Psion Teklogix Netbook Pro
In 2000, Psion acquired Canadian firm Teklogix and for a while released machines under the brand Psion Teklogix – these were more aimed at the industrial and commercial markets.
In 1999 Psion released the Netbook, then in 2000 they released a consumer version, the Series 7 (with some changes). In 2003, under the Psion Teklogix brand, they released the Netbook Pro.
The Netbook Pro does not run on Psion’s EPOC operating system, but instead runs Windows CE.
Hardware
The outer shell of the Netbook Pro is extensively based on the Netbook and Series 7 with some changes. Since I don’t own a Psion Netbook, I’ll compare with the Series 7 (I don’t think there are many outward differences between it and the Netbook, anyway).
Apart from the colour of the hard plastic and the texture of the leather-like material, the top is almost identical on the two machines. They hinge in exactly the same way.
When opened up, the differences are slightly more noticeable:
- The screen is larger than that on the Series 7 and doesn’t have any fixed touch buttons.
- The power and stylus sliders are missing – power is only available through Esc and Alt-Esc, and the stylus is ejected using a button on the right hand side.
- The keyboard ‘Menu’ key has become an ‘Alt’. My version has the @ and ” reversed in the American fashion.
- The backup battery is not a CR2032 cell, like the Series 7, but rather 2x AAA batteries. On the Series 7, the compartment is used to hold a RAM module – the cell is hidden under a hatch on the bottom of the Series 7.
- The compact flash pushes into a slot on the Netbook Pro and there is a drawer for it on the Series 7.
- On the Netbook Pro there is a MMC / SD card slot, on the left of the front edge.
- Also on the front edge, next to the power light, the button to cancel the alarm on the Series 7 is missing on the Netbook Pro.
The CPU on the Netbook Pro is an Intel PXA255 running at 400MHz rather than the 132MHz SA-1100 of the Series 7. Of source both of these are ARM processors. The Netbook Pro also has a small amount of built-in flash (10.5 MB), which could be used as secure storage. The RAM is now 128MB rather than the Series 7’s 16MB.
Summary
- ROM: 32MB
- RAM: 128MB
- Flash: 10.5 MB
- PCMCIA slot
- CF slot
- SD / MMC card slot
- Screen: 4096 colours, 800×600 pixels, backlit transflective TFT LCD
- Captive stylus, resistive touch screen
- Sound: Mono speaker with headphone jack
- Psion Serial port (compatibe with Series 7/5/3c/3mx/Siena)
- mini-USB host port
- IrDA
Software
The operating system on the Netbook Pro is now Windows CE .NET version 4.20, rather than Psion’s own EPOC operating system that they used on the Series 5, 5mx, Netbook and Series 7.
The present packages are apparently configured to the customers specification. On mine are:
- ActiveSync – Microsoft’s sync software
- Serial Terminal
- WordPad
- Viewers for Excel, PowerPoint, Word, PDF and graphic images
- Inbox – for email
- Internet Explorer
- Calclator
- Media Player
- Messenger – The CE version of MS Instant Messenger
- Pocket On-schedule – Exchange-like, includes email, calendar,contact book, tasks etc.
- SpreadCE spreadsheet
- Windows Explorer – file viewer
- Windows CD console
- Jeode EVM – JAVA
Summary
Even though the processor on the Netbook Pro is faster than that of the Series 7, I think that the Series 7 runs at least as well. Just a quick comparison of speadsheet scrolling puts the Series 7 in the lead. The built-in software for EPOC on the Series 7 seems to cover similar topics to the software on the Netbook Pro. There is more compatibility in file formats offered by using Windows CE, but Psi Link will convert file types when copying between your PC and your Psoin device. When it comes to third party software, I imagine much more Windows CE software is available than EPOC software.
Having mentioned all of that, I still prefer to use EPOC on my Series 7 over Windows CE on my Netbook Pro. The former feels more polished.
When it comes to hardware, I do like the addition of the SD card slot, but I don’t like the aesthetics left behind when the slider switches were removed (now, I know that’s being nit-picky).
Repairs etc.
The condition on my Netbook Pro, when I bought it, was very good apart from being a little dusty.
The stylus, however, doesn’t seem to be the one that originally came with a Netbook Pro, but rather one from a Psion Series 5/5mx/7. The stylus that is was supposed to ship with is a little bit stubbier and the one it came with does not fit in the storage hole.
The flexible fabric on the outer, unlike that on my Series 7, seems to have become unstuck around the edges, although its condition seems pretty good.
The final problem is that the lens for the IrDA port is missing. I haven’t yet tried the IrDA so I don’t know if this is really necessary but I suspect it might be.
To-Do
- Test serial port
- Test IrDA
- Try Windows CE software
- Find a way to re-adhere the fabric outer
- Find a way to replace the IrDA lens