{"id":918,"date":"2023-08-23T09:20:26","date_gmt":"2023-08-23T09:20:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vintage.bohemiancave.org.uk\/?p=918"},"modified":"2025-12-24T00:49:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T00:49:00","slug":"psion-revo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vintage.bohemiancave.org.uk\/index.php\/psion-revo\/","title":{"rendered":"Psion Revo\/Revo Plus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\"Revo\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Psion first produced a cut-price Series 3c <\/a>in the Siena<\/a>. The Revo was their attempt at a more affordable palmtop in the Series 5<\/a> lineup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like with the Siena, the Revo might have been reduced in price, but it’s software was not skimped on.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hardware<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

The Revo is a member of Psion’s Series 5<\/a> range of palmtop computers. It is intended to be a cut down version of the 5mx. In that regard it is smaller, has a lower resolution screen and a cheaper keyboard (which doesn’t feel as good). It also features built-in rechargeable batteries. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Revo\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

The Revo Plus is essentially the same machine with more memory and a larger capacity battery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"Revo\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Revo\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

The hinge mechanism on the Revo outwardly behaves more like a Series 3 hinge than a Series 5 one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2 internal NiCd AAA batteries are housed in the back, just like the 3 and 5, but they are not easily changed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Revo is opened, the back section hinges down slightly to raise the typing angle. Unlike the Series 3, this is achieved in a sliding fashion rather than a hinge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, unlike the Series 3, there is no membrane application button bar. Instead, like the Series 5 there are touch buttons beneath the LCD in a fixed, printed region of the touch digitiser.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

The Revo screen is more akin to the Series 5 than the Siena is to the Series 3c. It’s aspect ratio is very similar but pixel density is lower – 3\/4 the pixels horizontally and 2\/3 vertically. This necessitated some changes to the software, especially the soft-buttons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Revo\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"Revo\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

The keyboard of the Revo, as I mentioned, is a cheaper affair than that of the Series 5 but in a similar style. The keys are more rubbery, less clicky, and have less travel. They also depress only at the top, being hinged on the bottom edge. Having said that, the feel isn’t completely awful.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

The ports on the Revo are mostly on the back, in the form of a power jack and IrDA window.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Revo\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Main connectivity to the Revo, however, comes from the docking port on the bottom. This is used by the included docking cradle which provides RS-232 serial and power input. The power is taken from the same power supply (also included) that connects to the back of the unit itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The connector for the dock is hidden when the device is closed and therefore the Revo must be open when docked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dock also has a place to stand the stylus even though the internal slot for it is not completely obscured by the dock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Revo\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"Revo\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Revo\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

The Revo I got from eBay came with a second dock. I believe that this is not normally sold with the device. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s much smaller and actually clips onto the sides of the Revo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cable is fixed into it, in the same way as the main dock, and you can plug the power supply into the back of the RS-232 connector, too. The cable length is much shorter though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it attaches to the same docking port, you also have to keep the Revo open.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n