Good bye Psion hello Windows!!

[golmert]

Hi my friends,

Yes, I know, it is very hard for us to live with that but it seems that Psion is indeed moving to Windows!!!

Log in to Teklogiks site and see that the new devices are....yes that is right, Windows based!!

Let's not be blind- no more usefull updates,no more new plans for the Epoc and it seems that every body that was involved with the Epoc for Psion pulls away and quickly!!

It is even not possible to get any more the Netbooks (have you seen how long it is written "expected in 4 days" at Expansys....just try to call them and see what their answer is...)

It was nice having the Psion but guys....open your eyes please!!!

Luckily I got rid of my Netbook just in time!!

So,.....good bye Netbook , good bye Psion... we loved you all!!!

[Steve Moore]

I can see nothing on their site to indicate this - do you have a URL or is April a different month in your country?

[golmert]

OK, here is just an example....

Just browse the web and open your eyes...we all seemed to be quite blind haven't we?...

You will also be surprised to see that the netbook it self will be no different then Windows based soon!!

It is difficult I know, but Steve, let's face it- today's MS Windows based handhelds have got much much more to offer , including thousands of drivers.including bluetooth and you name it..

For those who fantasize on having these on the Epoc Netbook...please wake up ,ok?!!http://partners.psionteklogix.com/ptxcms/CORE.asp?s=com&p=Products&pCat=16&pID=177

[golmert]

http://partners.psionteklogix.com/ptxcms/CORE.asp?s=com&p=Products&pCat=16&pID=380 (http://)

This is the 7520 Hand-Held Computer – Freezer
Win CE based!!

And yes.. April is just the same and unfortunately "Psion out" is exactly the same

[pro2type]

That Psion have two machines in stable with the fairy old Windows 95 and Windows CE systems dosnt show much about there decision on future OS.

Had it been Stinger or PocketPC2002 it maybee would have been different.

If they dont change to someting newer (Symbian 7) on their Netbook models, with bluetooth support soon, then some sort of stingersupport would actually be a good ting. But the exsistence og these to models shows nothing.

[netBookBabe]

Golmert, I for one don't really appreciate you steaming in here to harangue us in this fashion. You seem to imply that we are lacking in intelligence here.

It is only 8 weeks since you were demanding that we all lobby for SavaJe for the netBook, presumably because you desperately wanted it, and now it seems you've done a complete U-turn.

It seems a little fickle to me. I'll say no more, but most of the rest of you know what I'm thinking!

:mad:

[golmert]

This is a U turn you are right.

With no intentions to hurt any body's feeling or doubt people's intelligence.

I have been desperately looking for a "light at the end of the tunnel" for quite a few months.

Every where I got- I was turned away. No company today wants to get involved any more with Epoc for Psion and I am sure that every body is aware of that.

Opera- do not have any plans any more for a newer browser version (I have checked that with them), Cholrgraphics- they don't distribute their Voyager card for the Netbook,Savage-as you mentioned- they turned away from their project for the Netbook and do not even want to hear about it, in addition it is very rare to see any new software coming out and the list is longer....

Even Teklogiks do not seem so enthusiastic to maintain their promise regarding the Netbook! just by reading some of the posts here I noticed that they "do not have the time or the resources for it"...If that is so- what do they work on...?
Do you think that it is fair for the loyal users to read one sunny day that the actual plans are to move to Win based Netbook?..

As technology goes on and new demands are coming out, while looking at the fantastic progress with Win based machines ( yes, I know everything about instability.....), this led me to a decision to look ahead and stop laying on "good old times".

Therefore, I really wish you all good luck!

[diem]

I have a different take on things.

I used to live on the 'bleeding edge' with computing, slavishly getting the latest and greatest thing, and was used to things not working perfectly - this was the price I paid for being up-to-the-minute.

