Smaller then a laptop, larger then a Palm, and with a keyboard

[the_leander]

Unfortunately there aren't that many machines out there that fit this catagory, indeed the last device I have seen that fitted what I was after, was the Psion Series 7, now discontinued or HP Jordana (also discontinued).

So the question is, are there any current devices that are similar technically to the Series 7? Or failing that, suppliers of second hand Series 7's that are reasonably priced?

[the_leander]

The netbook is actually the same system, but with a different rom over that of the Series 7.

Oh and whereas the S7 was £800 when new (ouch) the netbook is £1100. For that I could buy a bloody iBook.

[the_leander]

I looked at it and it is an interesting system, but to me the inclusion of WinCE is a big turn off, I have a Ericsson MC12 (a rebadged HP handheld) and my experiences with wince put me off entirely from ever using another device that runs it. Shame because the hardware its attached to in my case is really reliable. Sadly the software is barely any better then win98 unpatched.

[the_leander]

I have looked into these, but in all cases the battery life is the killer - typically about 3 hours if the wind is blowing in the right direction and you're going down a hill during a full moon.

The Series 7 had an effective real world battery life of about 7 hours (its stated as 8.5 which it is if its idling the whole time) and much the same on the Jordana front.

I have quite specific requirements: IT has to be light, portable, extreme battery life, be easy to type with (since it'll be used primarily for writing). Reliable software and hardware.

Currently a subnotebook solid state device offers the sort of battery life I need.

--edit--

Oh and Affordable.

[the_leander]

The keyboard on the nokias are horrid, much too small for the sort of typing I'd be using it for. But still, a nice little system none the less :-)

[the_leander]

I can't disagree with Turumbar at all in his comments with regard the oqo, it is a technically superb machine, but the battery life is well below the spec I'm after. And the price puts it into the stratosphere for me hehe :-)

Not sure about the keyboard either tbh, I can see cramping becomming a problem with the thickness of the machine in relation to the size of the keys.

[the_leander]

Interesting, but like the oqo, the keyboard would make for much unpleasantness in the long term.

I just wish that someone somewhere that actually did anything anymore, would put some thought into the ergonomics of these things, yes they may be technically superb, look great and everything else, but if they're not comfortable to use, they are in fact, rather pointless...

Damn you Psion for just giving up.

[the_leander]

the libretto is a nice little system which I have tried out before now and found to be very comfortable to use, sadly its battery life isn't that great. But certainly that sort of sized machine.

[the_leander]

Trooper wrote:
Whats wrong with the Psion series 7, What did you mean it not being supported ?. I am personally thinking of getting one myself. I already have a series 5 but find it a bit slow on occations. My Libretto CT100`s battery has just died on me :-( . I do have a Asus 620 ppc a sony clie sj30 and a tough cf-r1 notebook, But the battery life on that isn`t brilliant, 3hrs max.

Just my 2p.

Trooper

The Series 7, along with all other models was dropped by Psion some years ago, the 7 was their last gasp, they still produce a variant of the series 7, with more memory and ram, running WindowsCE.net for £1100 - which is waaaaay out of my budget.

BTW, does anyone know of anyone who would want to buy a prototype DT300 webpad running BeIA?