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the "new Psion" Gemini

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  the "new Psion" Gemini RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2017-02-28 12:33 -0500
    Re: the "new Psion" Gemini Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2017-02-28 18:08 +0000
    Re: the "new Psion" Gemini Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2017-02-28 18:47 +0000
      Re: the "new Psion" Gemini RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2017-03-01 00:54 +0000

#13229 — the "new Psion" Gemini

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/02/28/inside_the_new_psion_gemini/

Bill Clinton was still US President when the last pocket computer that
you could touch type on came out. Back then, almost everyone accessed
the internet at home on a dialup modem, not broadband, and no phone yet
sported a colour screen or a camera. It was a different era.

But after 17 years, a Psion 5-style machine is back, in the form of the
Gemini computer. We had a play with the world’s only prototype on
Monday at this year's Mobile World Conference in Barcelona, and spoke
to the driving force behind the Gemini: Planet Computing CEO Dr Janko
Mrsic-Flogel.

The revival of the much-loved design doesn’t owe anything to nostalgia,
according to Mrsic-Flogel. Quite simply, he told us, it’s because there
still isn’t anything like it. Psion’s computers were no more obtrusive
than a specs case, fitting nicely into a jacket pocket, but people
wrote books and even PhD theses on them.

-- 
RS Wood <rswood@therandymon.com>

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#13230

On 2017-02-28, RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> wrote:
> https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/02/28/inside_the_new_psion_gemini/
>
> Bill Clinton was still US President when the last pocket computer that
> you could touch type on came out. Back then, almost everyone accessed
> the internet at home on a dialup modem, not broadband, and no phone yet
> sported a colour screen or a camera. It was a different era.
>
> But after 17 years, a Psion 5-style machine is back, in the form of the
> Gemini computer. We had a play with the world’s only prototype on
> Monday at this year's Mobile World Conference in Barcelona, and spoke
> to the driving force behind the Gemini: Planet Computing CEO Dr Janko
> Mrsic-Flogel.
>
> The revival of the much-loved design doesn’t owe anything to nostalgia,
> according to Mrsic-Flogel. Quite simply, he told us, it’s because there
> still isn’t anything like it. Psion’s computers were no more obtrusive
> than a specs case, fitting nicely into a jacket pocket, but people
> wrote books and even PhD theses on them.

I loved my 5MX (if it had had better connectivity, I'd likely still have it)
and if this is anything like as good, I shall have one like a shot. 5MX's
still sell for around £100 ($125) on eBay.


-- 
Today is Prickle-Prickle, the 59th day of Chaos in the YOLD 3183
                  I don't have an attitude problem.
    If you have a problem with my attitude, that's your problem.

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#13231

RS Wood wrote:

> after 17 years, a Psion 5-style machine is back

I dug out my old 5mx the other day, it still works apart from the 
cracked screen that put it out of business, I liked that machine way 
back when, but alongside smartphones, tablets, netbooks and laptops, 
would I find a use for a clamshell type device? Not so sure ...

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#13234

On 2017-02-28, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
> RS Wood wrote:
>
>> after 17 years, a Psion 5-style machine is back
>
> I dug out my old 5mx the other day, it still works apart from the 
> cracked screen that put it out of business, I liked that machine way 
> back when, but alongside smartphones, tablets, netbooks and laptops, 
> would I find a use for a clamshell type device? Not so sure ...
>

I'd be tempted too, but I'm not sure.  The 5MX was a great machine and even
in 2005 I was using it in classes to take notes, etc - all with no qualms.

These days my smartphone (Samsung Note, non-self-immolating version) plus a
good bluetooth keyboard is almost the same thing.  I bought this Domon
folding keyboard:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015O4QCXK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's about the same build quality and feel as the old 5MX.  Folded, it's
about the same size as my phone (and well protected).  For software I use
Softmaker Office (Android only, no iOS version that I know of).  They sell
versions for Windows and Linux (and it runs on BSD under the Linux emulation
layer perfectly).  It's been pretty great.

If these guys build a nice keyboard though, I might be tempted.  I love
being free of the software keyboard and the glossy screen.

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