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Psion Series 7 Hits the U.S.

Next-generation handheld crosses the pond with its color screen and CompactFlash slot.

By Anush Yegyazarian, PCWorld   

Available in Europe since September, Psion 7 will be priced at $899. Like familiar Windows CE "Jupiter" class devices, Series 7 targets mobile users that primarily access e-mail and the Internet while on the road, but also want to work on spreadsheets and word-processing documents comfortably. If you're used to super-slim notebooks and thin Windows CE devices, the Series 7's 1.5 inches may be a bit on the thick side. But the unit remains light and compact enough to appeal to the mobile customer.

These units are the first in Psion's line to offer color screens. The 7.7-inch, 640-by-480 display is backlit and easy to read in most lighting. Like other Psion devices, the screen is touch-sensitive; you use a stylus or pen to navigate. Despite the larger color display, the unit gets good battery life from its lithium ion pack: 8.5 hours of typical use, according to Psion representatives. For writing, you'll appreciate the larger keyboard, which seems easier for touch-typing than previous models.

Units ship with 16MB of memory, expandable to 32MB, and offer a CompactFlash slot if you need more storage options. The Series 7 has a Type II PC Card slot for connectivity, plus software and a serial cable for synching with a PC. Series 7 is compatible with Microsoft Outlook as well as Lotus Notes. You also get voice-recording functions to make quick notes.

Though it is larger than Psion's other handheld devices, the Series 7 retains the same appearance and feel. In its 9.2-by-7.1-inch case, you'll still find the Symbian EPOC operating system. The unit uses the same icons as the other models do to launch applications such as e-mail, spreadsheet, and word processor. However, unlike other Psion devices, no cheat-sheet is posted on the side of the unit to guide you through the icons. The Psion 7 does ship with a quick setup guide as well as a standard user manual.

It does not use Microsoft versions of Word or Excel, but Psion representatives say files do not lose any formatting in transfer. The included browser is Java-enabled.

Like other Psion and Windows CE devices, the Series 7 offers instant-on capability. You won't find it in retail stores; you can buy one only from Psion's Web site.