PDA   February 9, 2004
Jerry Everard
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

In fact the psion 5mx is more pocket laptop than PDA - great keyboard, easy to use, instant on/off (handy for when the seatbelt sign comes on during a flight). I've had a 5mx for about two and a half years now - compact flash storage makes it easy to transfer files to and from my mac through a card reader, and great range of software. You can get a serial-USB adapter for use with iMacs, but I've found the card reader just as simple. Yes it has a useful calendar/alarm function, but it is in taking notes that the machine really shines. The cf card is the same as that used by my digital camera so I can take photos and build a web page while sitting at a museum coffee shop and upload when I get home (must get a compatible phone soon). Opera browser (separate download) is great for preview testing such web pages, and the travel modem (separate item) is fine for email and web providing you have a convenient landline connection to hand. Using third party software I was able to beam to and from palm PDAs without difficulty, and I can scan text with a CPen scanner and beam direct to the psion. Using nconvert (separate download) from Neuon you can convert file formats to be readable on any macine (eg word to RTF etc, and a host of graphics formats). All in all a great PDA that has more in common with laptops, but with the convenience of fitting in a pocket. Great machine, and despite no longer being supported, is well supported by user groups around the world. The only downside is you can't use compact flash wifi cards for internet access otherwise it would have five stars from me.


No one does it better   March 2, 2002
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

I work as a rep, and I just upgraded to a 5mx from a Psion series 3C. What can I say I just love it. It is very easy to use, fast and has piles of memory. I looked at the competition (glorified adress books) but they just can'nt do what my Psion does. It takes a lot of the slog out of work, and connecting to my PC was really easy.


Psion 5MX   June 4, 2006
gadgetgirl (UK)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I bought a 5mx in 1999 and used it everyday without fail for almost 6 years. It's now finally given up the ghost and I feel like I've lost a trusty friend. Researching the market for a replacement revealed there are plenty of handhelds out there, but absolutely nothing with a keyboard that matches the 5MX for size, build quality and design. Although, admittedly there's a few options that look like they were designed to be been given away with packets of breakfast cereal. If your priority is a decent built in qwerty keyboard and an instant on system, then you really are limited by what's available. I looked at getting either a series 7 or Netbook, but at 1.2kg approx. they weigh as much as my subnotebook, so just defeat the object.

I don't have issues with Windows per se, only that it takes too damn long to load and therefore isn't always convenient. As for compatability, just plug it into your pc with the cable and you're done. Yes, technology has moved on in the 6 years since I bought my MX, but that's what makes it all the more disappointing that there is nothing new to either match it, let alone better it now. So, here goes, I'm ordering my second MX right now!