Psion Series 3a

The Psion Series 3a PDA is a very unique computer. It is very compact and very stylish in a sense. I am only 16 and find it very interesting. It is also a lot of fun too.

The Psion Series 3a PDA has been my faithful and ever functional assistant for about six years, during which time I have never once lost data. In 1999 I took an extended holiday and decided to see just how tough the 3a was. I backed up my data (always essential if the data is at all important) wrapped the 3a in a plastic bag and popped it into the deep freeze at minus 25 centigrade. Six weeks later, I returned and thawed it out. On pressing the 'on' button, the active files opened instantly, undamaged and exactly as I had left them. The Psion 3a has been the MOST reliable computer item I have ever owned. I find it utterly practical, economical and although it has been superceded I wouldn't change it - why should I? It does everything I want and it always works. The most satisfactory aspect of it is that it keeps files active with the cursor ready at the place you left them, so there's no boot up delay - your work is there where you left it. This also means you can save battery power while writing since you can just kill the machine with the off button while you compose a sentence or idea, switch on and jot it down. I find I can type effectively with my two thumbs while walking along which I frequently do as I am writing a novel on it and tend to use ANY spare time to get on with it - I just pop it out of my trouser pocket and type away.

I do wish Psion hadn't thrown in the towell and given up on making them. A decent browser, a built in GSM phone would have been a winner. Looking at the empty space in the SSD slots - I'm sure they could have built in such a device. The horrid keyboardless offerings from Palm and others completely lack the class of this little beauty

I just picked up my Psion Series 3A PDA 2nd hand (I payed about £32 for it). It's a great PRACTICAL machine, and I don't know anything that can compare to it (except for the unhandy clone with the unfoldable keyboard...). There's a lot of software for it, that's a plus too, and when you can find it for this price, why ever bother thinking about buying a misfit like palm m105 or 125, ... ? This is THE organizer for me. And I do suppose a lot of people would concur. To me, this machine is all I need. Too bad psion is burrying the axe... I think a pda the size of the 3x series, the keyboard and touchscreen of the 5x series and the screen of the 7 series, at an affordable price, would make the hearts of many people melt... Goodbye palm!

PSION brought this machine out some years ago, then superceded it with the 5 series which, in my opinion , are a step backwards in terms of practicality. Long live the Psion 3a and its close cousin the 3c.