These days, I like an easier life. I want my computing products to be reliable and predictable. Thus the Psion range, running ER5, are perfect. Yes there are a few slightly dodogy pieces of 3rd party software, but do you know of ANY other platform that NEVER crashes? I don't. No there's no bluetooth, but what's wrong with IR? Yes the latest hardware rev supports GPRS cards - whoop de do - so we can now web browse at a slightly less awful crawl!

What I'm saying is this. Just because EPOC is now very much end of life, why should that be a reason to stop using it? I simply do not see any logic in this. I intend to use my netBook until nobody is prepared to repair it any more, and that day is still at the very least 3 years away.


If you don't want to use EPOC any more, then be my guest and sell your devices - I'm sure you'll get a good response in the Classifieds forum ;) I for one will stick with my perfect, reliable computer.

[Steve Moore]

I agree

It is always nice to hear the voice of reason

Steve

[dukibean]

Another firm agreement with Diem.

Do you really believe that Bluetooth will be a panacea to mobile computing? Personally, I think that OS stability and a fine balance of usability, portability and power are more important.

Have a look at the latest grim report on Bluetooth.

http://www.infosync.no/news/2002/n/2304.html

[spegru]

I think the truth here is that Psion have no proper HW strategy. Teklogix stuff is a mishmash of proprietary niche products - to which they may as well add Netbook on Wince if they want.
At least it should keep the machine in production for a while - I don't think we'll see any serous investment in it.

However Symbian remains a key strategy for Psion and Teklogix's function is to fund Psion's commitment.
When Psion decide on a longer term strategy maybe we'll see something new with EPOC 7 on it - or maybe they'll eventually sell off Teklogix and become a SW house again.

I agree with Diem, if you have a netBook/S7 or any other Psion then just be grateful that they work. There will probably not be anything to replace them - from anyone. Thank goodness for eBay!

[netBookBabe]

Thanks, Yan, you did say EXACTLY what I was thinking!

Julie

[spegru]

netBook continues with Epoc for now but they're looking at evolution possibly with multi OSs. Price alsp comes into it, so the OS of choice could remain as (a development of) epoc 5 (like now).

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/27154.html

[bobbyr]

Golmert, You should just go off and enjoy your self with your Microsoft stuff. As most of the others said, how many times do you see a Psion crash, hardly ever. I have had many Psions for years and still have several and they are outstanding. They work well for everything that I need them to do including using IR to connect to with mobil phones and landlines for email and net surfing. In many ways as far as I am concerned here in the states the Pocket PC and the like are very anemic compared to our Psions. I travel a lot and on every flight, I mean every flight, people ask what is that and I tell them its a Psion Series 5mx, Series 7 or Netbook, depending on what I have out. They are amazed at its form factor and how great they work. I always think that as long as your computer works for you and does what you want----what else can you ask for, just use it if it pleases you.

I hope you have a great time in the Microsoft world, but there is no need to have an attitude with us loyal Psion/Symbian users. We like and appreciate information about Psions and other systems as long as its with good intensions, but not with an attitude.

We wish you well,

Thanks,

Bobbyr

[nclark]

I think there is a wider danger here - Windows is taking over! Even the Psion/Symbian and General Discussion links from the Psionplace home page on this site take you to the PocketPC discussion forums!:mad: Raise the barricades!!!

[diem]

Even the Psion/Symbian and General Discussion links from the Psionplace home page on this site take you to the PocketPC discussion forums!


I'll get that fixed.

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by nclark
Even the Psion/Symbian and General Discussion links from the Psionplace home page on this site take you to the PocketPC discussion forums!:mad:
Aaargh!! :mad: That needs fixing - thanks for pointing it out, Nick.

Julie

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by diem


I'll get that fixed.
Yan, whilst you're at it, they've also got the Nokia and Symbian Smartphone forums lumped together. Less important, I know, but maybe worth a mention? All the other links seem fine.

Julie

[diem]

will do.

