Moving on from Psion 5 - any recommendations?

[Rotaree]

My Psion has been great for long while but for some reason I can't connect it to my PC to back it up and it has made me think it's probably time to move on to something more up to date (and smaller!). I mainly use the Psion as a filofax replacement - diary, organiser, contacts etc. and I do like the keyboard. With a new handheld is there any benefit to having the microsoft OS (running XP at home)as opposed to the Palm OS. I like the new Sony Clie UX50 although it's a bit pricey - any thoughts much appreciated.

[TJMurphy]

I switched from a Psion 5 to an M$ Pocket PC. At first it was a pain as some of the functionality in the Psion was missing, so it took a while to get used to it. I also had to knuckle down and buy some extra programs before I got a system that I liked and could use. My wife has a Clie and is happy with it but only uses it as a very simple diary / address book / calculator thing.
If you keep / want to keep your diary and contacts on a Windows PC in Outlook then I reckon it's a no-brainer - go for the Pocket PC. If you keep everything on the PDA and aren't too fussed about the PC side then I'd say it's all to play for - you're going to have to go and try them out.
The newer PDAs all use rechargeable batteries, you'll need to charge your PocketPC every 3 / 4 days (in my experience). The Clie's will probably get you to a week+ very comfortably.

[Rotaree]

Thanks for that. As I tend to keep the organiser on the PDA and only use the PC to back it up in case I drop it or lose it it looks as though I might have to go out and try a few!

[zumbruk]

So far, I've tried a Palm and a iPaq as replacements for my Psion 5MX. In both cases I've gone back to the Psion. The "Contacts" application is so much superior to the other ones.

What I'd *really* like is the Psion software running on the iPaq hardware.

[jeremyc]

zumbruk said:

What I'd *really* like is the Psion software running on the iPaq hardware.

What about a Sony Ericsson P900? That is the Psion software (albeit a later version, now called Symbian OS) running on a PDA-like touch screen format device.

You don't have to use the phone part, but obviously that could be a benefit as well.

[zumbruk]

Since I already have the iPaq (although I didn't pay for it), I'm probably going to install Linux on that, instead, and see what happens. Pocket Windows is too much a peripheral of a desktop PC.

[page3]

jeremyc said:

What about a Sony Ericsson P900? That is the Psion software (albeit a later version, now called Symbian OS) running on a PDA-like touch screen format device.

Unfortunately, Epoc 7 (in the P800/P900) is significantly inferior to version 5 in the Psion, proper multitasking and state saving being two major functions that have been removed. In addition, many of the applications have either been reduced in functionality (Diary etc) or removed completely (Database, Spreadsheet etc). A total waste of time I'm afraid.

I ended up with a Handspring Treo 600.