5mx vs Revo Plus advice (long)
Alison
I have just this week decided I will need a PDA for working while
travelling to and from London in about 6 months time (about a 2 hour trip
each way). My budget whether I buy then or now will be £200 absolute max
and I would appreciate some advice. I have just discovered Psion are
withdrawing from the market, and the Revo Plus and 5mx both seem to be
selling at heavily discounted prices. Do those in the know think the
prices will go up again, or are they going down and down until all stock
is gone? I want the best price I will get between now and August,
probably impossible to predict!
I will need to be writing Word-type documents, maybe spreadsheets. I
don't see myself using email. I've done a lot of reading the last few
days, including the Google archive of this newsgroup, and I've narrowed it
down to the Psion 5mx or the Psion Revo Plus. And now I'm stuck.
On paper the two appear very similar, same processor, same amount of
memory, most of the same applications. Both come with everything you need
for charging and connecting to a PC and a case for either is the same
price. At the moment both are (just) under £200, with the Revo Plus £30
cheaper. I'm not going to be buying another PDA in the forseeable future,
so this one has got to last.
My thoughts on each are as follows:
Revo Plus
con: onboard batteries require changing by the pro's.
con: no backlight*
con: smaller keyboard
pro: smaller and lighter
pro: cheaper
*(I will be travelling mainly by coach, at night these have dim lighting,
enough to read a book, but I am not sure what the threshhold for needing a
backlight would be)
5mx
con: "murkier" screen than Revo
con: bigger and heavier
pro: better keyboard
pro: takes standard AA batteries
pro: backlight
I would appreciate any thoughts on what I've missed and any advice on
which I should go for. I've read comparisons of the two, but mostly
written when they were newly released so people's perspectives have
undoubtedly changed since then. I am also going to try to get a hands on
look at both today.
Many thanks,
Alison
Dr Peter Groves
news:a2u99g$13vs4d$1...@ID-53580.news.dfncis.de...
expand your available filespace (I have a 64mb card in mine, but there are
larger one out there): it gives you a measure of security. If my 5mx goes
west, my lectures essays etc etc are all on a removable card which ought to
be still readable. I back up my C drive to the flash card, and I can carry
around huge files like a complete Shakespeare (whatever turns you on).
Peter Groves
steve.weighell
the 5mx is the CF card slot. It changes everything. I have several English
and foreign dictionaries, street maps covering many major European cities,
huge name and address books (synchronised from Lotus Notes), Tomeraider with
dozens of standard reference works including (yes) all of Shakespeare, the
Bible, Oxford Book of Verse, etc etc.
The downside is a slightly larger size. But remember that with that
slightly larger size, you get a screen with twice as many pixels (640x240 v.
480x160). That extra definition more than offsets a slightly murkier screen,
and would be important if you are doing serious spreadsheet work.
Go for the more pocketable (and sexier) shape of the Revo, only if you are
convinced that you will not need that extra storage capacity, the better
keys and the higher definition screen. Oh, and did I mention that the 5mx
uses AA batteries (rechargeable or alkaline) - a big plus, makes you
independent of the grid.
Steve
DaveB
Would agree with all the previous points plus ......... typing on a
bus/train etc for an hour or two regularly would definately make *me* choose
the 5MX over the Revo (I have both). In addition, whilst the 5MX has a
backlight, I wouldn't like to type for prolonged periods using it. I would
spend another 5 to 10 UKPs and buy one of those little book reading lights
to cover the illumination side of things. You can pick them up in most
'Tandy' type electronic outlets.
Standard AA batteries is very improtant ........ I'm always concerned about
the charge stage of the Revo. Will it make it through the day etc ??
Re price & when to buy ...... difficult to say. I am considering buying
another 5MX for the enevitable time when my current one falls over and I'm
going through the same debate of getting the lowest price -v- there still
being some stock around to actually buy. Have you considered Ebay or Yahoo
(UK) auctions. There is a fair trade in Psions of all types.