[markdeppe]

Hi Golmert, it is good to hear your enthusiasm for the other machines (you we be an asset to the appropriate forum for that machine), and hope it will work out for you, know you are welcome back anytime. I am with bobbyr and Yan and Julie et al. in the conversation. I like many others are very aware of the other machines and platforms and have helped many a freind in trouble and struggling with them. We are not blinded by our love of psion to what else is out there, and yes once a machine has proved its worth and we hear others talk with the enthusiasm of psion owners I am sure we will move; till that day we will remain contented. I like other have a wish list sure, things I would like on the psion, but this does not detract from my appreciation and happiness with what I already have. Of those I know with machines with cameras, MP3 etc. etc. they get very little use and unfortunatly most of them struggle with setiing up with a mobile phone and a few other essential managements issues. Love is not blind, it just sees only good, while acknowledging that things may not be as one would wish they are good and still worthy of love (when enough people talk of windows with this sentiment I am sure more of us will move over).

Thanks for sharing with us and hope all goes well for you

[ktkawabe]

Hi golmert, just for your information.

The original Teklogix, the company acquired by Psion to form a new business Psion Teklogix, has a DOS/Windows background. And they were selling the hardware you mentioned (7510) before the merger, and they keep selling them, which is good from the customers' point of view.

And the second one you mentioned, 7520, is (I think) marketed as the beefed-up version of the older 70xx range (which was also from the original Teklogix before the merger, and they still sells 70xx series also). 70xx hardwares are based on x86 architecture and they run DOS. Though 7520 is not x86 based, if Teklogix wanted to appeal to the same customers that bought 70xx series, and if they still have the same development team for 70xx range and 7510, I guess Windows was a logical choice here.

I don't deny that Psion Teklogix is looking at various flavors of Windows as a viable option, which is understandable. Thanks for sharing your findings about Teklogix, and I hope your transition to Windows works well.

Regards,
Keita

[MartinMaxwell]

This is also our take on this. Most of Teklogix business is in North America, where there are very few Symbian OS developers. They were also on Windows CE before the Psion PLC aquisition. Therefore, it makes business sense for them to support both platforms depending on which market they address, the customer preferences and the availability of developers. Remember that their no 1 competitor, Symbol, is on Windows CE alone.

Most of our developments have been in Singapore-Malaysia or Scandinavia and we have never felt any sort of hint that Teklogix is trying to push us from Symbian OS to Windows CE.

In Teklogix shoes, I would just keep the options open. There is a grey-zone where the advantages of Symbian OS roughly off-set the advantages of Windows CE. This demarkation line goes straight through devices such as netBook and netPad. In a few years time, when Symbian OS has become well established in the US and Canadian markets (through Series 60 and UIQ phones), the availability of developers will become less of an issue and we will see North American customers demanding Symbian OS in lieu of Windows CE.

cheers
Martin

[nmbaker]

Not really a fair comparison. Each to his own. I lost faith in Microsoft from when they took over PC-DOS 2.11. Windows286 was a fiasco, windows 3 didn't work, 3.1 was a little better then 3.11 quite good, then downhill again 95 was bug ridden, so yet another version, who still uses 98 v1, no they needed v2, then ME, then XP. How many patches and critical updates to NT and XP, not to mention their IE. World domination they may have, but apart from 2000, does anyone believe WinCE v5 will be as stable as EPOC v5 and I don't remember having to subscribe to v4, or for that matter a new software build after several years.

No, most of us here in these Forums (or is it fora?) use EPOC for its inherent stability, its instant on/off, software availability, functionality and real cost/annum to maintain an effective machine running beautifully well. As for some of the new-fangled technologies, do we really want them or is the world just following marketing hype?

I well remember my Finance Director demanding I migrate from Unix to Windows NT, then bulking at the hardware cost, the slowness, the instability and unreliability etc. I got out the old system out of moth-balls and four years on is still outperforming Windows, though they are now using 2000 as HE felt that would be an improvement. I think he must have read some of the marketing press and never consulted the users. I left the company and was replaced by 3 people as they had a lot more fire-fighting to undertake.

