Psion concept reborn in PsiXpda

The PsiXpda is a capable, small, but expensive Netbook.

(Credit: Rafe Needleman/CNET)

LAS VEGAS--I had a brief chance to check out the new PsiXpda ultramobile PC at a CES party Wednesday night. As has been written elsewhere, this is a cleverly packaged tiny Netbook with a solid spec sheet and full connectivity options (Wi-Fi and 3G). It's about $700, and a nerd's delight. The keyboard is small but not too small, and the screen is bright and legible, although it's only 5 inches diagonally, cramped compared to most Netbooks.

Social Media Club founder Chris Heuer and the PsiXpda at CES 2010.

(Credit: Rafe Needleman/CNET)

Nice design features include a slide-out, tip-up screen. It has a capacitive touch surface, and in a clever twist, some of the glass off to the right of the screen works like a trackpad, while touching the screen directly gives you the one-to-one mouse tracking you'd expect. (There are two mouse buttons to the left of the screen.) The PsiXpda has an Atom CPU and is configured with 1GB of RAM, a 16GB solid-state drive, and Windows XP.

"It's also a phone!" a rep told me. Check. Yes, it has 3G in it and can make calls. But who will? This is a data device.

As cool as this little guy is, the market for these in-between-sized devices at this price is and will remain small. Yes, if you need a tiny computer for Web access or for writing, this is a decent solution. The rep told me it will be a great machine for system admins who need to walk around with a fully-connected PC jammed into their pocket (and who have enough budgetary control to swing it). But this device competes with $300 Netbook and mini-notebooks like the new HP Mini 210. People fond of the old Psion 5 form factor (like the PsiXpda founder, who left Psion in 1995) may be pleased to upgrade to the smart little machine, but the mass audience will find this computer too big to replace a smartphone, too small to replace a notebook, and too expensive regardless.

See also: Fujistsu Lifebook UH900.

[rdupuy11]

too big to replace a smartphone?

I just have a feeling thats not true. It may be the case, that this is ahead of the game, but smartphones will balloon in size, eventually making this size, not appear so large.

The only problem with this phone - yes I called it a phone, not so much because its main purpose is to be a phone, but it appears, we are just going to call our handhelds 'phones'...the terminology has change...anyway the main problem, is that it has windows xp. I expect an app store, and an innovative interface, not born of the pc world, in my smartphone.

But I love the form factor and I owned a Psion inspired Revo, way back when.

[erock1974]

Looks like it's been manhandled by people eating fried chicken and pepperoni pizza. Send that thing to CSI so they can practice lifting prints.

[Remijdio]

"but the mass audience will find this computer too big to replace a smartphone, too small to replace a notebook, and too expensive regardless."
Couldn't agree more with that. It's appears to big to hold with two hands an thumb type like you would an iPhone or blackberry but also too small to set on a flat surface and comfortably type. Seems like you'd have to set it in your lap and hover over it as you type and slouch your head and back down to see the tiny screen. Specs are comparable to a netbook but running an OS that is in the process of being phased out instead of running Android or something else that is more meant for mobile users seems like a bad idea.
And as far as smart phones ballooning in size I don't foresee that happening either. You always have to consider that people like to carry in their pocket what would actually fit in their pocket. Unless you're someone who wears khaki's with several pockets, the portability of this device just won't fit into the comfort zone.
That is unless, we bring back fanny packs! If that's the case COUNT ME IN!

[SavedByTechnology]

$700??? This thing will make the Apple tablet look inexpensive for its size.

[Ebraheem]

That is just a UMPC, which were available since 2006!
Seriously, all this slate/tablet/whatever talk is just recycling 3-year old technology that failed at that time. Will it succeed now? I doubt it, but let's just wait and see.

[solitare_pax]

I remember evaluating the Psion 5 years ago - while it seemed a powerful little device, that model also seemed flimsy and fragile, with plenty of open spots (behind the hinge) for lint and crud to get into.

I hope for $700 they have addressed that issue.

[max5100]

What? Psion 5 flimsy??? It was one of the best made devices of it's day and the Epoc OS was really efficient. Way to go PSION

[oohmyygood]

I've owned Psion 3, Psion 3a, Psion 3c, Psion 5 and Psion 5mx over the years and man were they excellent products! The only thing they lacked was a phone.

The PsiXPDA would have been The Perfect Product 6-7 years ago. Today.... I'm not so sure. Win XP and no touch screen.... too little too late, I'm afraid.