Psion Revo Enters Handheld Fray

Psion's $399 Revo handheld keeps shrinking while adding new functions that nudge the Palm and CE devices, such as handwriting recognition, a Web browser, and personal information management programs. So why can't you find one at your local computer superstore?

It's because the U.K. company--a handheld market leader in Europe--has yet to make much of a dent in the U.S. market, despite products that routinely receive critical praise. Psion hopes to win over more Yanks with the tiny Revo, which goes on sale next week on the company's Web site.

The Revo is smaller than Psion's other new handheld models, including the much larger Series 7 (launched September 7), and the mid-sized Series 5mx (launched in June). At just 6.2 by 3.06 by 0.63 inches and 7.1 ounces, the Revo should fit in all but the smallest pockets. Inside is 8MB of memory, an ARM 710 processor running at 36MHz, and built-in rechargeable batteries. The 480-by-160 pixel display offers 16 shades of gray and touch-screen capabilities, but most people will enter data using the 53-key QWERTY keyboard.

Despite its small size, the Revo contains a slew of applications, notes Mark Edwards, Psion vice president. Psion arguably invented the organizer category, he says; and the vendor applies that experience to its newest unit. A Revo includes organizational tools such as Agenda, contact list, and Jotter (to handwrite notes), and a Microsoft-compatible word processor and spreadsheet. Also included is a built-in e-mail program compatible with major e-mail clients, and a Web browser.