So laugh at us with our trusty Psions and remember us when you need to buy the next version, remember us when your drivers are not compatible with your software unless you upgrade your hardware. We will remember the impetuous youth who laughed at us, but we will probably still be using the same machines in 3 years when yours is obsolete and unsupported

[diem]

I couldn't have said it better myself!!

Yes, EPOC ER5 lacks certain features and functionality that some people would like, but I just love it every time someone shows interest in my 'sub-notebook' in some meeting or other, and I tell them that it doesn't run Windows. After the confusion has crossed their faces, and after a few of the more tech-savvy say 'Oh, Linux eh?', I deliver the sucker punch:

"Note I'm not touching any wood? Well friend, the reason I use this machine is that it never crashes."

I usually get nervous laughter at this statement. Then I tell them I'm not joking, and their expression changes from humour to envy...


BTW, yes, I believe that fora is indeed the gramatically correct plural of forum, but I guess the majority of the world doesn't do Latin ;)

[Stargazer]

The physical design of the Psions compared to the WinCE doodahs has some notable pluses also. The external record/stop/play button on the 5 allowing you to use it as a dictaphone has only been adopted on the HP72x series - and on the latest models that has been altered to simply fire up Windows Media Player! The double battery system should be the envy of Compaq IPAQ users (they have only one battery that is not replaceable - except on the £600+ IPAQ 5450 - so when the battery reaches the end of its life it's new IPAQ time!). Other issues like non-recessed power switches on the Cassiopeia (meaning the unit could be inadvertantly switched on/off while in your pocket), screen layout (non-removeable Taskbar anyone?) and poor performance have arisen, but the best list appears to be here (www.ipaqpetition.com/petition/index.htm).

Going back to software, given the current attempt in Windows XP to have all systems ultimately controllable by Remond Central Command, how long will it be before Digital Rights Management or some spawn thereof starts blocking what applications you can run under WinCE(whoops - it's already started www.theregister.co.uk/content/64/28393.html). Or Product Activation, forcing you to upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft doomware for fear of your system suddenly deactivating itself? And how long will it be before virus writers produce variants that can cross-infect WinCE and XP platforms?

[nmbaker]

As I write this MS is downloading yet another critical update! To the PC. A couple of weeks ago I tried to access my on-line banking only to find the account would not recognise my username and password. After a 3rd line support guy had gone over all the things that could be wrongly set - d'oh I access it several times a day, even resetting to new passwords, the PC would still not play. So I thought i'd use the Psion and Opera instead, straight in with no messing, got the info I needed and out. Thought that might have been a coincidence, so tried again on the PC still to now avail, used Netscape, no problems. So an update had introduced a bug - took MS 4 days to rectify - now its working. Strange how the all hyped MS gets away with such like. Another example, I needed to pop into the West Highlands to see a client. Stayed in a village on the mainland for the evening. There was a chap using Autoroute 2001. Asked him if he could direct me to a place in Tobermory. Well the MS crapware had me go down a single track road for several miles (away from the ferry point BTW) and like Moses cut across the Sound of Mull - no mention of a boat! Used the Psion with StreetPlanner which was correct! I suppose WinCE users prefer MS Autoroute to Palmtop maybe as they like following each others (sheep) so when you see one of those guys, about to cross the sea. Call out to Moses and offer help - they need it.

Before the Psion, I used a Sharp IQ and was disappointed to have to replace with a Psion as repair was prohibitive. Unfortunately I hadn't seen a 3mx, just the early model, so I was very happy to discover a 5. I will be very sorry to migrate from my 7book and will be endeavouring to maintain it indefinitely.

