Psion Series 7

The Psion Series 7 is a subnotebook computer from Psion that was released in 2000. In size it is fairly original — larger than a palmtop or handheld machine, but smaller than a laptop computer. It was the first of the Psion series to have a full color screen — and the last. It has a leather-bound clam-shell design, with a touch-sensitive, VGA-resolution LCD screen and QWERTY keyboard. Internally it boasts a 132.71 MHz StrongARM SA-1100 processor, 16 MB of RAM (upgradable to 32 MB) and 16 MB of internal ROM.

Contents

• Included Software
• Linux on the Series 7
• References

The machine runs the EPOC operating system (a predecessor of Symbian OS), and as such, can be programmed in the Open Programming Language (OPL), using the provided development program, or in C++ or Java using a separate PC-hosted development system. It can be synchronized to a PC by means of an RS232 port to serial connector, a method that is antiquated by modern standards.

The unit has an expansion port for a Compact Flash (CF II) device such as the Hitachi Microdrive. It also has a PC Card expansion port supporting flash storage, compact flash adapters, modems, wireless and GPS adapters. For data transfer between Psion computers, printers and to use mobile phones as modems the Series 7 features IrDA (infrared) connectivity.

The Series 7 is a variant of the Psion netBook, a machine aimed at the corporate market. Due to customer demand, the "cut-down" Series 7 was released, distinguished by replacing 16 MB of the 32 MB of RAM with a 16 MB ROM chip. Accessing the OS in ROM required slowing the processor down, leading to the false perception that the netBook and Series 7 used different processors or PCBs. It is therefore possible to convert the Series 7 to netBook configuration by replacing this memory card. However, at least two different (interchangeable) PCBs were used during the product's lifecycle, the later PCB distinguished by higher power output to the PC card.