|1-PSION 3a Series Reviewed By Kei Of Carnage When I first heard people talking about the PSION 3a series of palmtop computers, my mind was cast back to the days when I had a spectrum 48k+ and those shitty little games you got with it by PSION. I never thought to ask whether it was the same company or not as I was too interested in finding out about this little nano-computer everyone was apparently going to save up for. Getting the info proved easy. After getting PSION's number from Directory Enquiries I phoned them up and saying I was thinking of buying a 3a, they sent me catalogues and leaflets etc along with price lists! The PSION series 3a computer is the leader in the new computer class known as 'palmtop'. It does everything a desktop computer does but it's main advantages is it can fit into your pocket and is a 3rd of the price of it's desktop equivalent! Don't ask me where I was when these baby's came onto the market. Probably with all the other Amiga enthusiasts ignoring the PC world thinking nothing can beat the Amiga! The PSION 3a is amazing! Just go into your local Dixons or computer shop with one on display and take a look! Even WiZzard said 'I want one' and he's a die hard Amiga hardware freak! The PSION 3a has 7 models in it's range. They vary from internal memory to in-built software. An ideal starting point would be the 1MB or 2MB versions which come with Spell Checker and Theasaurus featuring 100,000 words, 660,000 synonyms and 50,000 definitions. The PSION 3a series comes with 2 slots to insert SSDs (SOLID STATE DISKS) on which you can store data or software with unlimited capacity. Also available are FLASH SSDs which unlike the standard SSDs, require no battery pack to retain the data. The disadvantage of FLASH SSDs is that you have to format them to re-use them. You cannot delete from them at all. Their main use is for storing data that rarely needs deleting but needs protecting from accidental deletion. Another type of SSD is RAM. RAM SSDs use a lithium backup battery to retain data stored, and files stored on them can be easily deleted thus providing a form of temporary storage very much like FAST RAM on the Amiga. SSDs also come with commercial software built into them. These cannot be deleted but files created with them can be saved to memory or other SSDs |1-FEATURES AVAILABLE * Time Management/Organiser with: Open book diary with reminder alarms Planner 'Things To Do' Manager Chronological list and aniversaries view * Voice Recording And Playback * Spreadsheet * Word Processor (MS Word compatible) * Print Preview * Fax modem facility (send only) * Database/Addresses * Zoom-In zoom-out through four font sizes * DTMF Autodialling (I could find some uses for this feature!) * World times/dialling codes/distances * Calculator (10 Memory) * Programming Language * Password protection * On-Line HELP at all levels * Graphic User Interface * Data Exchange Across Applications * Spellchecker and Theasaurus * Patience Card Game |1-SPECIFICATIONS * 128k - 2MB Internal RAM size * 2 SSD Drives * 1MB RAM Capacity per SSD * 4MB FLASH Capacity per SSD * 240x80 - 480x160 screen size (pixels) * 40x9 - 80x17 Screen size (characters) * IBM PC Compatible Link * Apple Macintosh Link * Parallel (centronics) printer support * Serial (RS232) printer support * Weight inc. batteries not exceding 275g * 165mm x 85mm x 22mm in size * 2AA Alkaline batteries (2-4 months use), lithium backup cell, optional AC mains adaptor (9V,150mA) Power Supply |1-CONCLUSION If you wanted a portable computer then look no further! Don't bother with a laptop as while laptop owners are recharging their batteries after 8 hours use you could be playing chess with your mate on the train or sending a fax to your office! The PSION 3a is light and fits snuggly in your pocket so you can feel comfortable walking into a phonebox with it without having to lug a laptop in with you and arouse interest! It will even dial for you! And if you don't want to talk to an answer machine, pre-record your message and play it back down the phone! The disadvantage though is money. It is expensive and risky if you carry it around with you. It will be like carrying a £400 computer around town in your back pocket! Won't the pickpockets have a good day! The PSION 3a does everything a desktop computer would do and if at the end of the day/week you want to import the data into your home/work PC then uploading is not a problem! |1-AMIGA COMPATIBLE? Everyome I asked said the PSION 3a is not Amiga compatible and in no way can you get the data from it to an Amiga without a PC! This is bullshit! You can! How? Well you need to buy another piece of equipment first. It's called the RANGERDISK3. It is an external floppy drive for the PSION 3a computer series. It connects to the PSION 3a and enables the PSION 3a to read/write to PC 720DD/1.44HD disks with ease! What PSION probably don't realise is that the Amiga can read PC 720 disks (A1200/A4000) and 1.44HD PC disks (A4000) so it can access all that lovely data the PSION 3a has or even pass some to it itself! How does it work? Well, the RANGERDISK3 contains it's own DOS and comunicates with the PSION 3a over the serial interface! Therefore if you wanted to buy a PSION 3a series palmtop computer and wanted to exchange data with your Amiga then you'd need the RANGERDISK3 device! Note: If you only have an A1200 then it would be advisable to buy an external disk drive that reads 1.44HD disks to get the maximum out of the transferance of data! |1-PRICE LIST 1995 PSION 3 128k £129.95 PSION 3 256k £149.95 PSION 3S 256k £169.95 PSION 3a 256k £249.95 PSION 3a 512k £299.95 PSION 3a 1MB £339.95 PSION 3a 2MB £399.95 FLASH SSD 128K £34.95 FLASH SSD 256K £54.95 FLASH SSD 512K £89.95 FLASH SSD 1MB £119.95 FLASH SSD 2MB £199.95 FLASH SSD 4MB £349.95 RAM SSD 128K £49.95 RAM SSD 512K £129.95 RAM SSD 1MB £249.95 3FAX FAX DEVICE £199.95 SERIAL LINK APPLE £79.95 PARALLEL LINK £29.95 SSD DRIVE SYSTEM (READ/WRITE TO SSDs FROM A PC) £199.95 MAINS ADAPTOR £14.95 LEATHER CASE £24.95 CARRY CASE £9.95 SOFTWARE £24.95 - £49.95 |1-NUMBERS Interested in the PSION 3 series and want more information? Try these numbers then: Psion UK PLC Tel: 0171 2587341 Ranger Computers (RANGERDISK3) Tel: 01604 589200 Psion 3 User Group Tel: 01752 262627 Psion Information Line (Free catalogues/leaflets) Tel: 0171 2587376 Psion Customer Services Tel: 0171 2587368 Psion Corporate Sales Desk Tel: 0171 2587366 Watch out for other reviews of todays technology from me... End