For those who may wonder about scratches on the screen, they can be removed with car repair paste (not Tcut) and then polished out. It takes a while but they totally disappear. Mine came via eBay and had a few seemingly deep ones, but now looks like new. The chap sold it as it was scratched, he'd lost the stylus and it had kept switching itself off. Before I bought it, I looked to see if there was a way to get at the circuitry, and then I bought it at a very good price. Its now registered in my name and fully functional. And the sound recorder works now, thanks to Yan's site, though it has been made a little more permanent. To protect the screen from future scratches as I use my figures rather than the stylus, I use OHP acetate cut slightly too wide and about 0.25" too tall at the top and bottom. Don't feel too bad then if I get a little grease on it. It does darken the screen a little in bright sunshine and make it a little harder to see, but you can experiment with inkjet acetates instead.

Oh I see it is still downloading the upgrade on the PC - must be a serious one!

[Beakynet]

This thread has got me wondering, how many pocket PC users play MP3 on their machines; or streaming Video for that matter?

All these features and the average user probably only uses 10% of the functionality. The average Psion user is probably closer to 50% functionality.

Why sell your Bentley just because it lacks electric windows and a heated driver's seat?

[starfire]

I bet no one on this thread owns a IPAQ - but I do, and after 2 years the irreplaceable battery is dying and I am stuck with the old version of Pocket PC which can't run the latest software. I need to pay heaps of money to HP to get it fixed and upgraded.

Anyway, the IPAQ is still great, and I actually played MP3 on it while I am bored, but the battery life is really crummy - just over 1 hour. Being MS, everything just takes up so much space unlike EPOC. And I need to buy so many add-ons that just uses up more power.

Those are the reasons I use a PSION Netbook now, because of its great battery life, no need to add on expansion jackets just to run my modem or CF cards. And I am playing MP3 on the netbook too. Plus, I don't miss IE one bit.

[Mesmer]

If anyone is thinking of following 'Golemrt's' Lead I for one would be interested in purchasing their 'out of date' equipment...........

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by Mesmer
If anyone is thinking of following 'Golemrt's' Lead I for one would be interested in purchasing their 'out of date' equipment........... Interesting that we seem to be seeing more "wanted" ads for netBooks than we do "for sale" ones. ;) (Not counting those unusual "not-quite" netBooks, of course)

Sorry, Mesmer, afraid my netBook is very definitely NOT for sale. :p

Julie

[MartinMaxwell]

>>>> (Not counting those unusual "not-quite" netBooks, of course) <<<<

Julie, I really like your new name for them: "netQuite". Would you set up a new sub-forum under this name? / Martin

[wirebook]

I'm keeping my netBook.

[wirebook]

Sure, maybe windows is used more in the world, but does that mean that the epoc OS should be killed? I've had enough of those stupid "Please insert the Windows disk" boxes popping up every time I stick in a USB device. And maybe Windows computers do have more memory, but can they access it as fast as the netBook can? Can you switch programs as fast as the netBook can? For those of you who feel you need more room, go get a 2 Gig MicroDrive, and that'll last you your entire life. But, why not just use ordinary CFs and then give your netBook the ability to be jostled around a little bit, without worrying about the hard-drive getting scratched!

NetBooks start up, and shut down in a flash, and you don't even have to save or close your applications, they're just the same when you turn it back on. And can you beat an eight hour battery life? Can you beat the size of the netBook? I'm even using an eleven volt charger, because I couldn't find the fifteen volt charger, and it still charges up over-night.

And for those of you who did see those silly sights showing the devices with Windows, did you notice how large and out-dated they look? Those are definitely old models.

I just upgraded my netBook for ethernet, off of http://www.psion-it.com/downloads/ER5/netBook/158uk.zip and now I can do all sorts of things. Sure, maybe 256 colors isn't good enough for some of you, but the display colors wasn't the strong point in the device. The touchscreen is cool, and maybe if it could rotate and turn the device into a tablet device with the crash proof Epoc OS, this device could be found all over the world. But in the meantime, it's the best device that could be found for those of us that found it. I'll definitely hold on to mine till it's so outdated, but maybe I'll be able to update it, but I still won't sell or give it away.

