[From Tim Doran] The Psion Series 7 brings back many fond memories for me. Ten years ago I chose to purchase a Psion Sienna instead of a Palm Pilot. The Sienna was a clamshell device with powerful software (PIM, Spreadsheet, and word processor) and a tiny, difficult to use keyboard. I didn't pick the Palm Pilot because I was reluctant to learn Grafitti and the included software was not as sophisticated as what was offered in the Sienna. Later, after the Sienna broke, I again chose Psion over Palm, this time a Psion Series 5. This little computer was a marvel. Its operating system, EPOC, was the most stable I ever used. I could actually touch type on its keyboard. The included office software was even more sophisticated than what was on my Sienna. I still miss Agenda, Psion's daily planner program. The Series 5 was too big to fit in my pants pocket, so I carried it everywhere in a waist pack. (Yes, this proves I have no sense of style). During this time I would see people pull out their Palms and talk about how wonderful these gadgets were. I couldn't fathom why so many people were enamored over Palms. I thought the software was primitive and the beeping, chirping alarms were tacky. Psion's EPOC operating system was so much more powerful and sophisticated than Palm's. I still felt this way when I broke my Series 5, so I purchased a Series 5mx, an improved version of the Series 5.
Later, when my Series 5mx broke, I finally bought a Palm, mainly because I thought Palm's slate form factor would be more durable than the clamshell design of Psion computers. As hard as I am on organizers, I should probably have acquired a device designed for the battlefield. I have to say I was disappointed with Palm's software. The applications were more primitive than Psion's and the operating system was not as stable. In all the years I used Psions, I don't ever remember having them crash or having to hit the reset button. But it was nice being able to carry my organizer in my pants pocket rather than in a dorky waist pack.
There were are many reasons why Psion was not as successful as Palm, but two stand out. Most important, Palm's form factor and ease of syncing with a PC outweighed the elegance, stability and power of Psion's EPOC operating system. If only Palm's form factor and syncing ability could have been combined with EPOC, we would have had the perfect PDA. But for most people, Palm got the essentials right, a computer that is easy, easy to use, easy to carry, and easy to sync.
I think in recent years Palm has forgotten what made it successful. Jeff Hawkins, with the introduction of the Foleo, seems to be trying to bring back the focus on ease of use, in other words, the Zen of Palm. I haven't used the Foleo or the Psion Series 7. I have used EPOC, though. If the Psion Series 7, were ever brought back with wifi and internet connectivity, good syncing, and the ability to seamlessly handle standard office documents, it would be everything the Foleo is supposed to be. And to think, the Series 7 is seven year old technology.
