Psion 3mx
Views of the new Series 3mx
For some while now there have been stories of a new Series 3 to come from Psion, possibly prompted by the criticism from old Series 3 users of the Psion Series 5 software incompatibilities with the older Series 3 software.
Psion have announced, and should be shipping now, the Series 3mx. This is an updated version of the old 2 Mb Series 3c with minor changes. The most obvious change is that it uses the new, much faster, mx version of its old processor chip; this should make it about three times as fast as a Series 3c for processor intensive functions.
It uses IrDA as well as a serial port for connections, and uses the older Psion proprietary SSD storage devices rather than the Compact Flash cards that the Series 5 can use. SSDs have reduced substantially in price over the years, and so shouldn't be entirely prohibitively expensive in comparison with CF cards; however, I would certainly choose to use a Series 5 in preference to a Series 3mx for any memory intensive applications such as email or web access.
In all other respects save one it should be identical to the older Series 3 models. The single difference is that Psion have chosen a new colour, a sort of gunmetal grey (their description); this is apparently a more nineties colour than graphite or wood effect. The price is 269.95 GBP, and it isn't intended for sale in the US market, where the Series 5 8 Mb model is now selling for $499.
Given that PsiWin is not supplied with the Series 3mx, it is clear that Psion are intending it to sell to new PDA users, as a paper based organiser replacement, whereas the Series 5 is intended for more advanced users, or for those who require a PC connected PDA. This would seem to assume that a much bigger segment of the European market doesn't already have a computer (which would appear to be the case), and that this segment will buy a PDA in preference to a desktop computer.
Words and design by:
Paul Lynch
Last updated: November 3, 1998