For those who are constantly on the go (and let's face it, who isn't?), mobile computing is almost a necessity. Electronic planners, address books, and the ultimate -- the laptop -- are all pretty much usual fare in today's high-tech environment. These devices are nice, but they have a tendency to weigh you down, in more ways than one. So why not take a look at the Psion Series 7, which is a bit lighter on the load.

While not light as a feather, at around 2.5 lbs, it's not going to tire your shoulder out quite as much as a 7 lb laptop. And the Series 7 comes with enough features to assure you it really is okay to leave the laptop at home.

Because the standard 16 MB of RAM (expandable to 32 MB) is a bit limiting,--no this device is not going to run the Windows ME OS--it is equipped with the Symbian EPOC Release 5 (EPOC pretty much being a standard feature of the Psion devices). The Series 7 is also loaded with Agenda, which integrates with Microsoft,  Lotus, and Corel applications, Contacts Manager, Jotter for handwriting recognition, and Voice Recorder applications. An included Java Virtual Machine allows users to run Java applets and applications, as well.

If these standard programs excite you, you'll love the communications capabilities. Email, Web browsing, and wireless connectivity are all features of this device. The Series 7 is simply connected to an ISP to send and receive email messages with the RS232 connection or a PC Card modem. A 56K Psoin infrared travel modem is also optional. The Series 7 can even sync with desktop Outlook 97 email. The Series 7 includes a full Web browser, or you can browse with JavaScript using a third party browser, like Opera. For wireless connectivity, the Series 7 connects to a GSM digital phone with infrared and will allow you to collect email wherever you get a phone signal.

The Series 7 accepts single type I/II PC Cards and Compact Flash cards, so you can expand device memory or add applications when you need them. A 15-pin docking station interface allows for synchronization.

As for the display, rest your eyes or fingers on a full VGA 640 x 480 pixel STN color touch screen. This LCD measures 7.7 in and includes a backlight. Power is supplied via a rechargeable Li-ion battery pack, giving you 9 hours of normal use.

Pricing and Availability

Add the Psion Series 7 to your computing menagerie for $899.

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