Product reviewsPsion 5MX PDA

Psion 5MX - a slice of 90's UK tech prowess - and still of use today!

The Psion series of 'PDFs' (Personal Digital Assistant) were the precursor of the Pilot and eventually, the iPhone, although much has changed since then. The team that built the Psion, a culmination of many year's exceptional engineering and software skill, found it's apogee in the 5MX. Able to do most things that were required of it back in those days such as spreadsheet, word processor, Agenda, Phone book, Email, memo recorder, even a very good alarm clock that allows you to record your own special alarms.

It was a fantastic piece of kit, and you could even surf the then-net with admittedly slow dial-up connection. This is pre-Wi-Fi, and the only connection with the outside world it has is an outdated serial port, IR, and an SD drive.

So why own one now, when almost everything is higher tech and whizzy and does so much more?

You can use it for what it was intended - the spreadsheet is powerful and the agenda very easy to use, even the address book. But they're almost impossible to share with anything else except another Psion.

And since so much of that is now available on a desktop, it might seem to be redundant, so I use mine really for one thing, of which it has no peer anywhere in the tech world, even today: The keyboard and the word package, plus batteries that will last for months. Pocket sized text input has never been so easy. If, like me, you want to punch out a letter, write something while standing in a queue or hate the annoying rattle of a train as you work, or the confined space of an airline seat, the Psion 5MX will allow you to do that, and once done, transfer to your PC using the SD card, which can store text as .TXT.

It's just so simple. There are a lot of third party software extras for it if you want to be geeky - even the ability to show eight-grey pictures or PDFs, but I love it for the keyboard and the portability. I bought my first one in 1995, and twenty one years later, still use it on an almost daily basis. I think I'm on about my seventh.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: mick.inc

A Golden Oldie

I bought this to replace my old knackered Psion 5mx, which had too many broken bits to attempt a repair.
For the comparatively low price, I now have a 'nearly new' old technology PDA. True, this has disadvantages such as it doesn't wirelessly connect to Google like my new phone, but then that can sometimes be an advantage - I know that it won't mysteriously lose or rearrange stuff!
It uses the EPOC operating system which is a solidly reliable product, and still interfaces with Windows, (XP through to 10), even after all these years, to permit backup and restore via the PsiWin app. Its 'instant-on' and long battery life (using two AA batteries) make it a useful backup to fall back on should you not have access to a laptop.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: mogatron1964

The Psion 5mx in 2017

Very simply. This is an early 2000s era device.

»It has no WiFi.
»It has no USB.
»It has no SD card - it uses a CF or 'Comact Flash' card (the larger, thicker square ones used in some cameras of that era). There are modern adaptors for this.
»It uses RS232 to connect to a computer, so your PC must have one, or you must obtain a USB to RS232 converter.
»It needs PsiWin software, which runs under Windows, not Mac, to handle the connection.
»It has an old fashioned black & grey LCD screen.

"Oh, so pretty useless, right?" No!

»The keyboard is to die for, compared to a smartphone.
»It folds up - no inadvertent actuations of fuctions.
»It is smaller than even a mini laptop, or an iPad - you can work on public transport.
»It has protected external, dedicated audio record a play buttons.
»It uses a stylus and stores that inside the case.
»The battery life (2x AA alkaline of better still, lithium cells) give you weeks to months of useage.
»It has a backup battery, so you don't lose information even if the main batteries run out while you are out.
»It is solid state - not spinning disks.
»It has it's own built-in wordprocessor, database, spreadheet, agenda and much more - you can even program it.
»The IRDA port will print directly to some printers - no need to even connect, just point and print.

Are you a writer? A journalist? Do you like to keep a diary? Accounts? All of these activities and many more are actually harder to do on a smartphone, or a pad device, because they involve typing. The keyboard's keys actually have travel and they are tactile - you miss that on glass. So yes, still a very useful device, even here in 2017.Read full review...

Verified purchase: No

Suits me

I have been using Psions for many years, they suit me well and I have become dependent on them. They are no longer made and considered obsolete by most, but not by me. In due course they break; usually the screen cable fails. When thus happens it is cheaper and easier to buy a replacement, given that you can find one in good condition, rather than to try to get a repair. This one was in good condition and is satisfactory. But I wouldn't recommend it to a friend, unless already a Psion nut. They should get a blackberry or similarRead full review...

PSION- THE GREATEST LITTLE PDA

Although the Psion is officially out of production it is a very useful device. It is small and easy to handle and the batteries last a long time. The data base function is very useful and I have a large data base of colleagues and contacts. It has a useful search engine and I am able to quickly find information from long ago using just a few remembered words or names. This has been very effective in meetings when a remark has triggered something in my memory and I have been able to pull up the details quickly. It has made me look smart on several occasions. There are many other features also including a world map with time zones, area codes and much more. Yes, I love my lap top and I am even considering an I Pad, but the Psion is so compact and convenient and I can pull it our at the airport and more quickly confirm travel information than i could with a device that take time to boot up. There is a manufacturer in London that makes a modern version so that you can upgrade if needed. Still a very useful product.Read full review...

I would definitely recommend the Psion 5MX

I have used a Psion 5mx since 1998 and I would say that even today it is more convenient and useful than a smart phone or netbook. The screen size allows you to read a report, spreadsheet or diary entry without the need for endless scrolling and the key board can be used by a touch typist, yet the 5mx is smaller than the nearest equivalent netbook. As well as the standard word processing, spreadsheet,diary, cotacts and calculator applications it has database, voice recorder, sketch and world time applications as well as an OPL programming facility.
Of course there is the screen problem which is a major concern but the ribbon cable can be replaced by a number of independent companies. I shall continue to use a 5MX until an equivalent 7" Netbook becomes available.Read full review...

Very quick delivery, item perfect

Item perfect for my use. This item is for individuals who want an address book, planner and information in documents stored in a central place with no access to the internet or phone. I also use it for my accounts by creating new documents in new folders.

Great piece of equipment. Not many items like this on the market.

Only down side is the screen is a little dim, even when brightness/contrast adjusted.Read full review...

Superb little computer

This is excellent. I cannot join it to my laptop with Windows 10 by PSWIN but that. Is the. Only problem. Superb keyboard. Battery life good. Worth. Every penny.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: easyshoppinggb

Fantastic device!!

I have used the 5MX for many years and have found nothing that comes even close to it's usefulness or reliability. It has been and will continue to be my constant companion for as long as I can obtain replacements.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: refurbished | Sold by: mikesbox60

Super device for writing notes on my roads....

I want to buy some device with keyboard and long use with AA (or AAA) bateries. Because I need to write notes or others on my trips in mountains. And on some places they have not electricity to charge "usb" device or other device with internal battery. So I had this device before years and I was very satisfied with this.

I found here and bought it for this useability, because I do not foung any other device in this time. Psion 5MX have not redemption now...

Pls. excuse me for my English...Thank you.Read full review...