Good luck, Dave B
miles hand
<alison...@orange.net> wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I have just this week decided I will need a PDA for working while
>travelling to and from London .... and I've narrowed it
>down to the Psion 5mx or the Psion Revo Plus.
You might have noticed during your research a number of Revo users
looking for a solution to 'the Revo battery problem'. My Revo suffers
from it, despite following all the very sound advice I've taken from
this ng. It basically shuts itself off even when the battery gauge
shows a healthy charge. It may be that the newest Revo+ doesn't have
the same problems as my older 8Mb Revo. Maybe a Revo+ user will
comment. Unfortunately, I can't be sure at the moment when mine will
decide to switch itself off.
I would be a lot happier if I could simply bung a couple of Duracells
in it and know it was going to work for the immediate future. On top
of that, now I know how useful all those third party applications are,
I wish it had loads more storage for reference books, pictures and
programs. It's also difficult to read in low light conditons, so a
backlight would be nice.
The Revo really scores points for its compactness, but I would dearly
love it to have the features the 5mx offers.
Alison
"miles hand" <mic...@hawthornelewis.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:30985u4c4u9igal38...@4ax.com...
> You might have noticed during your research a number of Revo users
> looking for a solution to 'the Revo battery problem'. My Revo suffers
> from it, despite following all the very sound advice I've taken from
> this ng.
Thank you for your comments, it is interesting that your Revo has problems
even though you followed good instructions from the beginning. Forgive me
if I sound patronising, but I had read of the problems and thought that
they only occurred when the first charge was incorrect. I am grateful for
you pointing out that this is not the case. Points to the 5mx for using
AA's then, especailly as I already have a good stock of rechargable AA's.
Alison
Alison
"DaveB" <da...@beveridge100.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:a30qd0$e3m$1...@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Would agree with all the previous points plus ......... typing on a
> bus/train etc for an hour or two regularly would definately make *me*
choose
> the 5MX over the Revo (I have both).
Thank you, a first hand opinion of someone who has tried both is exactly
what I was hoping for! From the various comments I have had (thanks to
everyone who has replied) I have decided the 5mx is the better choice.
> In addition, whilst the 5MX has a
> backlight, I wouldn't like to type for prolonged periods using it.
Could you define "prolonged period" for me?
> Re price & when to buy ...... difficult to say. I am considering buying
> another 5MX for the enevitable time when my current one falls over and
I'm
> going through the same debate of getting the lowest price -v- there
still
> being some stock around to actually buy.
The Link has them at £199 until the end of the sale, which apparently is
this week sometime. Then I guess the price will go back to the ~£300 most
places have them at now. I suppose it is impossible to predict whether
they will still be desirable when stock runs out and keep that value or
whether they will become a "clearance" bargain. Ho hum, eeny, meeny miny
mo....
> Have you considered Ebay or Yahoo
> (UK) auctions. There is a fair trade in Psions of all types.
I have indeed looked at Ebay, but taking the example of an auction that
finished yesterday that went for £191 plus postage there seems little
point in going second hand at the moment. Most seem to be £160-£180 but
£20 extra for "newness" and a manufacturer's warrenty is not unreasonable.
Again, it is a lottery as to whether prices will fall as it becomes more
widely known that they are discontinued.
Thanks for your help,
Alison
Erik Sandblom
mic...@hawthornelewis.freeserve.co.uk den 27-01-02 17.38:
> On Sat, 26 Jan 2002 13:00:47 -0000, "Alison"
> <alison...@orange.net> wrote:
>> I have just this week decided I will need a PDA for working while
>> travelling to and from London .... and I've narrowed it
>> down to the Psion 5mx or the Psion Revo Plus.
>
> You might have noticed during your research a number of Revo users
> looking for a solution to 'the Revo battery problem'. My Revo suffers
> from it, despite following all the very sound advice I've taken from
> this ng.