What's all this stuff about the Opera web browser? It's not going to kill ya, even if it annoys you sometimes. But, it works, and is easy and simple. All I can say is I gotta get a wireless access card, so that I don't have to stay stuck in one corner of my house, but instead I can go all over my house, even outside.

[nmbaker]

Wirebook, you have summed up most if not all of our views in your post. In addition to my 7book, I still have and use a 5mx and have but don't use a 5. ER5 definitely has for us the advantages not to be found in those Windows devices.
1. The battery length
2. The instant on/off
3. The security of not having viruses
4. The ability to load/reload/unload programs FULLY
5. Automatically saving work
6. The speed of switching between programs
7. Not having the machine complain there is insufficient memory to open a given program
8. Having usual WP, spreadsheets and email facilities that are truly portable.
9. A web browser that allows access to sites when IE6 suddenly stops working because a critical update has caused another bug
10. Software that is affordable and written more succintly so does not require huge harddisks and memory and doesn't cause general protection faults when its been working for awhile
11. A community that believes in the product and will endeavour to help others freely
12. Robust hardware and software with a few idiosyncrasies which reduce over time rather than increase

The list goes on ....

[Kentaur]

I am seriously considering bying a Netbook, as it is still in production (I think). And I even think a few of my friends will get one if I can find us a sweet deal (I live in Norway so it would be nice with the norwegian characters included, without paying a hand and a foot for it).

But what I always start to wonder about when I am toying with te idea of buying the netbook, is why not take it all the way?

Why not be a bit more LOUD? I am tired of reading about new prosessor speeds and technology. I want stability and performance! Is it imposible(?) for me to start a private company spesializing on selling Netbooks to people who would have their needs satisfied by the Netbook and nothing else? Think about the ads you could run! "Tired of your machine not working for you?" "Can you manage without microsoft? Well now you can! Netbook. - A machine for people who like their computers to work for a change!" :D The ones responsible for psion products in Norway dare not risk promising too much, even though they very well could, if you compare a Netbook with any laptop pc that is only being use for its office, email and internet capabilities(like most pc are).

But I cannot seem to find anyone doing anything like this anywhere else(not even Psion themselves!), so this leads me to belive that this is risky. Alas I sit here atop my perch and wonder if I should make the BIG jump and try to bring Psion to the massses(or at the least parts of Norway) or not.

So now I wait for this fora to read my post, and maybe give me some clues as to what I should do with this dream of mine...

Is it sheer folly(is microsoft so world dominating) or could I pull it off? OR to refrase what can I expect if I try to get this idea going? Am I flogging a dead horse or could it possibly be a darby winner?

Sincerly,

Kenneth.

[markdeppe]

Kentaur: YES. You are not the first to think of this, and there has been lots of discussion in the past as to why psion themselves failed in their marketing. I imagine we all here feel it would work. I feel cost is one big barrier. PC MS have huge economies of scale. I feel it could be a success, though it would take a huge investment of energy and money initially. I think the netbook malasia deal offers some clues as to where a market is. I know when I was studying at uni I lost many a day and a few tears over computer crashes and lost data. People who are prepared to pay (not usually students) for the safty and ease of a psion would need to be the market. Maybe the Silversurfers, Large disposable income, keen to get on email to communicate with the kids all over the place, and mybe do not need all the bells and whistles. Just a few ideas there. I always fancied a visit to Norway, if you need a partner, I would be excited by such a venture, Unfortunatly I have no capitlal of my own, but am quite good at evangelising (if not spelling) for the netbook :-)

All the best

[Kentaur]

Thanks Mark. It is as you say Netbooks arnt exactly cheap. The biggest problem though is compatibility... Most people seem to think of floppydisks as the be all and end all transferring files(especially the ones I think would really find good use for a Netbook.) So how should I go about convincing people the don't need these floppies? One of Psons few drawbacks are the serial cable... Sort of drowns a sales pitch before I can get started... E-mail ofcourse could be used as a substitue but doesnt quit do it... Any suggestions?

