This video is a retrospective review of the Psion Series 5, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) from 1997. The presenter, using his original unit from that era, highlights its ambitious design as a pocket-sized, standalone computer with a full office suite, a clever clamshell mechanism that reveals a surprisingly usable physical keyboard, and an impressive battery life of up to 35 hours on two AA batteries.
The review covers the device's hardware features, including its low-contrast but backlit touchscreen, and demonstrates the EPOC operating system's software suite (word processor, spreadsheet, sketch app). The presenter successfully transfers data and installs new applications via an old Compact Flash card, as modern connectivity options are non-existent. While some functions on the 25-year-old device have degraded, such as the audio recorder, its core utility for text entry remains compelling. The video concludes by arguing that despite the technological superiority of modern smartphones and laptops, no current device successfully fills the specific niche of a pocketable computer with an integrated, high-quality keyboard, a form factor the presenter clearly believes was abandoned prematurely.
A Look Back at the Psion Series 5 PDA
0:00 Introduction to a Classic: The Psion Series 5, launched in 1997 for Β£499, is presented as a pinnacle of pocket computing, featuring a full office suite and an innovative physical keyboard.
1:28 Impressive Power Efficiency: The device's 32-bit processor and EPOC operating system allow it to run for up to 35 hours on just two standard AA batteries. The presenter successfully powers on his 25-year-old unit with fresh batteries.
1:45 Data Transfer Challenges: With its serial and infrared ports now obsolete, the only practical way to transfer data is via a Compact Flash card, a technology that is itself dated.
2:18 Innovative Keyboard Design: The Series 5 features a unique clamshell mechanism where the keyboard slides forward as the screen is opened. The presenter praises the keyboard as surprisingly comfortable and effective for writing, something he finds lacking in modern touchscreen devices.
2:54 Display Technology: The device has a 5.25-inch, 640x240 monochrome touchscreen with 16 shades of gray. The contrast is very low by modern standards, but a greenish backlight improves visibility at the cost of battery life and an audible buzz on this particular unit.
5:00 Capable Office Suite: The PDA includes a functional word processor, spreadsheet, database, and agenda, making it a viable standalone machine for productivity on the go at the time.
7:31 Degraded Functionality: After 25 years, some features have failed. The presenter's unit can no longer record audio properly, producing only garbled modem-like sounds.
8:13 Software Installation: It is still possible to install new software. The presenter demonstrates installing games from .sis files copied onto a Compact Flash card.
11:19 A Lost Form Factor: The presenter argues that while Psion's OS legacy lived on through Symbian, the hardware concept was a dead end. He concludes that modern devices have failed to create a successor that combines true pocketability with a serious keyboard for efficient typing.