[nikhizzle]

For those of you who want a modern machine along these lines there is the Gemini. It fits a useable keyboard into a pocketable Linux and Android machine.

It is modeled on a Psion 5mx with updated insides, and has some of the original team members from Psion working on it.

https://store.planetcom.co.uk/products/gemini-pda-1

[ptx]

But a big part of what was great about the Psion was the software, and the Gemini doesn't really have any[1] of that; it just runs Android with some small tweaks.

And didn't they build it on a SoC that was already EOL at launch, for which there are no FOSS drivers, meaning it will be forever stuck on an ancient kernel version[2]? I don't want to spend my money on a machine that will have be to thrown away in a year for lack of security updates. (Which is why I'm backing the Librem 5 instead, even though I loved the Psion series 3a and series 5 and would really like a keyboard.)

[1] Well, they have implemented Android incarnations of the calendar and database apps, which is something at least: https://planetcom.squarespace.com/software-1

[2] Their Android 8 update seems to use Linux 3.18, released in 2014: https://github.com/dguidipc/gemini-android-kernel-3.18-andro...

[hestipod]

I know it's nostalgia speaking but the turn of the century was such a cool time with tech for me. I remember coveting a Psion after speak to a journalist that used one to file stories from remote areas though some kludged link up with a sat phone if I recall. It's not impressive to anyone today relative to what's available but it was so cool in my mind. I never did get one or really NEED one but it brings up memories.