-Kentaur.

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by Kentaur
So how should I go about convincing people the don't need these floppies? One of Psons few drawbacks are the serial cable... Sort of drowns a sales pitch before I can get started... E-mail ofcourse could be used as a substitue but doesnt quit do it... Any suggestions?Tell them how much more capacity than a floppy you can have on a Compact Flash disk, and how fast a PC can read/write one?

Julie

[markdeppe]

As Julie says, CF disks are the way to go, way cheaper and faster and larger than ZIP disks and very cheap to buy a CF reader which will often plug into any new PC without even having to load software to run.

Additionally with file transfer there is IR. And if you are lucky in the not to distant future, blue tooth CF cards with drivers for the Psion.

[MartinMaxwell]

>>>[B]Sure, maybe windows is used more in the world, but does that mean that the epoc OS should be killed? <<<

Regardless of the future of Psion, EPOC is far from dead. It is the operating system of some of the most hot selling, or soon to be hotselling, phone-PDAs on the market, including Nokia 9210/9290, Nokia 7650, Nokia 3650, Nokia N-gage, Sony-Ericsson P800, Ericsson R380, and Fujitsu 2051 (DoCoMo/FOMA/i-mode).

EPOC phone-PDAs have been announced by Motorola, Siemens, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sendo (the two latter previously in the Micrsoft camp).

With Linux increasingly threatening Microsoft from the enterprise end, it is not unrealistic that the combined powers of Linux and EPOC will topple the Microsoft dynasty very soon, say within a decade.

[nclark]

I think one possible rival to the Netbook type devices is the Tablet PC, particularly in the vertical education market. They're portable, lightweight (although not currently as light as the netbook, but that'll change), robust, and probably most importantly come with all the connection options built-in (WiFi, LAN, USB, firewire, CF, PCMCIA) and integrate with the networks that most education establishments run.

I know that running Windows XP they are likely to be less stable than EPOC, but PCs are pretty good these days. Running XP is probably better than CE as it is fully compatible with the desktop PCs. Add a docking station and keyboard and mouse it becomes a full desktop iteself that is transportable just by grabbing the screen and running! The handwriting recognition is pretty good too. The ability to just wander off and use it anywhere on campus is pretty compelling. The price is comparable to the Netbook too.

Don't get me wrong - I think the Netbook is a brilliant machine, but it has fallen behind the requirements of even the vertical markets it is currently aimed at, and so the danger is it will just fade further into obscurity and so be completely unsupported.

[diem]

What you say about Tablet PCs is true, but I would argue that the Tablet PC and the netBook are not competing for the same users.

Tablet PC is not physically robust, nor small, nor do they have good battery life (comparable with laptops or worse). netBook is a truly mobile computing solution, as distinct from a portable one.

[nclark]

I agree. What I was thinking about was the attempt by Psion to get into the education market in Malaysia with a portable wireless solution. Here the need is for 2 hours battery life (class length) and they may well be connected to power anyway.

If long distance mobile computing is needed then the Netbook wins hands down, but if local portability and compatibility is required then it is dropping behind.

[MartinMaxwell]

Further to your point, I think one of the major advantages of using the netBook for the Malaysian schools, is its *lack* of compatibility with PCs. To comprehend this you must understand the Malaysian and SE Asian situation. One of the major issues in the Malaysian smartschool programme - and I guess other countries' programmes as well - is the abundance of virus and pirated software brought by the students either via hacked installations or from the Internet. Schools have started to buy PCs with the floppy and CD drives removed, but it still doesn't help. For a while they tried thin-clients, but this was not a good solution either as they do not work off-line. Therefore the school will want to control exactly what is on the machines. The netBook with the OS in ROM and good off-line functionality is the perfect choice.

Again, I the collapse of the programme did not have much to do with the netBook itself nor with Psion.