Even about having it repaired ;-? Psion will do it, as will D&G upgrades who
will also put more memory in it. I'm about to do that for mine.
http://www.pda-upgrade.20m.com/
I don't think the problem is the batteries, it's more likely the battery
cable which is worn and giving electrical resistance, making the revo think
the batteries are too low.
> The Revo really scores points for its compactness, but I would dearly
> love it to have the features the 5mx offers.
I also echo the previous speakers, but would add that the revo is truly
pocketable. This makes a very big difference as soon as you attempt to go
somewhere without a bag or car.
--
my site is EriksRailNews.com
for those who don't believe, no explanation is possible
for those who do, no explanation is necessary
miles hand
<sand...@artech.removethis.andthis.se> wrote:
>i artikel 30985u4c4u9igal38...@4ax.com, skrev miles hand på
>mic...@hawthornelewis.freeserve.co.uk den 27-01-02 17.38:
>> On Sat, 26 Jan 2002 13:00:47 -0000, "Alison"
>> <alison...@orange.net> wrote:
>>> I have just this week decided I will need a PDA for working while
>>> travelling to and from London .... and I've narrowed it
>>> down to the Psion 5mx or the Psion Revo Plus.
>>
>> You might have noticed during your research a number of Revo users
>> looking for a solution to 'the Revo battery problem'. My Revo suffers
>> from it, despite following all the very sound advice I've taken from
>> this ng.
>
>
>Even about having it repaired ;-? Psion will do it, as will D&G upgrades who
>will also put more memory in it. I'm about to do that for mine.
>http://www.pda-upgrade.20m.com/
>
>>
>I don't think the problem is the batteries, it's more likely the battery
>cable which is worn and giving electrical resistance, making the revo think
>the batteries are too low.
>
Well, perhaps not all the sound advice. I've only recently tried the
battery drain and hard reset technique which I think has recalibrated
the gauge properly, but although it now runs for a much longer period
it it still shuts off when called upon to wake me up in the morning,
so I think you're dead right about the battery cable. D&G it is,
then. Thanks for the advice.
alan
"miles hand" <mic...@hawthornelewis.freeserve,co,uk> wrote in message
news:49ib5u8677m8vdig7...@4ax.com...
You are adding more memory when you are already concerned about battery
life? It will shorten further.
Erik Sandblom
al...@CHOOmral.fsnet.co.uk den 28-01-02 23.23:
D&G sell two different kinds of Revo battery fixes. Neither require you to
add more memory.
"Stop your Revo/Mako turning-off too early. Does your Revo or Mako turn-off
even when it still has a lot of charge remaining? We have an upgrade that
fixes this to improve the reliability of your Revo, no more missed alarms!"
http://www.pda-upgrade.20m.com/upgrades.htm
alan
"Erik Sandblom" <sand...@artech.removethis.andthis.se> wrote in message
news:B87C71D5.283B%sand...@artech.removethis.andthis.se...
> i artikel a34k89$8f2$2...@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk, skrev alan på
> al...@CHOOmral.fsnet.co.uk den 28-01-02 23.23:
>
> >> battery drain and hard reset technique which I think has recalibrated
> >> the gauge properly, but although it now runs for a much longer period
> >> it it still shuts off when called upon to wake me up in the morning,
> >> so I think you're dead right about the battery cable. D&G it is,
> >> then. Thanks for the advice.
> >
> > You are adding more memory when you are already concerned about battery
> > life? It will shorten further.
>
>
> D&G sell two different kinds of Revo battery fixes. Neither require you to
> add more memory.
>
> "Stop your Revo/Mako turning-off too early. Does your Revo or Mako
turn-off
> even when it still has a lot of charge remaining? We have an upgrade that
> fixes this to improve the reliability of your Revo, no more missed
alarms!"
> http://www.pda-upgrade.20m.com/upgrades.htm
>
> --
with the addition of the memory upgrade. It's not mentioned on the site(?),
but must be considered by anyone interested in the upgrade. Anyone got
figures for the effect?